Recommended Maximum Grade for Stand-Up Rider Trucks
The recommended maximum grade for stand-up rider forklift trucks (ITA Class 2 Powered Industrial Trucks) is 5% Grade which is about 3-degrees of slope angle, which is approximately one foot of rise for every 20 feet of run.
The surface conditions for this maximum grade slope or ramp must be clean, dry, smooth concrete or asphalt and direction of travel must be with the heavy end of the truck pointing up grade.
All of these conditions must be met in order to minimize the possibility of breaking traction while ascending or decending the slope which could result in the vehicle sliding out of control, and out of "square" with the wheels not parallel to the direction of travel, and resulting in a lateral tipover of the vehicle.
Stand-up rider trucks with single rear wheel drive, steering, and braking can be especially dangerous on ramps and sloped surfaces greater than 5% grade.
For stand-up rider trucks, "plugging" is the preferred method of speed control for slowing, braking, stopping, and reversing direction of travel. Use of the foot operated "parking brake" for speed control on sloped surfaces can be dangerous.
Only operators with exceptional experience and operating skills should operate a stand-up rider truck on a sloped surface with greater than 5% grade.
Surfaces with greater than 5% grade should be eliminated from the operating travel path for routine load handling tasks.