Telescopic handlers are a bit similar to forklifts. It possesses one telescopic boom that extends both forwards and upwards from the truck, and a counterweight located within the rear. 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 could also attach a muck grab, lift table or bucket. Also called a telehandler, this kind of machine is normally used in industry and agriculture.
When it is difficult for a standard forklift to access places, a telehandler is usually used to move loads. Telehandlers are usually used to unload pallets from in a trailer. They are also more practical than a crane for carrying loads onto other high places and rooftops.
The telehandler has one major limitation. Even with rear counterweights, the weight-bearing boom can cause the equipment to destabilize as it extends. Hence, the lifting capacity lessens 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 models had a centrally mounted boom on the front and a driver's cab on the rear section, but these days the design that is most common has a strong chassis along with a side cab and rear mounted boom.