What are the different types of forklifts?

You’ll notice there are six categories:

Class I: Electric Motor Rider Trucks
Class II: Electric Motor Narrow Aisle Trucks
Class III: Electric Motor Hand Trucks or Hand/Rider Trucks
Class IV: Internal Combustion Engine Trucks (Solid/Cushion Tires)
Class V: Internal Combustion Engine Trucks (Pneumatic Tires)
Class VI: Electric and Internal Combustion Engine Tractors
Class VII: Rough Terrain Forklift Trucks

That said, many of the categories have similar characteristics. For example, while an electric motor rider truck (Class I) and Internal Combustion solid tire truck (Class IV) may be different classes because of the power source, they will otherwise be very similar in terms of handling and features, and the biggest differences will be when it comes to refueling/recharging.

On the other hand, you can have trucks within the same class that are very different in terms of their operation. This is especially the case with Class II electric motor rider trucks, which include everything from a stand up reach truck used in narrow aisles, to a sit down turret truck, to an order picker that has the operator elevated with the load, wearing a harness.