The lift truck is a mobile machine that utilizes 2 prongs or forks to lift and place cargo into positions which will be usually difficult to reach. Typically, lift trucks fall into 2 major categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Industrial forklifts are most often used around truck and train loading docks in addition to a lot of warehouse applications. These machines have smaller tires which are designed to run on paved surfaces. Typically, industrial forklifts are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on diesel fuel or propane.
There are several smaller industrial lift truck models that use 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. Usually, they are the ideal choice for construction and military operation. Rough terrain lift trucks generally have large pneumatic tires which are normally powered by internal industrial engines that run on diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck models can have a telescoping boom, which could lift cargo up and out from the machine's base or they can utilize a vertical tower, which is responsible for lifting loads straight up.
The rough terrain lift truck emerged in the year 1946, after a 2 pronged lift attachment was attached to a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This initial machinery was used around construction sites and could lift to a height of 76 centimeters or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity can carry 1000 pounds or 454 kg. Vertical tower forklifts were quickly developed for industrial application and rough terrain lift trucks became popular as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were units available that can raise up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 1135 kg or 2500 lbs.
In the year 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 3000 lbs. or 1362 kg and 11 meters or 35 feet. The first telescoping boom rough terrain forklift emerged on the market during 1962. This particular unit enabled loads to be positioned out from the base of the machinery both below and above grade.