Forklift trucks have been used since the 1920s in warehouses, docks and other industrial sites all over the world. Forklifts were originally developed by several different companies each specialising in different fields including drive motors and hoisting mechanisms. Wherever heavy lifting and manoeuvring is required forklifts can be used to save time and manpower resources.

Forklift trucks are used for lifting and manoeuvring freight and produce around loading bays and factories. Forklifts have strong steel forks which are used to gain leverage and lift loads for transporting. Forklifts are well adapted to transporting loads on pallets which can be stacked to carry more weight.

The forks on a forklift truck are also known as blades due to their shape and angle which helps to give them more leverage. Controls in a forklifts cabin are used to raise and lower the blades as well as steer the vehicle. The blades are attached to the mast of the vehicle and can be tilted to help keep loads balanced on them. This can prove particularly useful when using forklifts on uneven grounds. Forklifts are available that can also turn their blades on the side to help reach awkward areas and get purchase on tricky palettes. Some forklifts even have the option to move the blades closer together or further apart allowing the driver to adjust to varied loads without having to leave the cab.

If you are already familiar with driving a car forklift trucks will take little time to become accustomed to. In Britain there is no government regulated licence for forklift drivers. However it is a legal requirement that employers train their staff to use forklifts in a safe and controlled manner.

Training can be organised on the employer's premises or at a local training centre. The safety testing involves a theory test, checking over the truck before use and a practical test. Training usually lasts between three and five days and is approved by the health and safety commission.

Forklift trucks are available in a variety of designs to suit different environments and tasks. The most obvious distinction is size and load capability. The average forklift truck used for warehouse operations can take loads of up to five tons. Depending on environment from warehouse to factory or airports and docks forklifts have been created which can hold loads of up to fifty tons.

For specialised tasks more inventive adaptations have been created. These include rollers and grabbing hands in breweries to assist moving and loading barrels into lorries for delivery. Grabbing hands with rotational mechanisms have also been used for loading rolls of paper onto printing stations in large scale print works. In warehouses long poles have often been attached to the mast of forklifts to lift rolls of carpets and in industrial facilities to lift heavy coils of metal.