There are times it pays to examine the method of choosing a lift truck. Like for example, does your company consistently select the same models for your dock work? If so, you could potentially miss out on a more effective truck. There can be other units existing on the market which offer less exhaustion to operators and enable more to get done. You may be able to take advantage of loading trailers in a more effective manner. By doing some evaluation and research, you can determine if you have the right machinery to suit your needs. By reducing operator fatigue, you can significantly increase your performance.
When determining forklift units that deal with your specific problems some of the key factors to consider could consist of:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
You probably won't need a pricey lift truck to accomplish tasks if your shipping and receiving department loads only a few semi-trailers or box trucks a week. A cheaper walkie-rider or walkie unit would be able to handle the job if: You do not need to stack loads in the trailer, and a 4500 to 6000 pound capacity is enough. Last of all, you should consider whether or not the transition to the dock leveler from the dock floor and into the trailer is not too jarring for the operator because the small load wheels have to travel over the dock plate.
If on the other hand, your shipping facility is always loading trailers, than a stand-up end control will make more sense over a walkie-rider or a walkie model. These battery-powered forklifts fit into a standard 108 inch trailer door without difficulty. Their masts allow in-trailer stacking. These forklifts offer a model capacity range from 3000 to 4000 lbs.
Operator Duties:
Every company has a slightly different system for material handling. In certain circumstances, several forklift operators not just load trucks in the shipping department, but replenish the manufacturing line, store inventory on racks, handle the paperwork associated with the cargo, attach and scan bar codes and other tasks. Generally, the forklift operators who are constantly on and off of their lift trucks in their shifts find it much quicker and less tiring to exit a stand-up control unit, as opposed to a sit down kind.