The forklift is a mobile machine which uses 2 prongs or forks to carry and place cargo into positions which will be usually difficult to reach. Typically, lift trucks fall into 2 main categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Most often, industrial lift trucks are used around truck loading docks and train loading docks as well as in warehouse applications. These machinery have smaller tires that are engineered to run on paved surfaces. Typically, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on propane or diesel fuel.
There are some smaller industrial forklift units that use an electric motor running off an internal battery. As the name implies, rough terrain forklifts are designed to run on rough and unpaved surfaces. Usually, they are the ideal option for construction and military operation. Rough terrain lift trucks usually have large pneumatic tires which are generally powered by internal industrial engines which run on diesel or propane fuel. These forklift models could have a telescoping boom, which could lift cargo up and out from the machine's base or they may utilize a vertical tower, which is responsible for lifting loads straight up.
The rough terrain forklift emerged in 1946, after a 2 pronged lift attachment was attached to a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This initial equipment was used around construction sites and can raise to a height of 30 inches or 76 cm and had a lifting capacity can lift 1000 pounds or 454 kg. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial use and rough terrain lift trucks became popular too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were available units that could raise up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 2500 lbs or 1135 kg.
In 1958, the first 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced with a capacity of 6000 lbs. or 2724 kg and had a lift height of 22.5 feet or 7 meters or 3000 lbs. or 1362 kg and 11 meters or 35 feet. The first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck emerged on the market in the year 1962. This unit enabled cargo to be positioned out from the equipment's base both above and below grade.