A telescopic handler is similar to a forklift. It has one telescopic boom that extends forwards and upwards from the truck, and a counterweight within the rear. It functions 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 bucket, muck grab or lift table. Also called a telehandler, this particular kind of machine is commonly used in agriculture and industry.
A telehandler is commonly employed to move loads to and from areas which will be difficult for a conventional forklift to access. 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.
There is just one major limitation in utilizing telehandlers. Even with rear counterweights, the weight-bearing boom can cause the vehicle to destabilize when it extends. Hence, the lifting capacity lessens when 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 largely on articulated cross country forklifts used in forestry. Early versions consisted of a driver's cab on the back section and a centrally mounted boom on the front, but these days the most common design has a rigid chassis along with a rear mounted boom and side cab.