Within some lift truck companies, the operators are usually on the trucks 7 out of 8 hours a day. They are constantly unloading and loading trucks all day long. Many of these operators do not need to consult with supervisors really often, nor do they need to deal with paperwork. Occasionally they are doing the same job during the shift for the duration and they don't even need to move the forks to adapt to various cargo. These operators usually find the forklift counterbalance sit-down units much more comfortable and effective.
Several warehouse facilities have a lot of room for forklifts to maneuver and operate in. In these situations, an engine powered or 4-wheel electric forklift remains an essential player within the warehousing fleet.
Other facilities are crammed to capacity however with limited room for forklift maneuverability. These facilities might have staging areas and shipping departments to work out of. In this particular situation, a 3-wheel electric or stand-up end control lift truck model could appear to be a wiser alternative.
Depending on your specific application and environment you are working in, you could then determine how to choose the correct truck and pick the correct tire. Next is a short profile to show you the different kinds of tires available.
Cushion Tire Trucks - These specific trucks are used and engineered for use only on asphalt or concrete surfaces. More commonly, they are specified for indoor application within warehouses, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers. Usually cushion tire forklifts are smaller compared to similar capacity pneumatic models; therefore, they usually cost less. This makes their resale value much less as well.
Pneumatic Tire Trucks - On improved surfaces, the pneumatic tire forklift can operate indoor and outdoors as long as these surfaces consist of hard-packed dirt or stones and blacktop. Rough terrain areas such as severely potholed lots or plowed fields are not ideal. The trucks are outfitted with a larger frame. Normally, pneumatic tire trucks are more expensive compared to cushion tire models. With regards to resale, usually the pneumatic units provide higher value. This is in part because of the huge amount of maneuvering space they provide and their overall surface versatility.