Lift trucks getbigger

f tr/ITH THE advent of new prodV Y ucts in lonser lensths and the desire of rnunug"ri to imp-rove operating efficiency by having fork lifts make fewer, larger trips, loads at lumber yards are getting heavier.

Lift truck manufacturers are responding with greater capacity trucks. Yale Material Handling, Flemington, N.J., has introduced its first line of Big Trucks, vehicles specifically built to handle larger,

One major restriction for building material dealers

moving up to heavier duty trucks is stability.

Hyster produces lift trucks up to I 05,000 lb. capacity, sizes impractical for the typical lumber yard. "We have seen a few that use a 25.0001b. truck, but most of the lumberyards are using an 8,000-lb. to a 15,000-lb. truck," says Teny Moore, vice president/general manager of Hyster dealer Wrenn Handling's Mid-South division, Memphis, Tn. "Normally, they use larger trucks where the length of the lumber is really long, and they're picking up a half a trailer load at a time, like container loading and unloading on a dock."

"You also see (higher capacity trucks) where they're handling more pre-treated Iumber, which is much heavier than regular lumber," he adds.

One major restriction for building material dealers in moving up to heavier duty trucks is stability. Heavier, wider loads require a wider carriage fbr proper balance, meaning aisles must be wider.

"Most of the yards must maneuver through a confined warehouse," Moore says. "Most of the lumber yards and home centers are stacking in a warehouse where a customer's walking by, saying, 'I want four of these and five of these.' You have to be very, very careful driving alongsidc consumers. You can do that with a 10.000-lb. truck. but not a 25.000lb. truck."

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