Rough-terrain and vertical-mast lift trucks keep picking up and positioning different construction materials on different jobsites even through the evolution and rise of telehandlers on the market. There are numerous conventional-style forklifts offered in the material handling industry that lost market share to telehandlers. This occurred specially when the challenger broke onto the construction scene. Since that time, sales numbers have stabilized. Vertical-mast forklifts have re-emerged and seem to be becoming more popular again due to their greater productivity, lower cost and adaptation of some telehandler-like features.
The straight mast forklift could finish double the work as a telehandler due to their superior maneuverability and handling in combination with their better ground speed. Interestingly enough, rental outfits are beginning to charge higher rates on straight-mast units.
In the rough-terrain lift truck business, rental buyers have been having a greater influence. More than half of all vertical-mast forklifts are currently being sold to a rental yard. These acquisitions are generally driven mostly by utilization, which is a factor closely followed by acquisition price.
Within the material handling business, the telehandler has become the darling new machinery. Its popularity has improved its advantage in the rental market too. Their overall expansion has been moderated by their higher price. There is several lift truck users who feel that telehandlers are not nearly as productive compared to conventional rough-terrain forklifts for loading and unloading repetitive tasks. This means that even though competition amongst telehandler marketers has lowered their prices, a lot prefer the RT forklifts which have been performing well for decades.
The telehandler is a little slower equipment in comparison to a rough terrain forklift model. They are also ganglier to use and requires a higher level of skillfulness to finish the job. On the upside, they get the reach if they need it. There would always be a place within the business for forklifts however, since there are places which you could not access with a telehandler.
The rough-terrain lift truck is compact, small and could lift a heavier load vertically compared to the telehandler. Essentially, in order to utilize the right machinery for your application, you must determine what jobs precisely you would be completing, the type of environment and conditions you would be operating in and what your load capacity is. These factors would help you choose what the best alternatives available are.