Telescopic handlers are a bit similar to forklifts. It has one telescopic boom which extends both forwards and upwards from the truck, and a counterweight in the back. It functions a lot more like a crane than a forklift. The boom can be outfitted with a variety of attachments. The most common attachment is pallet forks, but the operator could also attach a muck grab, lift table or bucket. Also called a telehandler, this type of machine is usually utilized in industry and agriculture.
A telehandler is often employed to transport loads to and from areas which will be difficult for a conventional forklift to access. Telehandlers are usually used to unload pallets from within a trailer. They are also more practical compared to a crane for lifting loads onto rooftops and other high places.
The telehandler has one major limitation. Despite counterweights at the rear, the weight-bearing boom could cause the vehicle to destabilize while it extends. Thus, the lifting capacity lessens as the distance between the front of the wheels and the centre of the load increases.
Telehandlers were developed within England by the Matbro company. Their design was based on articulated cross country forklifts utilized in forestry. Early versions had a centrally mounted boom on the front and a driver's cab on the back section, but nowadays the design that is most common has a strong chassis with a rear mounted boom and side cab.