The lift truck is a mobile machinery that uses 2 prongs or forks to carry and place cargo into positions which would be usually hard to reach. Normally, forklifts fall into 2 main categories: industrial and rough-terrain.
Industrial lift trucks are most often used around train and truck loading docks in addition to many warehouse applications. These machinery have smaller tires that are designed to run on smooth surfaces. Normally, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on propane or diesel fuel.
There are several smaller industrial forklift models that use an electric motor running off an internal battery. As the name implies, rough terrain lift trucks are designed to run on unpaved and rough surfaces. Usually, they are the great option for military and construction operation. Rough terrain forklifts generally have big pneumatic tires which are normally powered by internal industrial engines which run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These forklift units could have a telescoping boom, that can carry loads up and out from the base of the machinery or they can use a vertical tower, that is responsible for carrying loads straight up.
The rough terrain forklift emerged in 1946, after a 2 pronged lift attachment was attached to a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This initial machine was utilized around construction locations and can raise to a height of 76 centimeters or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity could lift 1000 pounds or 454 kg. Vertical tower forklifts were quickly developed for industrial application and rough terrain forklifts became popular too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were units available that could raise up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 2500 lbs or 1135 kg.
During 1958, the original 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 1362 kg or 3000 lbs. and 35 feet or 11 meters. The first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck emerged on the market in the year 1962. This unit allowed cargo to be placed out from the equipment's base both above and below grade.