Ok. A manufacturer builds the forklift. The big European manufactures will probably deal direct (sell and rent) and have a large sales force and service team. This is jungeheinrich, linde and more recently Toyota although they gained their direct team from BT.

Dealers and independents are third party intermediataries. They buy from the manufacturer and sell or rent to the customer. There is not much difference between a dealer and an independent in
function but there is in size. Barlow and Briggs buy from hyster and Yale and market them. A smaller dealer may sell Mitsubishi, still, or another Korean or Chinese make.

It doesn't matter if you are a dealer, manufacturer or an independent. Everyone is selling, renting, servicing or whatever else to get in front of the other! The methods maybe different but the goals are the same.