In manufacturing and warehouse environments, the types of machines which drivers utilize to transport supplies from one place to another are called forklifts. The machinery lifts pallets, also called skids, which are loaded with objects. The lift truck is designed with forks that insert into the pallet rungs. Forklifts are also sometimes referred to as Lift Trucks, Pallet Trucks, Skid Trucks, High/Low, Side Loaders and Stacker Trucks.
Companies such as Yale & Towne manufacturing and Clark advertised the very first forklifts during the early 1900s. Today most goods stores on pallets and are shipped to warehouses. Forklifts are usually found inside warehouses and manufacturing plants, where they are used to operate the business smoothly.
The following are some of the various kinds of pallet or skid lifts: Hand pallet truck; Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; IC counterbalanced truck; Telescopic handler; Towing tractor; Sideloader; Walkie stacker; Rider stacker; Slip Sheet machine; Electric counterbalanced truck; Walkie Order Picking truck; Reach truck; Rider Order Picking truck - also called "Order Picker"; Articulated Very Narrow Aisle Counterbalanced trucks - also called "Flexi Truck"; Truck Mounted Forklift / Sod Loader; Guided Very Narrow Aisle truck ; 'Man Down' - used for narrow aisles; and 'Man Riser' Combination Order Picker/ Stacker truck
There are counterbalanced forklift trucks available for specialized uses, such as the articulated counterbalance truck. This hybrid is recommended for very narrow aisles since it can onload and offload in very tight spaces.
Capable if lifting as high as 12 meters are the Guided Vary Narrow Aisle Trucks. The "non top-tied" kind can lift up to 30 meters high. These trucks are available in man down and man-riser models. This equipment must be used only on flat and even floors.