If you operate a warehouse, you know how hard it can be to move things around with nothing but your bare hands. Not only is it unreasonable and unrealistic to have workers carry heavy loads and store them in high places, it’s also highly risky and should never be attempted. If you want to make the process of managing your goods and products speedy and safe, you should purchase your own forklift.

A lot of us seem to think that forklifts come in a single design, but this is actually a misconception. Forklifts today come in a wide variety of styles and types, each one intended for different purposes. If you want to find out which forklift type is best for your warehouse, read through these different types of forklifts.

Counterbalance Forklift Truck

When you hear the word “forklift”, the first image of a forklift that comes into your mind is probably a counterbalance forklift truck. These trucks are designed with a significant weight at the back end of the machine allowing it to offset whatever it carries in the front, thus the name. Counterbalance forklifts have their forks protruding from the front of the machine, which allows it to reach for crates, boxes, and other items without obstruction. These forklifts can run on electricity, gas, or diesel, and are often equipped with a driver’s seat for easy operation.

Wheel Counterbalance Forklift Truck

The principle behind the weight offset and the forward protruding forks are the same with this type and its four-wheel counterpart. The only difference is that this type of truck has a single wheel installed at the centre of the rear making it easy to manoeuvre. This is particularly ideal for people who want to operate their trucks in a small space because of the tight turns this machine can make.

Reach Forklift Truck

The reason for the name of this particular forklift is its ability to reach out and extend its arms out from the area of the base of the truck to obtain or set down items at a distance. The legs of this particular type of forklift truck make it possible for it to forgo the need for a counterbalance weight to offset what it carries.

If you want to learn more about the different types of forklift trucks and how you can operate them, contact us today.  Get the necessary certification to drive a forklift and keep your warehouse safe at all times with our forklift training courses.