The lift truck is a mobile equipment that utilizes 2 forks or prongs to carry and place loads into positions which will be normally difficult to reach. Typically, forklifts fall into 2 major categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Most often, industrial forklifts are utilized around train loading docks and truck loading docks as well as in warehouse operations. These machinery have smaller tires which are engineered to run on smooth surfaces. Typically, industrial forklifts are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on diesel fuel or propane.
There are some smaller industrial lift truck units that utilize an electric motor running off an internal battery. As the name implies, rough terrain lift trucks are engineered to run on rough and unpaved surfaces. Commonly, they are the great alternative for construction and military applications. Rough terrain lift trucks usually have big pneumatic tires which are normally powered by internal industrial engines which run on diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck units can have a telescoping boom, which could carry cargo up and out from the machine's base or they can utilize a vertical tower, which is responsible for carrying cargo straight up.
During the year 1946, the rough terrain lift truck emerged as a 2 pronged lift attachment was placed on a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This first machine was utilized around construction sites and can lift to a height of 30 inches or 76 centimeters and had a lifting capacity can lift 1000 pounds or 454 kg. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial application and rough terrain forklifts became popular too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were models available which can lift up to heights of 30 feet or 9 meters and had lift capacities of 2500 lbs or 1135 kg.
In 1958, the first 4-wheel drive rough terrain lift truck was introduced with 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 very first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck emerged on the market during 1962. This unit allowed cargo to be positioned out from the base of the equipment both below and above grade.