Your statewide guide from Bell Forklift, serving Michigan businesses from Detroit to Gaylord.
If you operate a warehouse or distribution center in Michigan, whether in Metro Detroit, Flint, Lansing, or Northern Michigan, you know how much uptime, efficiency, and the right equipment matter. Choosing the right type of forklift can make or break your productivity.
At Bell Forklift, with five locations across Michigan, including our headquarters in Clinton Township and branches in Birch Run, Novi, Detroit, and Gaylord, we’ve helped warehouses of every size find the best lift truck for their operations. Below are the top five forklift types we recommend for Michigan facilities, based on our decades of local industry experience.
1. Counterbalance Forklift (Sit-Down Rider)
Best for: General warehouse and dock operations
The most common forklift type, counterbalance trucks are built for indoor or mixed-use facilities. Their straightforward design and broad range of capacities make them ideal for shipping and receiving areas, dock operations, and standard warehouse work.
Why Michigan warehouses love it:
- Great for year-round use, handles both indoor operations and light outdoor work, even in winter conditions
- Available in cushion-tire (smooth floors) or pneumatic-tire (mixed surface) models
- Offered in electric or IC engine options for flexibility, though over 70% of forklifts in North America are electric, according to the Industrial Truck Association (ITA)
Bell Forklift advantage: Our teams in Clinton Township and Birch Run carry one of Michigan’s largest selections of Toyota counterbalance forklifts. Plus, we have a large inventory of certified pre-owned units where you can save big!
2. Reach Truck (Narrow-Aisle Specialist)
Best for: High-bay racking and tight warehouse aisles
Reach trucks are designed to lift high and work in narrow aisles, perfect for maximizing vertical storage in modern facilities.
Why it works in Michigan:
- Ideal for space-conscious warehouses in Metro Detroit, Novi, and Flint corridors
- Electric-powered and low-emission for indoor environments
- Precision control for sensitive loads or high stacking
Bell Forklift advantage: We help Michigan warehouses analyze their rack heights, aisle widths, and battery setups to ensure the right reach truck fit.
3. Order Picker (For Piece Picking & E-Commerce)
Best for: Distribution centers and online order fulfillment
Operators rise with the forks to pick items directly from racking, great for high-throughput facilities.
Why Michigan operations need it:
- E-commerce and retail distribution are booming around Metro Detroit and Grand Rapids
- Works well in multi-temperature facilities (food, pharma, or cold storage)
- Improves accuracy and speed for piece-pick operations
Bell Forklift advantage: From Novi to Gaylord, we provide order pickers and operator training that meet Michigan OSHA and ASEC standards.
4. Electric Pallet Jack & Walkie Stacker
Best for: Short-distance material movement and compact spaces
These smaller lift trucks are efficient, affordable, and perfect for loading docks, trailers, or low-clearance zones. Toyota offers a wide array of electric pallet jack and stacker options.
Why Michigan facilities use them:
- Compact design suits tight floorplans
- Excellent for cost-conscious operations, including northern Michigan facilities
- Battery-powered and low-maintenance
Bell Forklift advantage: Our Detroit and Birch Run branches maintain a deep rental fleet of pallet jacks and stackers, ideal for peak seasons or temporary expansion. Plus, as an authorized Toyota Material Handling dealer, you can purchase an electric pallet jack online through MyToyotaStore with units right off our stock floor!
5. Rough Terrain Forklift & Telehandler
Best for: Outdoor yards, construction sites, and heavy loads
When the job takes you outdoors, on gravel, concrete, or snow-covered ground, a rough-terrain forklift or telehandler is the right choice.
Why Michigan warehouses benefit:
- Handles snow, ice, and uneven yard conditions
- Perfect for lumber, steel, or heavy-goods industries
- Available in pneumatic-tire and 4WD options
Bell Forklift advantage: Our Gaylord branch specializes in outdoor equipment sales and service for northern Michigan’s demanding yard conditions.
Why Local Support Matters
Michigan’s climate, cost structures, and facility layouts vary widely, from Detroit’s industrial corridor to Gaylord’s northern industrial parks, which is why local expertise makes all the difference when choosing the best forklifts for Michigan warehouses.
When you partner with Bell Forklift, you gain:
- Local service coverage: Five Michigan locations to keep your fleet running
- Expert technicians and parts support: Same-day service availability and genuine Toyota parts
- Flexible rentals and financing: Tailored for Michigan budgets and seasonal industries
- Operator training & safety programs: Available onsite or at our training centers
Call 888-404-2575 or get in touch with us online to request a quote, schedule a demo, or book a service visit today.