Looking to hire a forklift truck on a long term lease? Here’s what you need to know...
So, you need to hire a forklift truck to facilitate your business needs, but how should you go about it?
What do you need to consider prior to committing to a truck or hire company and what will you be responsible for, do you have the necessary insurances in place?
Finally, what should you expect from the company supplying the machine?
A forklift truck hire contract may be anywhere between 1 and 7 years so it’s important you choose the right company who can provide you with the best machine and service.
Top 5 Tips for Hiring a Forklift Truck
Don’t get caught out, follow these tops tips to make sure your business receives the best service and the right truck for the job!
- Ensure you choose a machine suitable for your application – a reputable and knowledgeable forklift truck provider should be able to advise you on this, but you should provide details such as –
- Usage
- Load to be lifted
- How high do you need to lift?
- Fuel type e.g. diesel, gas, electric. (this may depend on the environment you are using the vehicle in)
- Do you have low doors or mezzanines that you need to move under?
- Are you loading / unloading containers?
- Maintenance and Breakdown cover – ensure that your contract includes full maintenance and servicing of your machine, as well as breakdown cover, as loss of use of your forklift truck could be significantly costly to your business. Look out for companies that provide a replacement machine after 24hr downtime to ensure peace of mind.
- Ensure that the service cover provided on your forklift truck covers the shift pattern the machine will be used on.
- Ensure that the forklift truck you are hiring has a current “certificate of Thorough Examination” or conforms to LOLER (lifting operations and lifting equipment regulations)
- Be aware of normal exclusions to a hire contract, which might include:
- Operator damage or misuse
- Fork wear
- Tyres / punctures
- Consumables, including oil; fuel; bulbs; filters; grease etc