Vertical-mast and rough-terrain forklifts keep picking up and positioning different construction supplies on different jobsites even through the rise and evolution of telehandlers on the market. There are lots of traditional-style lift trucks available within the material handling industry which lost market share to telehandlers. This happened specially when the challenger broke onto the construction scene. Ever since that time, sales numbers have become stable. Vertical-mast lift trucks have re-surfaced and seem to be becoming more popular once more because of their greater production, adaptation of some telehandler-like features and low cost.
Straight-mast machinery would finish two times the job that a telehandler will do because of their maneuverability and ground speed. Fascinatingly enough, rental outfits are starting to charge higher rates on straight-mast units.
Rental buyers are having major influence in the rough-terrain lift truck industry. More than 50 percent of all vertical-mast lift trucks are now being sold to a rental yard. These purchases are generally driven mainly by utilization, that is a factor closely followed by acquisition price.
Within the material handling business, the telehandler has become the darling new machine. Its popularity has enhanced its advantage in the rental market as well. Their overall expansion has been moderated by their higher price. There is several forklift users who feel that telehandlers are not practically as productive compared to conventional rough-terrain forklifts for loading and unloading repetitive jobs. This means that although competition among telehandler marketers has lowered their prices, many prefer the RT forklifts which have been performing well for decades.
In comparison, the telehandler is a little slower, ganglier to operate and needs a higher level of skill to complete the task. On the upside, they get the reach if they require it. There will continuously be a place within the business for forklifts however, because there are places which you would not be able to access with a telehandler.
Rough terrain lift trucks are generally compact machinery, smaller but more able to lift a heavier load vertically compared to the telehandler. Basically, so as to use the right equipment for your application, you must determine what jobs precisely you will be accomplishing, the kind of environment and conditions you would be operating in and what your load capacity is. These factors would help you decide what the best alternatives available are.