There are two basic kinds of lift trucks, models that run on gas and models which run on electricity:
Internal Combustion Forklifts: The IC lift truck will run on fuels such as gas, liquid propane, compressed natural gas or CNG or diesel. Gas powered units are great for outdoor use since they emit gases and pollutants which are harmful to workers and pedestrians. Units which run on gasoline are also great for use in the rain and in bad weather conditions. These units can lift weights around 15,000 to 35,000 pounds. Due to the maintenance and fuel expenses, the gas powered models are much more expensive to utilize than the electric units, however, they cost much less up front than the electric models. The liquid propane models are the best option for safe use in indoor applications.
Electric Forklifts: Electric lift trucks take batteries that require frequent charging. Since these models do not burn any fuel, there are no emissions polluting the air with these machinery. They are the best choice for warehouses and indoor applications. What's more, lift trucks that run on electricity do not require any fuel storage units and they are much quieter to run than other units. One of the downsides of electric powered models is that they could not lift loads more than 15,000 pounds and hence, have a slower acceleration than the models that use gasoline.
Lift trucks are specially made to quickly and easily transport heavy loads with simplicity. Like the case with most types of vehicle, unfortunately, lift truck mishaps do occur frequently. There are some safety rules that must be followed in order to keep everybody safe. The most important issue is recruiting a trained operator, who could show you a valid forklift license.
There are many different styles of forklifts offered on the market. Deciding which one is right for your specific needs will be based on the kind of environment your machine will have to operate in, like for instance, indoors or outdoors or both and what kinds of loads which you need to transport. When you understand your specific requirements, it would be easy to match up to the right kind of lift truck. When you know all your needs precisely you would be able to make a correct choice.
One more great way to get first hand experience on the different forklift units is the try leasing your lift truck. This would also allow 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.