Straddle carrier

The straddle carrier was invented by H. B. Ross in 1913 as a road-going vehicle that could easily transport lumber around mills and yards.

[5] These "straddles" or "timber jinkers" were a common sight in seaports around the world until the 1970s, but were phased out as larger and faster conventional trucks came into use.

A key advantage of industrial straddle carriers and reach stackers over most forklifts is the ability to load or unload a semi-trailer in a single operation, which can improve efficiency.

The most common use of straddle carriers is in port terminals and intermodal yards, where they are used for stacking and moving ISO standard containers.

The carrier straddles its load, picking it up and carrying it by connecting to the top lifting points using a container spreader.