Material handling vehicle identification tag

A universal operating and identification system for a plurality of material handling vehicles, said operating and identification system being customized to each specific material handling vehicle in which it is installed, comprising:

• a) a universal system processor for installation in one of a plurality of material handling vehicles, said universal system processor being operative to control any one of said plurality of material handling vehicles by means of a program for controlling said plurality of different vehicles, said universal system processor program being customized to operate in a specific material handling vehicle in which it is installed, to insure proper operation of that specific material handling vehicle;
• and
• b) a customizing, identification means installed within a material handling vehicle containing said universal system processor, said identification means being operatively connected to supply said system processor with data for uniquely identifying said material handling vehicle and for defining its proper operation.

A method of customizing a material handling vehicle to perform system operations specific to that particular material handling vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• a) installing a universal-type system processor in said material handling vehicle, said universal-type processor being operative to process data and information for a plurality of different material handling vehicles;
• and
• b) installing and operatively connecting an identification tag to said universal-type processor for identifying the specific vehicle to which it is installed, said identification tag containing information and data specific to the operation of said vehicle, whereby said universal-type processor will only operate in a manner consistant with the vehicle in which it is installed.