Home>Products> Internal Combustion (IC) Forklift > 12t - 52t Heavy Lift Trucks

Empty Container Forklift

• 16,000 kg rated capacity at a 600 mm load center
• 1,800 × 180 × 90 mm heavy-duty fork dimensions
• 3,000 mm standard lifting height
• Yuchai engine standard; Dongfeng Cummins engine optional
• 22 / 28 km/h loaded and unloaded travel speed
• Designed for compatible 20 ft and 40 ft empty-container workflows
• Suitable for ports, container depots and heavy-logistics yards

Send Inquiry

Description

16-ton diesel yard forklift

Fork-based handling for empty-container workflows

The empty container forklift combines a 16,000 kg rated capacity at a 600 mm load center with 1,800 mm forks and a 3,000 mm standard lift. It is intended for port, depot and heavy-logistics teams that move compatible empty containers or other long loads at ground and loading-height positions.

Unlike a purpose-built empty-container handler with a top-lift spreader, this machine engages the load with forks. That makes fork-pocket geometry, container condition, load center and the approved load chart central to model selection.

Get Expert Advice

Best fit

Sites seeking a conventional heavy-duty forklift layout for compatible empty-container transfer, trailer interface and short-distance yard movement.

Choose another machine when

Your operation requires multi-high empty-container stacking, top-lift engagement, loaded-container handling or reach over another row.

Core data for an initial fit check

16,000 kgRated capacity at the stated 600 mm load center

3,000 mmStandard lifting height

4,880 mmMinimum turning radius

18,000 kgListed service weight

92 / 97 kWRated power by listed engine selection

1,800 mmFork length; section 180 × 90 mm

Capacity is geometry-dependent. The 16,000 kg rating is stated at a 600 mm load center. A long container produces a very different load geometry, so the project-specific residual capacity, fork-pocket position and approved handling method must be confirmed before purchase or operation.

What the machine configuration shows

The product images show a diesel counterbalance chassis, enclosed cab, upright mast and long forks. This layout keeps the operating logic familiar to trained heavy-forklift drivers while providing the mass, tyre package and fork section listed for the model.

The 3,000 mm standard lift and 4,440 mm maximum working height position the machine around low-level transfer rather than the tall stacking patterns associated with dedicated empty-container handlers. The listed 22 km/h loaded and 28 km/h unloaded travel speeds should be evaluated against site speed limits, surface quality and traffic separation rules.

Direct fork engagement for loads with verified pockets or approved lifting points
Counterbalance layout for ground-level pickup and placement
Enclosed operator compartment for outdoor yard duty
Pneumatic tyre sizes listed as 12.00-20 front and 11.00-20 rear

Side view of the 16 ton diesel forklift with long forks and enclosed cab

Side profile showing the counterbalance chassis, mast, long fork arms and tyre layout.

Technical specification

Rated load capacity	16,000 kg
Rated load center	600 mm
Service weight	18,000 kg
Standard lifting height	3,000 mm
Maximum working height	4,440 mm
Minimum turning radius	4,880 mm
Gradeability, loaded	20%

Standard engine	Yuchai YC6B125-T21
Optional engine	Dongfeng Cummins 6BT5.9-C130-II
Rated power	92 / 97 kW
Travel speed, loaded / unloaded	22 / 28 km/h
Fork dimensions	1,800 × 180 × 90 mm
Front / rear tyres	12.00-20 / 11.00-20
Listed application	ISO 20 ft / 40 ft container handling

Final configuration and performance data should be confirmed on the signed technical agreement and model-specific load chart.

Verify the load interface before comparing quotations

01 · Container

Identify the exact unit

Record container length, tare mass, condition and whether compliant forklift pockets are present. "20 ft" or "40 ft" alone is not enough to approve a lift.

02 · Geometry

Map forks to pockets

Confirm pocket opening, spacing, insertion depth, ground clearance and the resulting center of gravity. Check that the fork section and length suit the actual interface.

03 · Capacity

Approve the real load case

Use the manufacturer's load chart for the selected mast and attachment. Include any offset, uneven mass distribution and residual capacity requirement.

Rear view of two yellow 16 ton diesel forklifts at the manufacturing site

Rear view showing the wide counterweight, enclosed cabs and rear tyre stance.

Site conditions that affect the selection

A paper specification cannot determine whether the truck can work productively in a specific yard. A layout check should cover the full travel path, not only the pickup point.

Aisle and turn space: compare the 4,880 mm turning radius with container corners, trailers, fences and pedestrian zones.
Surface: confirm pavement strength, drainage, gradients, joints and pothole control for an 18,000 kg machine plus load.
Overhead clearance: measure doorways, canopies, cables and other obstructions against the mast and maximum working envelope.
Traffic plan: define one-way routes, speed limits, exclusion zones and reversing controls.
Duty cycle: provide moves per hour, travel distance, shift duration and idle pattern when selecting engine and cooling configuration.

Forklift or purpose-built handler?

This fork-based model may fit when

The empty container has verified, compatible fork pockets
Work is mainly pickup, trailer transfer and short yard repositioning
The required lift height stays within the approved low-level envelope
The site prefers a familiar heavy counterbalance forklift format

Compare an empty-container handler when

Containers must be engaged from the top with a spreader
Multi-high stacking is a daily operating requirement
Side shift, pile alignment and container-specific visibility are priorities
Yard throughput depends on repeated container stacking cycles

For tall stacking, review the empty container handler range. For other fork-based capacities, compare the container forklift range.

Information to include with your enquiry

A complete application brief allows the engineering team to confirm the handling interface and avoid an unsuitable quotation. Please provide:

Load details

Container standard, length, tare mass, fork-pocket drawing and photos of the intended lifting points.

Operating pattern

Pickup and placement heights, moves per hour, one-way travel distance, gradients and shift length.

Site constraints

Minimum aisle width, doorway height, pavement condition, climate, local fuel and emission requirements.

Questions buyers often ask

Can this empty container forklift lift any 20 ft or 40 ft container?

No blanket approval should be assumed. The container must have compatible, serviceable forklift pockets, and the actual mass, center of gravity, fork insertion and model load chart must all be checked for the proposed lift.

Does the 16,000 kg rating mean it can handle a 16-ton container?

The stated rating applies at a 600 mm load center. Container geometry creates a different load center, so only the approved residual-capacity calculation and load chart can determine the permissible load.

Is this model intended for loaded containers?

This page positions the model for empty-container work. Loaded-container handling should not be inferred from the nominal capacity; request a separate engineering review and consider equipment designed for that application.

How high can this forklift lift?

The listed standard lifting height is 3,000 mm and the listed maximum working height is 4,440 mm. Confirm how each dimension is defined and request the selected mast drawing before planning clearances or placement heights.

Which engine is supplied?

The listed standard engine is the Yuchai YC6B125-T21. A Dongfeng Cummins 6BT5.9-C130-II is listed as an option. Availability and emissions suitability should be confirmed for the destination market.

What should be submitted for a technical recommendation?

Send the container specification and fork-pocket drawing, actual tare mass, pickup and placement heights, yard layout, surface and gradient information, duty cycle, climate, destination country and required documentation.