Lift trucks are mobile equipment that use 2 prongs or forks to be able to place cargo into positions which would usually be difficult to reach. Usually, lift trucks fall into 2 main categories: industrial and rough-terrain.
Industrial forklifts are most commonly used around truck and train loading docks in addition to lots of warehouse applications. These equipment have smaller tires that are designed to run on paved surfaces. Normally, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on propane or diesel fuel.
There are some smaller industrial forklift 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 choice for construction and military operation. Rough terrain forklifts usually have big pneumatic tires which are generally powered by internal industrial engines that run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck units can have a telescoping boom, capable of carrying loads up and out from the base of the machinery or they can use a vertical tower, which is responsible for carrying loads straight up.
In 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 machinery was used around construction sites and could raise 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 application and rough terrain forklifts became famous too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were units available that could raise up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 2500 lbs or 1135 kg.
During the year 1958, the original 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 3000 lbs. or 1362 kg and 35 feet or 11 meters. The very first telescoping boom rough terrain forklift emerged on the market in the year 1962. This specific model allowed loads to be positioned out from the equipment's base both above and below grade.