The forklift is a mobile machinery which uses 2 forks or prongs to carry and place cargo into positions which would be normally hard to reach. Usually, lift trucks fall into 2 main categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Most often, industrial lift trucks are utilized around train loading docks and truck loading docks in addition to in warehouse operations. These machines have smaller tires that are engineered to run on smooth surfaces. Typically, industrial forklifts are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on diesel fuel or propane.
There are some smaller industrial lift truck models which utilize an electric motor running off an internal battery. As the name implies, rough terrain lift trucks are engineered to run on unpaved and rough surfaces. Normally, they are the ideal alternative for military and construction operation. Rough terrain forklifts usually have large pneumatic tires which are usually powered by internal industrial engines that run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck models could have a telescoping boom, capable of lifting cargo up and out from the equipment's base or they can use a vertical tower, which is responsible for lifting cargo straight up.
The rough terrain forklift emerged in the year 1946, after a 2 pronged lift attachment was attached to a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This first machine was used around construction locations and could raise to a height of 76 cm or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity can carry 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial use and rough terrain forklifts became popular too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were units available that could lift up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 2500 pounds or 1135 kg.
In the year 1958, the first 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced with a capacity of 2724 kg or 6000 lbs. and had a lift height of 7 meters or 22.5 feet or 3000 lbs. or 1362 kg and 35 feet or 11 meters. The first telescoping boom rough terrain forklift emerged on the market in 1962. This unit enabled loads to be placed out from the machine's base both below and above grade.