Forklift for Hire

Written by zerophoid on 5th September 2016. Posted in Forklift Rentals For Hire.

Read all about the benefits of hiring or renting a forklift, how to choose the correct forklift, top forklift brands for hire or rental and questions to ask when hiring or renting a forklift in our article below.

What is a Forklift for Hire Business all about?

For anyone in the manufacturing, warehousing or logistics organisations, the need to move bulk items is often a daily necessity. However, the excessive costs involved in purchasing and maintaining the machinery upfront can often be too much for an organisation to incur. Luckily there is a viable alternative – forklift for hire or rental. There are a number of organisations with a range of forklift stock, all available for short or long-term hire or rental. Just make sure you do your research beforehand and determine exactly which forklift suits all your company’s requirements. Read more about what a forklift is here.

What are the Benefits of Hiring or Renting a Forklift?

While purchasing a forklift is beneficial if you are reliant on it every day, any investment in machinery involves ongoing costs related to maintenance, repairs, storage and personnel needed to handle the equipment. In addition, you are committed to using one type of forklift – which, like any machinery, quickly becomes outdated – limiting your organisation’s production. (For a full list of benefits, read here)

How to Choose the Correct Forklift

There are so many varieties of forklift, it can be quite daunting to choose which is best suited to the job at hand. Every forklift for hire company should be able to give you some helpful advice when deciding which forklift to select, but it is always good to have an idea of the different options ahead of time.

The three-wheel forklift is used mainly for indoor, warehouse or other smooth surface use where space is fairly limited. It is primarily used for unloading trucks and moving pallets. Electric-powered, this has cushion tyres and capacities ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 tons.
The four-wheel forklift is also used for unloading trucks and moving pallets and comes with electric, propane, diesel or gasoline engines as well as cushion or pneumatic tyres. These are also for indoor use and have a capacity of 1.5 to 40 tons.
Reach or narrow-aisle trucks are used to rack pallets on smooth surfaces and are electric-powered. They have a capacity range of 1.25 to 2.75 tons.
Order-pickers, stock-pickers and man-up units are electric-powered and used in very narrow aisles with capacity of about 1.75 tons. These are used to lift an individual so that loads can be selected.
Turret trucks are also electric-powered for use in very narrow aisles with a capacity range of 1.5 to 2 tons. The forks are mounted on a mast and carriage that operates on a turret, allowing it to rotate 90 degrees, for smooth picking and stocking.
Pallet Jacks or stackers are electric-powered and used as an economical solution for transporting loads short distances. There are both walk-behind or ride-on units with capacities ranging from 1.5 to 4 tons.
Stand-up counter balance forklifts are electric-powered and used for quick loading and unloading of trucks where the rider often needs to mount and dismount, primarily indoors. The capacity range is 1.5 to 2.75 tons.
Tow tractors or tuggers are electric, gas, propane or diesel-powered, used to pull loads on trailers around warehouses. Capacities are measured in draw bar pull, depending on the amount of weight needed to be pulled.
Side loaders, typically electric, are used for narrow-aisle work with loading and unloading from one side only.
Rough terrain forklifts have pneumatic tyres, powered by gasoline, diesel, lpg or compressed natural gas and are used for the outdoors or on uneven ground. They are ideal for lumberyards, construction projects and landscaping with a maximum capacity of 17.5 tons.
Hand pallet jacks are used to quickly transport pallets from one location to another, typically up to 4 tons.

Top Forklift Brands for Hire or Rental

Any reputable forklift for hire organisation will invest in quality equipment, as it doesn’t make any economic sense to finance inferior forklifts which are used by various clients on a regular basis. There are a number of brands on the market, obviously some better than others, but the preferred forklift for hire brands are Mitsubishi, Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, Daewoo, Hyster, TCM, Nichiyu, Kalmar, Konecranes, Terex and Clark Forklifts. You will be able to ask your chosen forklift hire company which brands they stock and which is best suited to your project.

Questions to ask when Hiring or Renting a Forklift

There are several aspects to consider when researching what forklift for hire you will be opting for, prompting numerous questions that you will have for the supplier and vice versa. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

What is the weight capacity? This is an important detail when determining your forklift for hire because you don’t want equipment that can’t do the job, but you also don’t want to pay for unnecessary power. This will also prompt questions surrounding the product including; how is the product packaged? Is it on pallets or the floor? Is it uniform in size or irregular? Is the product secured?
What is the lift height? Try get this measurement as accurate as possible because the forklift must have the ability to lift the weight of your load to the correct height.
What surface will the forklift be driven on? The environment makes a difference in determining which forklift to use. Additional aspects include aisle width or any other movement restrictions to consider.
What is the cost per day/month/year? You need to determine how long you will require the forklift and then find out about the various rates.
Are drivers provided? Most forklift for hire companies will also provide a qualified driver at an additional cost. Worth investing in if you have no experience with forklifts.
What checks need to be done before use? Make sure you get an opportunity to inspect the forklift before use, as you would a rental car, and make note of any damage.
What is the rental agreement? Make sure you read through the agreement thoroughly and question anything you are unsure about. Keep a copy for your own purposes.
What insurance is needed? Check with your personal or company insurance to verify what coverage you have when using the forklift. The supplier should insure the equipment, but you will need to cover the driver and any other workers who come into contact with the equipment.
How will the forklift be transported to site? If the supplier delivers, then that is preferable, even if there is a cost involved as it needs to be loaded and unloaded very carefully.