There are multiple questions you’ll need to ask before hiring a forklift. Not only does this make sure that you’re renting a forklift that meets your requirements, but it also protects you financially. Before agreeing to
hire a forklift, ask the forklift dealer the following questions. In and amongst those questions, there are also some that you will need to ask yourself in order for you to make the right decision:
Does this forklift meet my needs?
When hiring a forklift, you need to make sure that it’s worth your while. Not only will it need to meet your needs, but it also needs to be as cost-effective as possible. For forklift hire to work out well for you, as a business owner, you need to make sure that the forklift offers the right capabilities for your operations. With this in mind, you need to consider the following things:
- Lift height
- Reach height
- Weight capacity
- Vehicle size
- Vehicle manoeuvrability, such as multi-directional, counterbalance or VNA
- Fuel type
- Do you need it for indoor or outside operations, or both?
- Ease of operation
Is hiring a forklift actually going to save me money?
Usually, hiring the equipment you need is more cost-effective than purchasing a piece of equipment, but this is only true if you only need a forklift for a specific amount of time. If you’re wanting the forklift for the foreseeable future, then purchasing one might be more cost-effective than taking out three or four long-term hire contracts. Weigh up the financial pros and cons of hiring forklift and compare this against the amount of time you’ll need the forklift for in order to make the most informed decision.
Do I need to hire anything else, like forklift attachments?
You might have found a forklift that is right for you, but will you need to hire anything else to go along with it? Think carefully and look into the capabilities of the forklift you’re looking to hire to see whether or not it’s up to the job. There might be some cases where you need to hire the attachments along with it, no matter the capabilities or the features of the forklift you’re hiring.
How long will I need the forklift for?
You will need to look at the application and the job that needs to be done and think carefully about how long you will need the forklift for. A long term contract will be more expensive than a short term contract, so you need to be sure about the length of time you will need the forklift for. If you underestimate, then it could cost you more in the long run as you’ll need to take out another short term hire contract.
If you overestimate, then you’ve run up a bill for a long term hire contract that you didn’t need. If you aren’t sure, ask your forklift operators for their input as they’ll be best placed to tell you how long a job will take. Keep in mind that these jobs will differ in terms of time it takes to complete them depending on the time of year. For example, Christmas is a high-demand period, so factor this in also.
Is the fuel type right for me?
Something you will need to consider before hiring a forklift is the fuel type. Firstly, you need to establish whether or not you’ll need to use the forklift inside, outdoors or both. If you only need it for use outside, then you should opt for a petrol or diesel forklift. If you decide on a diesel-powered forklift, then you should ask whether you’ll be expected to return the forklift fully-fuelled or not, much like hiring a car when you go on holiday.
If you are looking to use the forklift wholly indoors, then an electric forklift would be the most ideal option for you. But something you should ask the forklift dealer is whether or not you’ll get a charger included in the hire fee. Would a charger mean an additional fee or would you have to source one yourself? It’s something to consider when hiring an electric forklift.
If you need a forklift that will perform well both inside and outdoors, then an LPG-powered forklift would be the most beneficial for you and your warehouse operations. Much like with the diesel forklift, however, you should ask the forklift dealer whether or not you’re required to return the vehicle with a full LPG tank or not. You should look carefully through your terms and conditions, before you sign, regarding fuel types, options and how you should return the vehicle at the end of your hire term.
Is transportation of the forklift included in the hire fee?
It’s important for you to question whether or not the forklift dealer will deliver the vehicle to you. If they do offer that service, then is there an additional fee applied? Will you have to pay them for the mileage they do in order to get it to your premises? Is there an option for you to transport the vehicle to your property yourself? It might be there you have no other choice than to get it to your premises yourself, so check this before committing to hiring a forklift. Make sure you have the resources to be able to transport the forklift yourself, if required.
Will the forklift dealer service the forklift & repair or replace the forklift if something goes wrong?
Forklift dealers are often responsible for the integrity of a forklift while it’s being rented out. If something goes wrong with your forklift, they should offer a complete repair or like-for-like replacement of the machine as soon as possible. With regards to servicing the forklift, this might well differ from dealer-to-dealer.
Check with the business you’re hoping to rent the forklift out with regarding any servicing that needs to be done. If it’s required to be serviced, will the dealer do that themselves or will you have to pay for this out of your own pocket? Ask about tyre wear as well. Make sure you’re asking these questions so as to avoid any nasty surprises after you’ve signed the contract.
How responsible am I in terms of damages?
When hiring a forklift truck, there are usually rules that you’ll need to follow that are outlined in the terms and conditions. Make sure you read these carefully before agreeing to rent the forklift. Generally, there’s a detailed list of what’s considered to be wear and tear and another list that details any damages that you will be liable for.
Check with the dealer about any damages you will be liable for and those that you won’t be. Not only will this help you to avoid any issues further down the line, but it will also help to protect you if a dealer tries to claim off you for damages that you aren’t actually liable for. Again, do this before you sign the contract.
Multy Lift have been providing customers throughout the UK with high-quality warehouse equipment, including forklifts. Included within our many material handling services is forklift hire and warehouse equipment hire. No matter your requirements or your budget, we will have either a short or long term forklift hire contract that will meet your needs and exceed your expectations. For more information about the material handling equipment we have available to hire, or if you would like to purchase the machinery you need, get in touch with a member of our professional team today – we’re always pleased to hear from you. 
