Designed to pick, lift, move and place a wide range of materials, a forklift is one of the most valuable machines you can invest in for transportation of heavy materials on site.

Here are some of the most common forklift types today.

1. Warehouse Forklift

This is the most recognizable of all forklift types.

It looks like a yellow golf cart with double forks extending from the front and is used for loading and offloading items on pallet racking.

It is also great for removing and carrying things from delivery vehicles.

There are several types of warehouse forklifts available in the market today, the most common ones being side loader and counterbalance forklifts.

Each of the category is discussed below.

2. Side Loader

A side loader is one of the most common warehouse forklift types. It is mainly found in manufacturing facilities that require to move heavy and bulky items.

Side loaders are operated by a worker standing in a sideways compartment.

The sideway operation makes it easy for a side loader forklift to drive up alongside racks to move items without having to turn.

These forklift types are great for crossing corridors and handling long loads such as pipes.

3. Counterbalance Forklift

This subtype of warehouse forklifts is fitted with forks in the front and a weight in the rear of the vehicle to offset the weight of the load.

These forklifts do not have extending arms, which allows them to move directly to the load.

There are two main types of counterbalance forklifts: 3-wheel type and the stand-up category.

The 3-wheel forklift is used for jobs that require turning in circles, while the stand-up forklift enables the operator to easily hop on and off between loads.

4. Telescopic Forklift

Also known as telehandler or reach forklift, a telescopic forklift is fitted with a boom and an extendable arm that makes it operate like both a forklift and crane.

It uses the twin forks attached to the extendable arm to move items off the ground. A standard telescopic forklift can lift 5,500 lbs of materials from up to 19 ft in the air.

Telehandlers are great for reaching narrow spaces and odd angles.

5. Rough Terrain Forklift

Also known as straight mast forklift, these forklift types are fitted with large threaded pneumatic tires that give them the balance and stability to navigate uneven surfaces.

The forklifts are designed for outdoor applications, particularly in construction sites.

Rough terrain forklifts can lift 6,000 lbs to 8,000 lbs of material.

6. Industrial Forklift

Also known as large capacity forklift, the industrial forklift is designed to combine the functionalities of a warehouse forklift with that of a telescopic forklift.

Although it cannot reach odd angles like a telescopic forklift, it is capable of lifting heavier loads higher off the ground compared to a warehouse forklift.

Indeed, most industrial forklifts start with a 30,000 lbs maximum lift – a capacity that is only needed for very specialized tasks.

7. Pallet Jack

Pallet jacks, also known as pump trucks, are small-sized forklifts types that are designed to lift small loads in very tight corners.

They are capable of lifting up to 4,000 lbs of material.

8. Walkie Stacker

Unlike other forklifts, walkie stackers are not fitted with cabs. Instead, the operator walks behind the stacker and directs it using an attached handle.

Like pallet jacks, walkie stackers are lacking in terms of speed, power, and maneuverability – but are great for tasks that need a taller pallet jack as they can reach higher heights.

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9. Order Picker

This is a subtype of a walkie stacker. With reaching heights of up to 32ft, order pickers are used for picking and delivering materials from warehouses.

These machines are capable of picking one or two items rather than bringing down full pallets and loads – which makes them ideal for customer order warehouses and stores.

10. Reach Fork Truck

This is a warehouse truck for indoor applications.

It is designed to extend its forks beyond the compartment and reach into warehouse racks that cannot be accessed by standard forklifts.

Reach fork truck comes with an open compartment that gives the operator better visibility.