It is quite important for some businesses to examine the method of choosing a forklift. For instance, would your business choose consistently the same unit for your dock work or warehouse? If this is so, you might be missing out on a more efficient forklift. There can be other models on the market which allow more to get accomplished as they provide less exhaustion to operators. You might be able to take advantage of loading trailers in a more effective way. By doing some evaluation and research, you can determine if you have the best machinery to suit all of your requirements. By reducing operator fatigue, you could significantly increase your performance.
Some of the important factors to think about when determining forklift units that address specific issues comprise:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
If your shipping department only loads out a few semi-trailers or box trucks a week, then you probably won't require an expensive forklift to accomplish the job. An inexpensive walkie unit or walkie-rider will be able to deal with the task if: You do not need to stack loads inside the trailer, and a 4500 to 6000 pound capacity is adequate. Lastly, you should think about whether or not the transition to the dock leveler from the dock floor and into the trailer is not too jarring for the operator since the small load wheels should travel over the dock plate.
If on the other hand, your shipping facility is consistently loading trailers, than a stand-up end control will make more sense over a walkie model or a walkie-rider. These battery-powered forklifts easily fit into a standard 108 inch trailer door. Their masts enable in-trailer stacking. These forklifts offer a model capacity range from 3000 to 4000 lbs.
Operator Duties:
For material handling needs, every company has a slightly different system. Several forklift operators will often unload and load goods in the shipping department in addition to storing objects on inventory racks, handle the paperwork associated with the loads, replenish the manufacturing line, attach and scan bar codes and other jobs. Normally, the forklift operators who are constantly on and off of their forklifts during their shifts find it less fatiguing and much quicker to exit a stand-up control unit, rather than a sit down type.