The lift truck is a mobile equipment that uses 2 forks or prongs to carry and place cargo into positions that would be usually hard to reach. Usually, forklifts fall into 2 major categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Most often, industrial forklifts are utilized around train loading docks and truck loading docks along with in warehouse applications. These equipment have smaller tires that are engineered to run on smooth surfaces. Typically, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on propane or diesel fuel.
There are several smaller industrial lift truck models which utilize an electric motor running off an internal battery. As the name implies, rough terrain forklifts are designed to run on unpaved and rough surfaces. Commonly, they are the great alternative for military and construction 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 forklift models could have a telescoping boom, capable of carrying loads up and out from the machine's base or they can utilize a vertical tower, which is responsible for lifting loads 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 initial machine was used around construction sites and can lift to a height of 30 inches or 76 centimeters and had a lifting capacity could lift 1000 pounds or 454 kg. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial use and rough terrain lift trucks became popular as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were available models which can raise up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 1135 kg or 2500 pounds.
During 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 7 meters or 22.5 feet or 3000 lbs. or 1362 kg and 35 feet or 11 meters. The first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck emerged on the market during 1962. This model allowed loads to be placed out from the base of the equipment both below and above grade.