The lift truck is a mobile equipment that uses 2 forks or prongs to lift and place loads into positions which will be usually hard to reach. Usually, lift trucks fall into 2 main categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Most often, industrial forklifts are used around truck loading docks and train loading docks as well as in warehouse applications. These machines have smaller tires which are engineered to run on smooth surfaces. Usually, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on diesel fuel or propane.
Smaller lift trucks may run off an internal battery charging an electric motor. And as the name implies, the rough terrain forklift is designed to be operated on unpaved and rough surfaces. Commonly, they are the ideal option for military and construction operation. Rough terrain forklifts usually have large pneumatic tires which are usually powered by internal industrial engines that run on diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck units could have a telescoping boom, capable of carrying loads up and out from the base of the equipment or they could use a vertical tower, that is responsible for lifting loads straight up.
The rough terrain lift truck emerged in 1946, after a 2 pronged lift attachment was attached to a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This first equipment was utilized around construction sites and was able to raise to a height of 76 centimeters or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity can carry 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were quickly developed for industrial use and rough terrain lift trucks became famous as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were available models which could raise up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 2500 lbs 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 22.5 feet or 7 meters or 3000 lbs. or 1362 kg and 35 feet or 11 meters. The very first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck emerged on the market during 1962. This unit enabled cargo to be positioned out from the machine's base both above and below grade.