Frequency of Trailer Loading
If your shipping department loads out only a few semitrailers or box trucks a week, you don't need an expensive forklift to accomplish the work. A lower-cost walkie or walkie end-rider will do the job if:

• A 4,500-6,000 lb capacity is sufficient
• You don't need to stack loads inside the trailer
• The transition from dock floor to dock leveler and into the trailer is not too jarring to the forklift operator as the small load wheels travel over the dock plate
• If your shipping department is constantly loading trailers, a stand-up end control would be preferable over a walkie or walkie-rider. These battery-powered forklifts fit nicely into a standard 108-in. trailer door and their masts allow in-trailer stacking.

Lift Truck Operator Duties
Every company has a slightly different material handling system. In some, forklift operators not only load trucks in the shipping department, but they also replenish the manufacturing line, store inventory on racks, deliver paperwork associated with the loads, attach and scan bar codes and more. These operators, who are constantly on and off the forklifts, usually find it much less fatiguing and faster to enter and exit a stand-up end control model.

In other companies, forklift operators are on the trucks seven hours out of eight. They load and unload trucks constantly. They don't have to deal with paperwork, consult with supervisors or a computer on a desk often, or move the forks to adapt to different loads. These operators often find sit-down counterbalanced forklifts more comfortable and efficient.

Maneuvering Space
Some facilities have lots of room in which the forklifts can operate. In these instances, a 4-wheel electric lift truck or engine-powered forklift remains a centerpiece of the warehousing fleet.

Other facilities are crammed to capacity. Their shipping department and staging areas have limited space for forklifts to maneuver. In this situation, a 3-wheel electric forklift or a stand-up end control forklift may prove to be a better choice. They offer a tighter turning radius than all 4-wheel forklifts.