There are 2 kinds of lift trucks, based whether or not they run on electricity or gas:
Internal Combustion or IC Forklifts: The IC forklift would run on fuels such as gas, liquid propane, diesel or compressed natural gas or CNG. Gas powered models are great for outdoor applications since they produce pollutants and gases which are harmful to employees and pedestrians. Gas units are also great for use in bad climate and in the rain. These units could carry weights approximately 15,000 to 35,000 pounds. Due to the fuel costs and maintenance, the gas powered units are much more expensive to utilize compared to the electric models, however, they cost much less up front compared to electric powered models. The liquid propane models are the right choice to be utilized indoors.
Electric Lift Trucks: The electric forklift units are powered by very large batteries that should be recharged. The vehicles do not create any polluting air emissions as these units do not burn any fuel. They are the right option for indoor applications and warehouses. As well, forklifts which run on electricity are a lot quieter to run than other models and they do not need any fuel storage units. Amongst the downsides of the electric models is that they can not carry loads over 15,000 pounds and thus, have a slower acceleration than the models which use gasoline.
Forklifts are specially made to easily and quickly transport heavy loads with simplicity. Like the case with nearly all types of machinery, unfortunately, forklift mishaps do occur frequently. There are specific safety rules which have to be followed to be able to keep everybody safe. The most important problem is recruiting a trained operator, who could show you a valid lift truck license.
There are many different styles of lift trucks offered on the market. Choosing which one is right for your particular needs would be based on the kinds of loads that you have to transport, what kind of environment your equipment will have to operate in, for example, indoors or outdoors or both. Once you understand your particular requirements, it would be easy to match up to the right type of forklift. When you understand your requirements precisely you can make an accurate decision.
One more great way to get first hand experience on the various lift truck units is the try leasing your forklift. This will also enable you to see all the possible choices available to you. This is a cheaper way to know if the machine you have chosen can keep up with you on the job location.