Forklift Coloring Pages

Lift with forks, carry away

Forklift is a working vehicle that helps out in factories, warehouses, and markets.
Its biggest feature is the two flat prongs on the front of the body. These are called forks, and they are where the name comes from.
It slides these forks under heavy loads and lifts them right up. It can easily carry heavy things that even a whole group of people couldn’t move all by itself!

Loads go on a "pallet"

Forklift is not actually lifting the heavy load by itself.
The load sits on a wooden or plastic board called a pallet. There are gaps on the side of the pallet, and the forks slide right into them.
The pallet used most often in Japan is a square that is 1100 millimeters long and 1100 millimeters wide. It is called the "T11 type," and people at work call it the "Ichi-Ichi pallet."
When all the pallets are the same size, they can be moved straight to any warehouse or loaded onto any truck seamlessly.

There is a reason the back is heavy

If you look at Forklift from the side, you might notice that the very back of the body looks square and heavy.
This is a weight called a counterweight.
If you put a heavy load on the front forks, the vehicle would usually tip forward. The heavy weight in the back keeps it balanced!
It works just like a seesaw, with the front wheels acting as the middle pivot. That is why even a small vehicle body can lift loads that weigh many tons!

It turns using the back tires

There is one more big difference between Forklift and a normal car.
While normal cars turn using their front tires, Forklift turns using its back tires.
Because of this, it can make really tight turns and spin around right on the spot. This lets it move around freely even in narrow warehouse aisles.
On the other hand, the back of the vehicle swings out wide when turning. So the driver always stays very careful about what is behind them.

The roof does not have glass

The square roof over the driver's seat is called a headguard.
If you look closely, there is no glass in it, just a row of thick bars. It is not made to block the rain!
This roof is made to protect the driver if high-stacked loads crumble and fall down.
It also lets the driver look up through the gaps between the bars so they can work while watching high up loads.

The body is orange or yellow

The body of Forklift is painted in bright colors so people can spot it right away in a warehouse.
Orange, yellow, and red are very common. Any of these colors will make it look like the real thing!
Instead, make the mast and fork gray or black. These parts are bare steel, so using a different color from the body makes it easier to see how it works.

Leave the tips of the fork white

The two prongs rub against cargo, so the tips are polished shiny and bright.
So if you color the base dark gray and leave the tips white, it will look like it has been hard at work!
You can also leave just the top side of the prongs white. That will make them look shiny!

Color the pallet in wood colors

Try coloring the pallet holding the cargo in light brown.
If you change the color shade just a little bit for each board, everyone can tell it is made of wooden planks!
Cardboard boxes can be light brown or yellowish brown. If you leave the tape lines white, you can tell the tops are taped shut.

Warehouse shelves are blue or gray

If you color the steel shelves in the back blue or gray, it will look just like a real warehouse! Real warehouse shelves often use these colors too.
If you color the shelves in the back lightly and the ones in front darkly, it will show how big the warehouse is.
Helmets can be white or yellow. If you leave the floor white, the warehouse will look nice and bright!

The License Changes at 1 Ton

You need a license to drive a Forklift. Plus, the license splits into two types depending on how much weight it can lift.
By law, if the maximum load is less than 1 ton, you must take "Special Education." If it is 1 ton or more, you must take the "Skill Training Course."
The Skill Training Course takes more days, and it has both written and driving tests.
For adults who work in factories, a Forklift license is one of the top licenses that helps them do more kinds of jobs.

Inside Warehouses, They Run on Electricity

Some Forklift trucks run on engines, while others run on batteries.
Strong engine types work hard at outdoor construction sites and ports.
On the other hand, battery-powered types are used inside warehouses that handle food and medicine. That is because they do not make exhaust gas and are very quiet.
If you look closely at the warehouse scene in the coloring page, you can see boxes all around. In places like this, keeping the air clean is the most important thing.

Why Are the Tips of the Forks Thin?

If you look closely at the two prongs, do you notice that they are thick at the base and get thinner toward the tips?
The tips are thin so they can easily slide into the gaps of pallets.
The base is thick because that is where the most weight pushes down. It is made thick so it will not bend or break.
Even though it is one solid piece of metal, different parts have different jobs. It is a really clever shape!