It happens to everyone at some time.
Everyone who has a forklift or truck has had this problem. You have one last pallet, tub or box to remove from the truck, the forks barely reach under the load, you lift up a little hoping to drag it back a little so you can lift it but, the load slips off the forks. You try to do it again, but it is not going to budge. What are you going to do to fix the problem?
You are going to have to get it off the hard way.
There are all kinds of ways to get that stubborn load off the truck. The problem is they are all a pain in the neck.
The first thing everyone tries is to ask the truck driver or a nearby employee to “help”. The extra person pulls on the reluctant load while the forklift driver tries to drag the load closer. This might work, but now two people are being paid to unload one skid from the truck. What a waste.
Who wants to get dirty?
Not only is it inconvenient but it can also be messy. Who wants to lean against a messy truck and strain to pull a load off a truck? The forklift should be doing the heavy work not employees, and especially not you.
The load may come off the truck this way but now someone is sweaty, dirty, and not doing his job while he “helps” the forklift driver unload a truck.
Careful! Someone’s going to get hurt doing that.
Wasting time and energy is bad enough, but there is also an element of danger anytime someone “helps” this way. Reaching up and yanking to get the load off the bed of a truck can cause sprains, strains and bruises. It could get even more serious than that.
It’s to die for?
One of the most dangerous pieces of equipment in the workplace is the forklift. Thousands of injuries and deaths each year are caused by forklift mishaps. There is always an element of risk when working with a forklift. The closer you are to the forklift the more dangerous it is. If someone is at the back of the truck “helping” the forklift he is at risk of being crushed between the forklift and the truck. If you can eliminate that risk, the job of unloading that truck just got much safer.
Another, potential disaster of unloading that stubborn load with an employee “helping” the forklift is from the risk of falling. As the forklift is trying to drag the load back, the “helper” oftentimes slips, loses his grip, or the box breaks. Most of the time this isn’t too serious of a problem. However, between the risk of whacking a wrist on the steel bumper of the truck, or cracking your head on the concrete floor or getting run over by the ten thousand pound forklift, it is probably safer to find a better way.
Real help is here.
Eliminating the dangerous activity of having someone strain and jerk the goods toward the edge of the truck is a necessity. The easiest and most effective way is with ForkGrips. ForkGrips keep that extra person away from the dangers of the forklift and back doing his own job. ForkGrips can get even the most stubborn loads off of the truck in seconds…safely…without any “help” from others.
Don’t fall off.
Many people are aware of the dangers of “helping” unload while standing on the ground by the forklift. They try to eliminate the dangers so they climb onto the truck bed to “help”. This time, however, they “help” by pushing the load or using a pry bar or long board. This may reduce the risk of getting crushed by the forklift, but the fall from the truck is a long one and the ground below is probably cement.
The simple task of getting into the truck bed can be dangerous. Even if the truck has a ladder or step, they feel like they are made of butter covered ice when you step onto them after the truck has driven in the rain, or you have a little drop of oil on your shoe. This situation of climbing onto the truck has to be eliminated for the sake of safety.
ForkGrips can be installed in seconds. They eliminate the need to climb onto the truck to get those loads that the forks barely reach. You can’t get hurt by falling off the truck,
if you aren’t on the truck. ForkGrips are installed while you are safely on the ground.
Tools to fix your problem.
There are all kinds of tools and aids available to help unload trucks that are safer than having someone “help” the forklift. All of them are time consuming and not necessarily safe. ForkGrips are safe and easy.
Many people who own forklifts have these tools that assist with unloading trucks. However, none of them can do it as easily or as safely as ForkGrips do.
It’s not the length, it’s the grip.
Many forklift drivers have used fork extensions to reach loads they typically couldn’t. Fork extensions are steel sleeves that fit over the forks to make them longer. They are useful tools for many situations. In some situations they are a Godsend. However, they weigh a ton.
