Rough-terrain and vertical-mast forklifts keep picking up and placing different construction materials on different jobsites even through the rise and evolution of telehandlers on the market. There are numerous traditional-style forklifts offered within the material handling market that lost market share to telehandlers. This occurred especially when the challenger broke onto the construction scene. Since that time, sales numbers have stabilized. Vertical-mast lift trucks have re-emerged and seem to be becoming more popular again because of their greater productivity, modification of certain telehandler-like features and low cost.
Straight-mast machines will finish twice the work which a telehandler will do due to their ground speed and maneuverability. Fascinatingly enough, rental outfits are beginning to charge higher rates on straight-mast models.
Within the rough-terrain forklift industry, rental purchasers have been having a greater influence. Over 50 percent of all vertical-mast forklifts are currently being sold to a rental yard. These purchases are generally driven mainly by utilization, which is a factor closely followed by purchase price.
In the material handling industry, the telehandler has become the darling new equipment. Its popularity has enhanced its advantage in the rental market as well. Their overall expansion has been moderated by their higher price. There is some forklift users who feel that telehandlers are not nearly as useful compared to conventional rough-terrain forklifts for unloading and loading repetitive tasks. This means that even though competition amongst telehandler marketers has lowered their prices, a lot prefer the RT forklifts which have been working well for decades.
The telehandler is a bit slower equipment in comparison to a rough terrain forklift model. They are also ganglier to operate and requires a higher level of skill to finish the task. On the upside, they get the reach if they need it. There will continuously be a place within the business for forklifts though, since there are places that you can not access with a telehandler.
The rough-terrain lift truck is small, compact and able to carry a heavier cargo vertically compared to the telehandler. Essentially, so as to use the best machine for your application, you would have to determine what jobs precisely you will be accomplishing, the type of setting and circumstances you would be operating in and what your load capacity is. These factors will help you choose what the best options available are.