An owner or user must not make modifications and additions affecting capacity and safe operation of the trucks without the manufacturer’s prior written approval. In these cases, capacity, operation, and maintenance inspection plates and tags or decals must be changed to reflect the new information. If the truck is equipped with front-end attachments that are not factory installed, the user should request that the truck be marked to identify these attachments and show the truck’s approximate weight, including the installed attachments, when it is at maximum elevation with its load centered.

Additional Notes:

Q: What are the most common power sources for industrial trucks?

A: Internal combustion engines (gasoline, diesel, or LP) and electric motors.

Q: How are industrial trucks designated regarding use in potentially hazardous atmospheres?

A: There are eleven designations (G, GS, D, DS, DY, LP, LPS, E, ES, EE, EX). The first letter(s) represents the power source or fuel (gasoline, diesel, liquefied petroleum gas, or electrical). The last letter indicates the safeguards used to prevent ignitions and explosions.

The eleven different types provide a variety of safeguards, some greater than others. There are powered industrial trucks that are designed, constructed, and assembled for use in atmospheres containing flammable vapors or dusts. These include powered industrial trucks equipped with additional safeguards to their exhaust, fuel, and electrical systems; with no electrical equipment, including ignition; with temperature limitation features; and with electric motors and all other electrical equipment completely enclosed. There are designated conditions and locations under which the vast range of industrial trucks can be used.

Note: More information is contained in the OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.178 for powered industrial trucks.