The lift truck is a mobile machine that uses 2 prongs or forks to carry and place cargo into positions which would be usually difficult to reach. Typically, lift trucks fall into 2 main categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Most commonly, industrial lift trucks are used around train loading docks and truck loading docks in addition to in warehouse applications. These machines have smaller tires that are engineered to run on paved surfaces. Normally, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on propane or diesel fuel.
There are several smaller industrial forklift models that utilize an electric motor running off an internal battery. As the name implies, rough terrain lift trucks are engineered to run on unpaved and rough surfaces. Commonly, they are the great choice for construction and military operation. Rough terrain lift trucks usually have large pneumatic tires which are usually powered by internal industrial engines which run on diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck units could have a telescoping boom, capable of carrying cargo up and out from the equipment's base or they may use a vertical tower, that is responsible for lifting cargo straight up.
The rough terrain lift truck emerged in the year 1946, after a 2 pronged lift attachment was attached to a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This initial machinery was utilized around construction locations and can lift to a height of 76 cm or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity can lift 1000 pounds or 454 kg. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial application and rough terrain lift trucks became famous as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were units available which can lift up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 1135 kg or 2500 lbs.
The original 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced in 1958. It offered a capacity of 2724 kg or 6000 lbs. and had a lift height of 22.5 feet or 7 meters or 1362 kg or 3000 lbs. and 35 feet or 11 meters. The first telescoping boom rough terrain forklift emerged on the market in the year 1962. This model enabled loads to be placed out from the base of the machinery both above and below grade.