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