Types of Forklifts & Its Classification
Types of Forklifts & Its Classification
Selecting the Right Equipment for the Job
With so many different types of forklifts, workplace efficiency and productivity depend on selecting the right equipment as per needs.
- Warehouse operators today face the challenge of choosing between a wide variety of forklift types, each with distinct applications, features, and benefits:
- Electric forklifts
- Internal combustion forklifts
- Order pickers
- Reach trucks
- Aerial lifts
- Personnel lifts
- Scissor lifts
- Pallet jacks
- Rider pallet trucks
- Cushion tire forklifts
- Pneumatic tire forklifts
- Narrow aisle forklifts
- High-capacity forklifts
- Rough terrain forklifts
- Container handlers
- Sideloader
The specific characteristics — including the key features and benefits — of seven different types of forklifts, specifically the forklift classifications labeled Classes I-VII by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Types of Forklifts (Forklift Classifications I-VII)
| CLASS | Description | Ideal Uses | Benefits |
| CLASS I | Electric Motor Rider Trucks | Loading/unloading tractor-trailer; handling pallets | Electric means no emissions, minimal noise |
| CLASS II | Electric Motor Narrow Aisle Trucks | Operating in tight spaces, handling pallets, picking/storing inventory | Can be used to gain more storage space in the same warehouse footprint |
| CLASS III | Electric Motor Hand Trucks or Hand/Rider Trucks | Unloading deliveries from tractor-trailers; short runs in smaller | Rider and walk-behind (“walkie”) options |
| CLASS IV | Internal Combustion Engine Trucks (Solid/Cushion Tires) | Moving pallets from the loading dock to the storage, vice versa | Cushion tires great for low-clearance situations |
| CLASS V | Internal Combustion Engine Trucks (Pneumatic Tires) | Versatile; trucks in this class can handle single pallets to loaded 40-foot containers | Mostly for outdoor use, but also indoors in large warehouses |
| CLASS VI | Electric and Internal Combustion Engine Tractors | Commonly used for hauling of pulling loads rather than lifting; versatile | Example: airport “tugger” towing luggage carts |
| CLASS VII | Rough Terrain Forklift Trucks | Great for lumberyards/construction sites where crews need to lift building materials to high elevations | Some are equipped with a telescoping mast to provide far greater reach |
