Telescopic handlers are somewhat like forklifts. It possesses one telescopic boom that extends both forwards and upwards from the truck, and a counterweight in the rear. It functions a lot more like a crane than a forklift. The boom could be equipped with various types of attachments. The most common attachment is pallet forks, but the operator can also attach a muck grab, lift table or bucket. Also called a telehandler, this kind of machine is commonly used in industry and agriculture.
A telehandler is most frequently utilized to transport loads to and from areas which would be difficult for a conventional forklift to access. Telehandlers are frequently utilized to unload pallets from within a trailer. They are also more practical compared to a crane for carrying loads onto other high places and rooftops.
The telehandler has one major limitation. Even with counterweights at the rear, the weight-bearing boom can cause the vehicle to destabilize when it extends. Hence, the lifting capacity lessens when the distance between the center of the load and the front of the wheels increases.
The Matbro company developed telehandlers within England. Their design was based mostly on articulated cross country forklifts used in forestry. Initial versions had a driver's cab on the rear section and a centrally mounted boom on the front, but these days the most popular design has a rigid chassis with a side cab and rear mounted boom.