Definition of Forklift Classes
Forklifts are used in various everyday tasks in both retail and warehouse environments, like lifting heavy product, stocking shelves and delivering loads of goods. Based on the Industrial Truck Association there are eight categories of forklift. The machinery are classified based on type of tire, kind of motor or engine, and the way the machine is steered. Forklifts are also called lift trucks.
Class I forklifts - Electric Motor Forklifts
These are regular electric motor lift trucks. Kinds of Class I forklift include the sit-down, three-wheeled varieties that are often utilized to transport pallets of mulch at home goods stores.
Class II forklifts - Narrow Aisle Electric Motor Lift Trucks
Narrow aisle trucks do not require much space for operation. Class II trucks include forklifts with swinging masts and side-loading models.
Class III forklifts - Electric Motor Hand Trucks
Class IV forklifts - Internal Combustion Engine Forklifts
IC engine forklifts are quite like regular automobile engines. These equipment do come with cushion tires or solid tires. Normally the rear of the truck has a counterweight in order to make the equipment more stable.
Class V forklifts are like Class IV forklifts because both have IC engines and are usually counterbalanced. The difference is in the tire. Class V trucks utilize radial or pneumatic tires.
Tractors
Class VI forklifts - Towing Tractor Lift Trucks
These trucks are sit-down tractors which can lift bulky loads and pull loads weighing over 450 kilograms. These trucks can are available with either an electric motor or an IC engine.
Class VII lift trucks - Rough Terrain Vehicles
Class VII lift trucks have IC engines and pneumatic tires, that are best used in rough terrains like construction, logging and agriculture. These type of trucks are recommended for worksites where the ground is riddled with debris and is uneven and rough.
Class VIII forklifts - Manual Lift Trucks
These specific trucks are all manually operated by a person who pulls or pushes the vehicle. The forks are normally hydraulically operated, and have a low maximum lift height. This class consists of personnel and burden carriers.