Telescopic handlers are somewhat like forklifts. It has a single telescopic boom that extends both forwards and upwards from the truck, and a counterweight in the rear. It functions a lot more like a crane than a forklift. The boom could be outfitted with different types 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 type of equipment is usually used in industry and agriculture.
When it is hard for a standard forklift to access places, a telehandler is usually used to move loads. Telehandlers are normally utilized to unload pallets from in a trailer. They are also more practical compared to a crane for carrying loads onto rooftops and other high areas.
The telehandler has one major limitation. Despite rear counterweights, the weight-bearing boom can cause the vehicle to destabilize while it extends. Thus, 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 within England. Their design was based on articulated cross country forklifts used in forestry. Initial versions consisted of a driver's cab on the back section and a centrally mounted boom on the front, but nowadays the most common design has a strong chassis with a rear mounted boom and side cab.