Types of equipment.

TM 38-400/NAVSUP PUB 572/AFMAN 23-210 MCO 4450.14/DLAM 4145.12

warehouses; the most common use is in connection with

DISCUSS TYPES AND USES OF EQUIPMENT

trailers to make up tractor-trailer trains.

-"Will someone name the various types of equipment

that are being used in materials handling operations at

(4) Trailers. The trailers used in our storage

our own installations?"

operations are an adaptation of the four-wheel platform

(LIST types on blackboard)

truck, with attachments for hooking them together so

that two or more can form a "train." Light duty trailers

TRACTORS

have capacities up to 6,000 pounds; heavy duty up to

TRAILERS

10,000 pounds. Platforms are usually 6 to 9 feet long

FORK TRUCKS

and 3 to 4 feet wide. Platform height from the floor

CONVEYORS

ranges from 14 to 18 inches. The most commonly used

TWO-WHEEL HAND TRUCKS

trailer has a capacity of 4,000 pounds, platform 6 feet by

FOUR-WHEEL HAND TRUCKS

3 feet at a height of 14 inches from the floor. Automatic

STOCK PICKING TRUCKS

coupling devices have replaced the old hook and eye

HANDLIFT TRUCKS

coupler; this has reduced injuries. The primary use of

CRANES

the tractor-trailer train is for hauling unit loads, palletized

DOLLIES

or not, for distances over 400 feet. Tractor-trailer trains

also can be used to advantage in collecting and

DISCUSS in general terms how each type is being used.

delivering LCL shipments to the collecting point. Trains

Suggest additions to the list if any have been omitted.

should never be "frozen" by storing on them materials

(1) General. To help speed the movement of

that will not be moved for a long period of time.

supplies and to make the materials handling job easier

(5) Straddle trucks. When equipped with

for laborers, there are certain types of handling

pallet loading devices, these vehicles are self-

equipment that are used in military storage

loading/offloading and do not require forklift support.

establishments.

Any person in a supervisory job

Based on these benefits, some installations will not use

whether the warehousing supervisor or a squad leader-

trailer-trains.

should know what these types are, how they should be

(6) Conveyors.

used, and in what operations they serve to the best

advantage. Many man-hours and equipment hours can

(a) There are many types of conveyors

be wasted by failing to use proper equipment in an

that can be used in our depots. The permanent belt

operation or by failing to know how to use it. For

conveyor, portable belt conveyor, gravity roller

example, in stacking unit loads by fork truck, it is not

conveyor, and skate roller conveyor can be used to

necessary to have a helper for the fork truck operator if

advantage, if they are used for the purpose for which

the operator has been properly trained.

In most

they were designed. In many operations, the conveyor

operations of this type, a helper represents man-hours

can be used in conjunction with the fork truck. The

wasted. The most commonly used equipment AND their

conveyor cannot efficiently replace the fork truck in

primary uses are listed and further identified in chapter

certain operations any more than the fork truck can

4, section II, of this manual.

replace the conveyor in other operations. The skate

(2) Forklift truck.

These machines have

wheel conveyor which is light in weight, speedy, easily

become the most used mechanical aid of all. The

set up, and readily transported is the type most

primary use of forklift trucks is to transport and stack

commonly used. This conveyor can be used efficiently

palletized loads or large boxes and crates with skids.

for loading and unloading trucks or freight cars where no

They are most economically used when the distance of

platform is available and where the surface does not

travel is limited to distance under 400 feet. Selection of

permit the use of a fork truck.

the size of the forklift truck is determined by the weight

(b) Conveyors can be used to

of loads, size of pallets, width of aisles, width of

advantage also in packing operations, serving both as a

doorways, and whether it must be used to enter freight

work table and a means of moving the material from

cars. Generally, the 2,000and 4,000-pound capacity

one

trucks are the most popular for inside storage

operations. Trucks having a greater lift capacity are

used chiefly in outside storage areas.

(3) Tractors. Their low gearing and weight

give them increased drawbar-pull capacity. They come

equipped with pneumatic tires and are most often used

for outside hauls, in outside storage, or hauls between

7-30