Over the years as I've tried to explain to people unfamiliar with materials handling what it is exactly, there are always two words that have done the trick. Lift trucks. And I'm not necessarily the one who says the words.

Watch television for a bit, and you're almost sure to see a lift truck in at least one ad. Especially if the advertiser is trying to get across the idea of movement of goods in the supply chain. Lift trucks are that universal symbol.

They are also the focus of five feature stories in this issue. And as you will see, there's a lot going on these days.

Start with the story on page 25 that highlights the latest new lift truck models. What's nearly as notable as all the developments is the fact that there are so many new trucks. In fact, this is the third year there has been a bumper crop of introductions. Just when many may have wondered what could be new, lift truck suppliers have introduced more than 40 models, including a dozen featured here.

And judging from the story about emissions that starts on page 62, there will be more developments in the near future. The EPA is tightening allowable emission levels in 2007. Meanwhile, the California Air Resources Board is doing the same—and then some in future years. That will spur developments in internal combustion engines.

Meanwhile, there's plenty new in batteries, battery chargers and changers and accessories for emission-free electrics right now. Not to mention developments in propane and compressed natural gas powered trucks as well as hydrogen fuel cells. Yes, hydrogen.

Automation is the death knell of lift trucks. Right? Well, not exactly. As the story on page 57 shows, the two are quite complementary. The challenge is using lift trucks and automation to leverage the strength of both. The answer usually comes down to the need for flexibility, the cost of labor and the relative cost of the equipment.

As we all know, the physical movement of materials is only half the story today. The other half is information about materials and their locations. As a result, today's lift truck is a mobile information platform (page 31). Seven technologies from scanners to RFID are keeping lift trucks in the game wherever they are in the plant or warehouse.

And to finish out this issue, we took a look at the need for explosion-proof lift trucks (page 48). As our new Editor at Large Bernie Knill notes, it's better to be safe than sorry when the result could be a smoking hole in the ground, not to mention tragic deaths.

So there it is. A special issue that gives lift trucks their due.