Telescopic handlers are somewhat similar to forklifts. It possesses one telescopic boom that extends both forwards and upwards from the truck, and a counterweight within the rear. It functions a lot more like a crane than a forklift. The boom can be outfitted with different types 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 machinery is usually used in agriculture and industry.
A telehandler is often used to transport loads to and from places which would be hard for a conventional forklift to access. Telehandlers are usually used to unload pallets from within a trailer. They are also more practical than a crane for lifting loads onto other high areas and rooftops.
There is only one major limitation in using telehandlers. Even with counterweights at the rear, the weight-bearing boom can cause the machine to destabilize as it extends. Thus, the lifting capacity lessens when 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 mainly on articulated cross country forklifts utilized in forestry. Early versions had a centrally mounted boom on the front and a driver's cab on the rear section, but today the design that is most common has a strong chassis together with a rear mounted boom and side cab.