A telescopic handler is like a forklift. It has one telescopic boom which extends both upwards and forwards from the truck, and a counterweight located within the back. It functions much more like a crane than a forklift. The boom can be equipped 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 called a telehandler, this kind of machine is usually utilized in industry and agriculture.
When it is hard for a conventional forklift to access places, a telehandler is usually utilized to transport loads. Telehandlers are frequently utilized to unload pallets from in a trailer. They are also more handy compared to a crane for lifting loads onto rooftops and other high areas.
There is only one major limitation in utilizing telehandlers. Even with rear counterweights, the weight-bearing boom can cause the vehicle to destabilize while it extends. Therefore, the lifting capacity decreases as the distance between the front of the wheels and the centre of the load increases.
The Matbro company developed telehandlers in England. Their design was based on articulated cross country forklifts used in forestry. Early models had a centrally mounted boom on the front and a driver's cab on the rear section, but nowadays the design that is most popular has a rigid chassis with a side cab and rear mounted boom.