Vertical-mast and rough-terrain lift trucks keep lifting and positioning various construction materials on different jobsites even through the rise and evolution of telehandlers on the market. There are lots of conventional-style forklifts existing in the material handling business which lost market share to telehandlers. This happened especially when the challenger broke onto the construction scene. Since that time, sales numbers have stabilized. Vertical-mast forklifts have re-emerged and seem to be becoming more popular once more thanks to their greater efficiency, modification of certain telehandler-like features and low cost.
Straight-mast machines will finish twice the job that a telehandler will do because of their maneuverability and ground speed. Interestingly enough, rental outfits are beginning to charge higher rates on straight-mast models.
In the rough-terrain lift truck industry, rental buyers have been having a greater influence. More than half of all vertical-mast forklifts are presently being sold to a rental yard. These purchases are generally driven mostly by use, which is a factor closely followed by acquisition price.
In the material handling industry, the telehandler has become the darling new equipment. Its popularity has enhanced its benefit in the rental market as well. Their overall expansion has been moderated by their higher price. There is some lift truck users who feel that telehandlers are not nearly as helpful as opposed to traditional rough-terrain forklifts for loading and unloading repetitive tasks. This means that even if competition among telehandler marketers has lowered their prices, a lot choose the RT forklifts that have been working well for decades.
In comparison, the telehandler is a little slower, ganglier to operate and requires a higher level of skill to complete the job. On the upside, they get the reach if they need it. There will continuously be a place in the business for lift trucks though, as there are places which you would not be able to access with a telehandler.
The rough-terrain lift truck is small, compact and able to lift a heavier load vertically compared to the telehandler. Essentially, in order to use the best equipment for your application, you must determine what tasks precisely you will be accomplishing, the kind of setting and conditions you would be operating in and what your load capacity is. All these factors will help you decide what the right options available are.