A telescopic handler is like a forklift. It has one telescopic boom that extends upwards and forwards from the truck, and a counterweight situated in the rear. It functions more like a crane than a forklift. The boom can be outfitted with different kinds of attachments. The most popular attachment is pallet forks, but the operator can also attach a bucket, muck grab or lift table. Also called a telehandler, this particular type of machinery is commonly used in industry and agriculture.
A telehandler is most frequently utilized to transport loads to and from areas that would be difficult for a conventional forklift to access. Telehandlers are commonly used to unload pallets from within a trailer. They are also more handy than a crane for carrying loads onto other high locations and rooftops.
The telehandler has one major limitation. Even with rear counterweights, the weight-bearing boom could cause the equipment to destabilize as it extends. Hence, the lifting capacity decreases 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 consisted of a driver's cab on the rear section and a centrally mounted boom on the front, but nowadays the design that is most popular has a rigid chassis along with a rear mounted boom and side cab.