The counterbalanced forklift is a lift truck which utilizes a counter balance that is connected to the rear end of the machinery. This counterbalance effectively balances loads that are positioned on the tines at the front end of the machine. This particular design is engineered to stabilize conventional lift trucks. As far as electric counterbalance lift trucks are concerned, the counterweight is formed by the battery itself.

Counterbalance forklifts can usually be found in every manufacturer's product range. They are typically manufactured in a range of configurations and sizes, using a variety of fuel sources. These lift trucks could be designed with 4 or 3 wheels, or be fitted. They can work in diverse applications. These kinds of forklifts are outfitted with various kinds of accessories. Common attachments and options include: side shifts, hydraulic clamps, fork shifts and slip sheet attachments just to name some items.

Counterbalance forklifts have revolutionized the material handling industry. They have become the cornerstone of storage and distribution systems where they perform loading, stacking, horizontal transport functions and unloading. The standard warehouse lift trucks are usually utilized for lift heights under 6 meters or 20 feet. There have been some models recently developed which can lift to heights 31 feet or 9.5 meters. The smaller 1-1.8 ton or 4000 lbs. forklifts are the main workhorses within most warehouses. These are the most popular units which the majority of small companies will have. The standard warehouse counterbalance forklift is a wide-aisle truck which needs roughly 3 meters or 11 feet to turn in.

Counterbalance forklifts are not necessarily limited to the warehouse. They are usually used for container carrying and heavy use along with basically every application in between. Counterbalance forklifts are the most widely used and versatile of all materials handling machinery.

The counterbalanced forklift is common in many working environments, like retail, warehousing and production. This is because of their durability and versatility. Some of the industrial applications include: timber, automotive, food and chemical businesses.