Time is money, and when you need to move heavy loads, you need to be able to do it quickly and efficiently. A forklift is an expensive piece of heavy lifting equipment and it may not be economically feasible to buy one. It is also not always possible to buy one forklift to suit your every need as different forklifts are designed and built for different purposes. One way to navigate around obstacles like these is to consider the option of forklift hire.
Forklift hire companies specialize in lifting equipment and, as such, are likely to have just the forklift you are looking for in their range. Forklift hire contracts tend to be flexible in that they can be tailored to your needs and you will be able to choose your rental period. Short-term rental periods typically range from a day, to a week and a month, whilst long-term hire periods are usually longer than 24 months. Forklift hire companies often offer cheaper rates on long-term contracts and can supply you with an operator should you need one. Furthermore, you will get the use of a serviced and fully maintained forklift for a fixed rate. The great thing about having maintenance issues and repairs taken care of by the rental company is that you will not lose time and money if a forklift breaks down because you will be given another operational machine.
Before you hire a forklift, you need to determine the maximum height and weight it will have to lift as this has a bearing on the type of model you will choose. You can choose reach trucks, power pallet trucks, pallet stackers and counterbalance forklifts, for example. Power pallet trucks are like hand pallet trucks in that they are easy to maneuver but have the added advantage of being fitted with a motor for extra power and ease of use. Do you need a diesel, gas or electric forklift? Some are battery powered. Each type has different advantages and disadvantages. Counterbalance forklifts are of the larger ride on variety, and are typically electrical or engine powered to handle heavy loads. They are sometimes also called reach trucks and come in smaller versions where the operator does not ride on the machine. When choosing a suitable forklift, you need to be clear on the physical constraints of your storage area, and you may find that you want a forklift that is compact so that it can operate in confined spaces and/or narrow aisles. Pallet stackers are the best for this kind of space constraint as they operate like forklifts but are smaller. If one of your own staff will be operating your hired forklift, make sure they are properly trained to use it, even if it is hand-powered, as accidents and misuse of equipment are more likely to happen if staff are not correctly trained and monitored.
Once you know what kind of forklift you want, you can work out your budget and timeframe, in other words, how long you will need the forklift for. As previously mentioned, the longer the forklift hire period, the cheaper the rate tends to be, and if you have a need for any kind of large forklift that you know you will be using often, chances are good that you will want to avail yourself of the long-term hire option.
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