Telehandlers are extremely versatile machines. In construction, housebuilding or general works at height, telehandlers can be indispensable, but should your company buy one outright or hire? This article will help you weigh up the benefits, considering finance, flexibility, maintenance and more.
Financial Considerations
Cost is the key decider for most companies, and buying a new telehandler is a big capital investment. If your team will have use for it on most jobs, there may well be a business case. Consider also the long-term costs of insurance, maintenance, training staff members to operate it and more. With all heavy plant, ownership suits cases where there will be continuous use.
Ownership is also associated with a value depreciation. Hiring avoids this loss of value except for in cases where its use has made a significant contribution to company earnings.
Telehandler hire has lower upfront costs and no long-term financial commitment. You have a telehandler available when you need it and only pay for that time.
Flexibility & Access to the Latest Equipment
The telehandler for one job is not always right for another. Buying a telehandler means you’ll need to assess the best model to purchase by considering the jobs you’ll use it for ahead of time.
The main differences are the maximum extension, height, and maximum load at full extension. There are also different models suited for small sites with narrow access such as our 4m & 6m telehandlers which have lower maximum loads.
When you hire a telehandler, you can choose the right size / model for the needs of each specific job, for example, whether you need a 4m, 6m, 9m, 14m telehandler.
You also are not wedded to a specific model for a long time. Hiring allows you to upgrade to newer models with better technology when they come along. So, there’s no risk of being stuck with outdated or unsuitable equipment.
Upkeep & Repair Responsibilities
When you purchase any large machinery, you are responsible for maintenance and repairs. Any unscheduled downtime means your business suffers because you can’t use that equipment, delaying jobs.
Hiring from us means we can handle the servicing and repairs to each machine.
As the hiring company, we will always do our best to keep our telehandlers in good working condition for our clients. You can start work with the assurance that the equipment is checked and ready for use with our pre-hire certs, service records and valid LOLERS rather than spending time and money on maintenance.
Storage & Logistics
When you own large plant, you need dedicated storage space to house it when not in use. This space needs to be secure and insured, such as a workshop or yard. You may also want to insure the telehandler for road use.
Hiring telehandlers takes this concern off your plate! We deliver the machine to your site ourselves, where it can stay as long as needed before we return it to our yard. For small businesses with minimal space, this simplifies using telehandlers.
Meeting Compliance & Safety Standards
As we said above, we work hard to provide well-maintained and legally compliant equipment. All industry regulations are met before the telehandler reaches the job site, with regular servicing.
You can also hire additional safety accessories and attachments from us along with the telehandler to ensure all jobs are completed safely – i.e. sweepers, extension forks, buckets, 2 man work platforms, lifting hooks etc.
Renting: Ideal for Seasonal or Project-Based Work
Hiring a telehandler is far more achievable and affordable than purchasing, maintaining and insuring one for seasonal work or individual projections.
Telehandler hire key benefits:
- Best for companies with fluctuating workloads.
- No need to invest in equipment that may sit idle for long periods.
- Hiring provides the flexibility to choose telehandler models on a job-by-job basis.
- Access to modern, well maintained equipment at short notice.
