A telescopic handler is similar to a forklift. It possesses one telescopic boom which extends both forwards and upwards from the truck, and a counterweight in the back. It works a lot more like a crane than a forklift. The boom could be equipped with different kinds of attachments. The most common attachment is pallet forks, but the operator can also attach a muck grab, lift table or bucket. Also called a telehandler, this kind of equipment is commonly used in agriculture and industry.
A telehandler is most frequently employed to move loads to and from areas which would be difficult for a conventional forklift to access. Telehandlers are usually utilized to unload pallets from inside a trailer. They are also more handy compared to a crane for carrying loads onto rooftops and other high areas.
There is just one major limitation in utilizing telehandlers. Even with counterweights at the back, the weight-bearing boom can cause the vehicle 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.
The Matbro company developed telehandlers in England. Their design was based mainly on articulated cross country forklifts used in forestry. Early versions consisted of a driver's cab on the rear section and a centrally mounted boom on the front, but these days the most popular design has a rigid chassis with a side cab and rear mounted boom.