Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-12-09 Origin: Site
If you walk into a busy warehouse or a construction site, you will see heavy machinery moving materials and people to dizzying heights. For the untrained eye, these machines might look somewhat similar—they both lift things, they both have wheels, and they both operate hydraulically. However, confusing a reach truck with a cherry picker is a mistake that can lead to operational inefficiencies and serious safety hazards.
The short answer is no, a reach truck is not the same as a cherry picker. They serve entirely different functions. A reach truck is designed to move heavy pallets of goods in a warehouse setting while the operator remains in the cab. A cherry picker, often called a boom lift, is designed to lift a person in a basket to perform tasks at height.
Understanding the specific mechanics, purposes, and safety requirements of each is essential for anyone managing a fleet or looking to rent equipment. This guide breaks down the critical differences between these two vital pieces of machinery.
A reach truck is a specialized type of forklift primarily used in indoor warehousing environments. As the name suggests, its defining feature is its ability to "reach" out.
Unlike a standard counterbalance forklift, a reach truck has a mechanism that allows the forks to extend forward away from the mast. This design allows the machine to place and retrieve pallets in double-deep racking systems, significantly increasing storage density in a warehouse.
The engineering behind a reach truck focuses on stability and maneuverability in tight spaces. These machines are typically electric-powered and operate on smooth, flat surfaces like concrete warehouse floors. The operator usually sits sideways or stands in a compartment, providing excellent visibility when reversing down narrow aisles.
The carriage of the truck moves up and down a fixed mast, while the forks extend into the racking using a pantograph (a scissor-like mechanism). Crucially, the operator stays in the cab at ground level (or slightly elevated in a stand-up cab) while the load is lifted.
The reach truck is the workhorse of high-density storage facilities. If your operation involves moving palletized goods into high racking systems within narrow aisles, this is the machine you need. Its compact footprint allows it to turn in much smaller circles than standard forklifts, maximizing floor space for storage rather than travel lanes.
While the term "cherry picker" originated from its initial use in orchards for harvesting fruit, in the industrial world, it refers to an articulating or telescopic boom lift.
The primary function of a cherry picker is to provide aerial access for people. It consists of a grounded vehicle with a hydraulic arm (the boom) and a platform or bucket (the basket) at the end. The operator stands in this basket and controls the movement of the boom, lifting themselves to the required height to perform work.
Cherry pickers are designed for versatility and reach—but a different kind of reach than the truck mentioned above. The boom can extend vertically and horizontally, allowing the operator to go up and over obstacles.
These machines can be powered by electricity, diesel, or gas. Unlike reach trucks, many cherry pickers are equipped with rugged tires and suspension systems that allow them to operate outdoors on uneven terrain.
You won't typically see a cherry picker moving pallets. Instead, you will find them on construction sites, utility projects, or during facility maintenance. If a technician needs to fix a streetlight, paint a ceiling, repair a roof, or trim a tree, a cherry picker is the tool of choice. It provides a safe, stable platform for a worker and their tools.
To select the right equipment, you must look at three main factors: what you are lifting, where the operator is, and the environment.
This is the most significant distinction. A reach truck is a material handling device. It is engineered to lift heavy static loads—specifically pallets—weighing thousands of pounds. It is not designed, nor is it safe, to lift people.
A cherry picker is a personnel access device. Its lifting capacity is generally much lower (usually 500 to 1,000 lbs), just enough to support one or two workers and their tools. It is not designed to lift heavy pallets of stock.
On a reach truck, the operator remains safely inside the protective structure of the cab at the base of the machine. Only the forks and the load ascend the mast.
On a cherry picker, the operator goes for the ride. They stand in the basket and control the lift from that elevated position. This allows them to be right next to the work area, whether that’s a window 40 feet up or a cable line 60 feet in the air.
Reach trucks are almost exclusively indoor machines. They require flat, polished concrete to operate safely because their wheels are small and hard (polyurethane). Using a reach truck on asphalt or gravel would damage the machine and pose a tipping risk.
Cherry pickers are far more adaptable. While electric boom lifts are used indoors for facility maintenance (like changing gym lights), rough-terrain diesel cherry pickers are a staple on outdoor construction sites where the ground is uneven or muddy.
Because these machines serve different purposes, the training required to operate them is also different. Holding a license for one does not qualify you to operate the other.
Training for a reach truck focuses on load stability, maneuvering in narrow aisles, and understanding load centers. Operators must learn how to stack and de-stack at height without toppling the racking or the load.
Training for a cherry picker focuses on fall protection. Since the operator is working at height, they must wear a safety harness and lanyard clipped to the basket. Training covers assessing ground stability, avoiding overhead power lines, and emergency descent procedures.
Choosing between a reach truck and a cherry picker should be determined by the task at hand. Ask yourself these questions:
What am I lifting? If it is a pallet of merchandise, you need a reach truck. If it is a welder or a painter, you need a cherry picker.
Where is the work happening? If it is in a narrow warehouse aisle, the reach truck is king. If it is outside on a construction site or up in the rafters of a building, the cherry picker is required.
How high do I need to go? While both reach significant heights, if you need to reach over an obstacle (like a wall or machinery), the articulating arm of a cherry picker is the only solution.
While both machines are feats of hydraulic engineering that help us work at heights, they are not interchangeable. The reach truck is the master of the warehouse, moving inventory with precision and density. The cherry picker is the master of access, lifting workers safely to difficult-to-reach locations.
Using the wrong machine for the job isn't just inefficient; it's dangerous. By understanding these fundamental differences, you ensure that your project runs smoothly and, most importantly, that your team stays safe.
