A telescopic handler is similar to a forklift. It has a single telescopic boom that extends forwards and upwards from the truck, and a counterweight situated in the back. It works more like a crane than a forklift. The boom could be equipped with a variety of attachments. The most common attachment is pallet forks, but the operator can also attach a bucket, muck grab or lift table. Also called a telehandler, this type of machine is usually used in industry and agriculture.
A telehandler is commonly employed to move loads to and from areas that will be difficult for a standard forklift to access. Telehandlers are commonly utilized to unload pallets from within a trailer. They are also more handy compared to a crane for carrying loads onto other high areas and rooftops.
The telehandler has one major limitation. Even with rear counterweights, the weight-bearing boom could cause the machine to destabilize as it extends. Thus, the lifting capacity lessens as the distance between the center of the load and the front of the wheels increases.
Telehandlers were developed in England by the Matbro company. Their design was based on articulated cross country forklifts utilized in forestry. First models had a centrally mounted boom on the front and a driver's cab on the back section, but today the design that is most common has a rigid chassis with a rear mounted boom and side cab.