There are two standard types of lift trucks, those which run on gas and units which run on electricity:
IC or Internal Combustion Lift trucks: The Internal Combustion lift truck would run on fuels like gas, liquid propane, diesel or compressed natural gas or CNG. Gas powered units are great for outdoor applications as they emit pollutants and gases that are harmful to workers and pedestrians. Units that run on gasoline are also suitable to be utilized in bad weather conditions and in the rain. These units can lift weights approximately 15,000 to 35,000 pounds. Because of the maintenance and fuel expenses, the gas powered models are a lot more expensive to use compared to the electric units, however, they cost less up front compared to electric powered models. The liquid propane models are the best choice for safe use in indoor applications.
Electric Lift Trucks: The electric forklift models are powered by really big batteries that should be recharged. The equipments do not create any polluting air emissions as these models do not burn any fuel. They are the right choice for indoor applications and warehouses. Also, electric lift trucks are much quieter to run compared to other models and they do not require any fuel storage units. Amongst the downsides of electric powered units is that they can not lift loads more than 15,000 pounds and hence, have a slower acceleration than the models which utilize gasoline.
Lift trucks are particularly designed to easily and quickly transport heavy loads with simplicity. Like the case with nearly all kinds of vehicle, unfortunately, lift truck accidents do occur frequently. There are some safety rules which should be followed to be able to keep everyone safe. The most essential problem is recruiting a qualified operator, who can show you a valid forklift license.
There are many different kinds of lift trucks offered on the market. Choosing which one is best for your specific needs will be based on the type of environment your machine will need to operate in, like for instance, indoors or outdoors or both and what kinds of loads which you have to transport. When you know your particular needs, it will be easy to match up to the right type of lift truck. When you know all your requirements precisely you would be able to make an accurate choice.
Another great way to get first hand experience on the different lift truck units is the try renting your lift truck. This would also enable you to see all the possible choices available to you. This is a cheaper way to determine if the machine you have selected could keep up with you on the job location.