Rough-terrain and vertical-mast forklifts keep picking up and placing various construction materials on different jobsites even through the rise and evolution of telehandlers on the market. There are many conventional-style forklifts existing in the material handling industry which lost market share to telehandlers. This occurred especially when the competition broke onto the construction scene. Since that time, sales numbers have become stable. Vertical-mast forklifts have re-surfaced and seem to be becoming more popular once more because of their greater efficiency, lower cost and adaptation of some telehandler-like features.
The straight mast forklift can finish two times the work as a telehandler because of their superior handling and maneuverability in addition to their better ground speed. Interestingly enough, rental outfits are beginning to charge higher rates on straight-mast units.
Rental purchasers are having significant influence within the rough-terrain lift truck industry. Over 50 percent of all vertical-mast forklifts are currently being sold to a rental yard. These acquisitions are generally driven mostly by use, which is a factor closely followed by purchase price.
In the material handling industry, the telehandler has become the darling new machinery. Its popularity has improved 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 practically as productive compared to conventional rough-terrain lift trucks for unloading and loading repetitive jobs. This means that even if competition among telehandler marketers has lowered their prices, many choose the RT lift trucks which have been performing well for decades.
In comparison, the telehandler is a little slower, ganglier to operate and needs a higher level of skill to complete the task. On the upside, they get the reach if they require it. There would continuously be a place in the business for lift trucks though, as there are locations which you can not access with a telehandler.
The rough-terrain forklift is compact, small and able to carry a heavier load vertically compared to the telehandler. Basically, so as to utilize the right machine for your application, you should determine what tasks exactly you would be completing, the kind of circumstances and environment you would be operating in and what your load capacity is. These factors would help you decide what the best options available are.