A forklift is a motorized work truck that is used to lift and transfer materials by way of large steel "forks" which are inserted underneath a load such as wood, metal, etc. although Forklifts are most commonly used to move loads that are stored on pallets. The forklift was invented in the 1920's by several different companies including the Clark Material Handling Company. Since then, it has develop into an crucial piece of equipment in most manufacturing and warehousing companies.

Forklifts are rated before use in order to determine their maximum carrying capacity and center of gravity. You can find this information on a name plate which should be given to you by the manufacturer. It is very important that you know what these levels are because it can be extremely unsafe to use a fork lift if you exceed it's carrying capacity.

Fork lifts operate by way of rear-wheel steering because this increases the agility in tight corners and so this will differs from a traditional driving machine. This can also be dangerous if you are unaware of how to drive you're forklift properly. It is necessary to apply a lot of steering force to maintain a straight ahead course. This is similar to when driving a car in reverse. Another characteristic of the forklift that you should be aware of is that it is very unstable; this means that the forklift and load must be considered a singular unit, and this must be taken into consideration while driving because the center of gravity is constantly shifting. If you have a raised load on your forklift, you should never attempt to make a turn while in motion because this can result in a deadly accident in which the fork lift would tip over. The Forklift is designed with a maximum loading ability for the forks, which will decrease if the forks elevate. A loading plate reference should be located somewhere on the forklift. A forklift should never be used as a human elevator unless you are using specific safety equipment such as a cage. Most companies or fork lift manufacturers will require that the driver be certified by having safety courses and a specialized drivers license. All cities offer this course, which can help you get a good job in a trade and further enlighten you on the safety precautions of driving a forklift. Good luck and be safe!