Abstract: Mechanisms are described for scanning items while they remain loaded on a forklift (or other mobile carrier), or while the items are being loaded or unloaded in the normal course of warehouse operations. An apparatus including any number of scanner(s) (such as image capture device(s) or other devices for capturing information about physical items) may be affixed to the mobile carrier, and may be configured to automatically actuate during loading and unloading operations. The scanner(s) may be configured to automatically commence information capture when loading/unloading operations commence, and to automatically stop capture when loading/unloading operations are completed. Automatically actuated lamp(s) may also be provided to aid in information capture.