There are times it pays to examine the process of choosing a forklift. For instance, does your company always choose the same models for your dock work? If so, you can potentially miss out on a more efficient truck. There can be different other models available on the market which enable more to get accomplished because they provide less exhaustion to operators. You may be able to take advantage of loading trailers in a more effective manner. By doing some research and evaluation, you could determine if you have the right equipment to meet your requirements. By reducing operator fatigue, you can drastically increase your performance.
When determining forklift models which deal with your particular issues some of the important factors to consider may consist of:
Trailer Loading Frequency:
If your shipping department just loads out a few semi-trailers or box trucks a week, then you probably won't require a pricey lift truck to accomplish the job. A less expensive walkie unit or walkie-rider would be able to handle the task if: A 4500 to 6000 pound capacity is enough and you are not required to stack loads inside the trailer. Last of all, 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 because the small load wheels must travel over the dock plate.
If on the other hand, your shipping facility is always loading trailers, than a stand-up end control would make more sense over a walkie-rider or a walkie model. These battery-powered forklifts fit into a standard 108 inch trailer door easily. Their masts allow in-trailer stacking. These types of forklifts offer a model capacity range from 3000 to 4000 lbs.
Operator Duties:
For material handling requirements, every company has a slightly different system. Some forklift operators will often load and unload products in the shipping department in addition to storing things on inventory racks, handle the paperwork associated with the loads, replenish the manufacturing line, scan and attach bar codes and other tasks. Normally, the forklift operators who are constantly on and off of their forklifts in their shifts find it much faster and less fatiguing to exit a stand-up control unit, as opposed to a sit down type.