A telescopic handler is like a forklift. It possesses a single telescopic boom which extends both forwards and upwards from the truck, and a counterweight within the rear. It works more like a crane than a forklift. The boom could be equipped with a variety of attachments. The most popular attachment is pallet forks, but the operator could also attach a muck grab, lift table or bucket. Also referred to as a telehandler, this type of machinery is usually used in industry and agriculture.
When it is difficult for a standard forklift to access places, a telehandler is commonly utilized to transport loads. Telehandlers are frequently utilized to unload pallets from within a trailer. They are also more practical compared to a crane for carrying loads onto rooftops and other high areas.
There is only one major limitation in utilizing telehandlers. Despite rear counterweights, the weight-bearing boom can cause the equipment to destabilize when it extends. Thus, the lifting capacity decreases as the distance between the front of the wheels and the centre of the load increases.
Telehandlers were developed in England by the Matbro company. Their design was based on articulated cross country forklifts used in forestry. First models had a centrally mounted boom on the front and a driver's cab on the back section, but these days the most common design has a strong chassis along with a rear mounted boom and side cab.