"ATC forklift" is not a single machine or brand. The term refers to at least three distinct things in the material handling industry: a battery-changing attachment, an autonomous tugger, and a traction control system.
Automatic Transfer Carriage (Battery Changer)
The most common meaning of "ATC" in a forklift context is the Automatic Transfer Carriage, a battery handling attachment. Manufactured by BHS, the ATC mounts onto a powered pallet truck and uses the truck's own battery (12V or 24V) to hydraulically extract and insert heavy forklift batteries.
Key Specifications:
Feature ATC-36 ATC-42
Battery Compartment Width 36 inches (914 mm) 42 inches (1,067 mm)
Max Load Capacity 4,000 lbs (1,814 kg) 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg)
Extractor Arm Speed 0–24 ft/min (0.12 m/s) 0–24 ft/min (0.12 m/s)
Battery Attachment Hook & Chain (Standard) Hook & Chain (Standard)
Roller Diameter 2.4 inches (61 mm) 2.4 inches (61 mm)
The ATC is designed for operations with a small to medium-sized forklift fleet or as a backup option for larger battery extraction systems. It reduces downtime by enabling quick battery changes and is built with industrial components for local parts availability.
Big Joe ATC100 Autonomous Tugger
In 2026, Big Joe Forklifts introduced the ATC100, an autonomous tugger designed to tow trailers and carts. This is not a traditional forklift but a robotic towing vehicle.
Towing Capacity: Up to 10,000 lbs
Operation Modes: Fully autonomous, semi-autonomous, or manual
Best For: Point-to-point transport of trailers and carts in warehouses and manufacturing facilities
The ATC100 is part of Big Joe's push toward scalable automation, designed to work alongside human workers in shared spaces without requiring facility layout changes.
Automatic Traction Control
In the broader heavy equipment industry, ATC stands for Automatic Traction Control, a system found on some large articulated haul trucks. While not a standard feature on typical warehouse forklifts, it is used on some rough-terrain and heavy-duty models operating on slippery or uneven surfaces to automatically engage differential locks for better traction.
The bottom line: "ATC forklift" can mean an Automatic Transfer Carriage (BHS battery changer for pallet trucks, 4,000–5,000 lb capacity), Big Joe's ATC100 autonomous tugger (10,000 lb towing capacity, launched 2026), or Automatic Traction Control (a feature on some heavy-duty equipment). If you're looking for battery handling equipment, the BHS ATC is the relevant option. If you're looking for autonomous towing, the Big Joe ATC100 is the new solution. If you're looking for a forklift model, "ATC" is not a standard model designation.