Fork extensions allow the forklift to do a lot of work but it takes a lot of work to put them on the forks. First, you have to lug the huge slabs of steel from where they are stored, lift them up onto the forks, place them over the forks, and slide them into position. This all happens while you pray that you don’t get a hernia or smash a finger or toe while lifting the forty pound planks into place.
Now you are ready to unload that one last pallet from the truck. Don’t forget, now that you are done unloading, you have to remove those same extensions and put them away. Watch your fingers and toes. ForkGrips weigh less than a pound and can be stored right on the forklift next to the driver or on the truck for easy access. It’s an easy choice to make…ForkGrips.
Chains and straps are a pain, ForkGrips a pleasure.
Just like fork extensions, the use of chains, ropes, straps and pallet pullers to unload a truck is proven and reliable. But, it is a time consuming option. Plus, you still have to climb onto the dangerous truck bed to wrap the strap around the pallet or hook the chain to the load. Be careful not to fall off the truck while climbing down to get back on the forklift to drag the load back. Remember to put away the bulky straps and heavy chains.
Another thing to be careful of while unloading with chains, ropes and straps is damage to the load. If the material coming off the truck is delicate or fragile, don’t let the ropes or chain crush, scratch or dent the goods. Having to explain to the boss or customer that the forklift driver has just damaged the product just delivered in good condition is not pleasant and unnecessary.
ForkGrips gently grip the bottom of the pallet, skid, or tub to allow you to slide it closer to the edge of the truck for safe, easy removal without damage. Unloading the truck in a way that is safe for the employees and the goods is the only way. Using ForkGrips is a win-win decision.
The big guys need help too.
ForkGrips work on small trucks and large trucks. Whether you are unloading a pick-up truck or a semi trailer, ForkGrips can help. Even if you have access to a loading dock that allows the forklift to drive on to the truck bed for loading and unloading, ForkGrips are a useful tool to store on all of your forklifts. Many times the truck wells are occupied with trucks that will take hours to load or unload. Rather than wait for a dock well, quickly unloading in the parking lot or driveway is possible if you have ForkGrips available. That stubborn tub or skid an be removed and that truck can be on its way quickly, without having to wait for a dock to become available. ForkGrips can save a lot of time, which means a lot of money.
The little guy’s problem
Another reason all forklifts, including those at places with loading docks, is for the small trucks that deliver. Even warehouses and factories that have fifty docks that unload semi trailers 24 hours a day will have deliveries made by vans, and pick-up trucks. You can’t drive forklifts onto these little trucks. A loading dock won’t help in this situation. ForkGrips will. ForkGrips allow easy removal of loads off trucks when the forklift has to stay on the ground.
Going for the second
ForkGrips are extremely handy for unloading pick-up trucks. Even if the skid was loaded on to the tail end of the truck to make it easy to remove, the load can shift while driving. Stop and go traffic can shift the material just out of reach of the forklift. We know the problems with that. With a pick-up truck you may need to remove the tailgate to remove the load. With ForkGrips you can save a lot of time and trouble.
Another simple problem ForkGrips solve is unloading the second skid from the bed of a van or pick-up. The beds of pick-up trucks and the back of vans fit two tubs or skids easily. Removing the tub or skid that is at the back is easy. Removing the second can be tough. The forks usually just barely reach the load. As before, installing the ForkGrips on to the ends of the forks allows for easy removal in seconds without any problems or dangers.
ForkGrips make truck unloading safer. Safer is good. Safer means less injuries. Less injuries means less workman’s comp claims. Less workman’s comp claims means lower insurance rates and more money for you.
ForkGrips make truck unloading easier. ForkGrips allow for one person to safely unload a truck. ForkGrips makes unloading trucks faster. ForkGrips keep employees doing their jobs and making money for you. ForkGrips make life better.
You can benefit from ForkGrips too. To find out more about getting a pair of ForkGrips for each of your forklifts and trucks call toll free at
1-877-358-4328(international 1-586-293-9100)_
