Telescopic handlers are somewhat similar to forklifts. It possesses a single telescopic boom that extends both upwards and forwards from the truck, and a counterweight in the back. It works more like a crane than a forklift. The boom could be equipped with various kinds of attachments. The most common attachment is pallet forks, but the operator can also attach a muck grab, lift table or bucket. Also called a telehandler, this type of equipment is usually utilized in industry and agriculture.
When it is hard for a standard forklift to access areas, a telehandler is commonly used to move loads. Telehandlers are commonly utilized to unload pallets from within a trailer. They are also more handy compared to a crane for carrying loads onto other high locations and rooftops.
The telehandler has one major limitation. Even with rear counterweights, the weight-bearing boom could cause the machine to destabilize as it extends. Thus, the lifting capacity lessens when the distance between the center of the load and the front of the wheels increases.
Telehandlers were developed within England by the Matbro company. Their design was based mostly on articulated cross country forklifts used in forestry. First versions had a centrally mounted boom on the front and a driver's cab on the back section, but today the most common design has a strong chassis with a rear mounted boom and side cab.