Owning the newest, shiniest model of forklift can be tempting for any company that has the funds to do so. But when looking at the specific needs of your business it may be that it’s better for you to hire forklifts instead, in order to save on operational costs and keep things running smoothly and efficiently.

Hiring a forklift in Bedford can be the best option for certain times in the year but also for specific jobs, as well as to supplement a stretched fleet of forklifts in a particularly busy period. For example, peak times in business can be eased by taking on several more machines temporarily on a flexible short-term lease. Hiring your forklift means far lower upfront costs and gives you the ability to budget for consistent monthly outgoings. The flexibility that it allows you is probably the biggest benefit to renting a forklift over buying and can be the perfect stop-gap for businesses growing rapidly or facing unpredictable climates.

There are usually a range of options for getting forklifts without buying them outright, with it being possible to lease purchase – that is, to make increment payments for the ideal finance package – and to simply take on a forklift through a contract rental, suited to your timescale and needs.

These are just some of the key things to know when considering a forklift rental:

1. Weight capacity

How much weight do you need your forklift to be able to lift and carry? It’s important that you check it’s up to specification for all of the tasks that you need it for.

2. Height that it can lift to

It’s important that the forklift you hire is able to reach certain heights, depending on the conditions of your warehouse. Make sure to double check that it can also move your required weight loads to those heights.

3. Work environment

Indoors or outdoors? Warehouse or yard? The environment helps you to make choices about tyres and the forklift itself, as well as accounting for turning radius and aisle width.

4. Cost of the hire

Make sure that you choose a forklift fit for your requirements but which won’t do too much damage to your bottom line. Be prepared to pay well for your hire, but remain mindful that you can’t let the costs creep up too high.

5. Length of the job you need it for

Do you need to hire the forklift for a day, a month – or even longer? The cost of hiring a forklift in Bedford per day is lowered when taken out for longer periods so it’s definitely worth getting a quote for varying times. Make sure to ask about overtime charges as well if you plan to use the equipment for any longer than 40 or so hours a week.

6. Carry out a thorough inspection of the forklift

Ensure that you take a careful examination of the forklift before you decide to hire and note down any damage. It’s common practice to charge extra for forklifts that are returned with any kind of damage on them.

7. Read the hiring contract

Check over all of the terms and conditions and give it a thorough read – you must know what you’re agreeing to.

8. Check the insurance provision

The dealer usually fully insures the forklift, but you and your company are still responsible for providing cover to the operator in case of injury or damage to property.

9. Look for a dealership with a professional, well-maintained fleet

Try to find a forklift provider in Bedford who has a clean and well-kept fleet that instils confidence; one who’s able to assure you that, should there be an issue, they are able to provide the expertise to correct it. When you have a piece of equipment for a specific job within a certain timescale, it’s important to feel confident that it will be able to carry out the entire task.

Hitec offers forklift hire services in Bedford with a fleet of over 400 machines to suit varying applications and accommodating customers who don’t wish to commit to a long-term investment. Hires can run for up to seven years which makes budgeting easy, with no hidden costs and consistent, unchanging rates that give complete peace of mind with an excellent piece of equipment.

If you are looking to invest in a new forklift truck, you need to make sure you choose the right truck for your needs. There are many types of forklift on the market, each with its own unique set of capabilities. How can you be sure which is right for you? Hitec Lift Trucks has created this helpful guide for you, so you can make an informed decision when purchasing your next new or used forklift.

Diesel power, electric – or both?

More forklifts than ever before are designed with electric power instead of the old diesel or gas engines. Electric and hybrid forklifts can be recharged at a charging station, and the battery offers hours of productivity between charges. Electric forklifts tend to need less maintenance and less frequent repairs. However, they can be expensive to buy and run – especially when you consider the downtime involved in charging each machine.

On the other hand, diesel engine forklifts can operate almost around the clock, with minimum downtime required to refill the fuel. They tend to be cheaper to buy, and in the short term they can be more cost-effective than their electric counterparts. Fossil fuel engines are less environmentally friendly, and they can lower the air quality of your workplace. You could also opt for the benefits of both. CESAB‘s forklift range includes hybrid forklifts that combine electric power with a gas or diesel engine.

What will your truck be used for?

Different types of work require different kinds of truck. If you attempt to lift goods or materials with the wrong equipment, you risk causing damage to the load, and to the truck – not to mention the risk of injury to the operator and those in the vicinity. It is always important to use a forklift truck of the right size and type, equipped with the right accessories, and weighted correctly for the task at hand.

We provide you with all the information you need when you purchase a new forklift: including the machine’s loading capacity. We consult with you on the applications your forklift truck will carry out, and advise you on the capabilities of your chosen model, so you can buy with confidence and know you have the right tools for the job.

For example, if you need a forklift for warehousing tasks like stock picking, you are likely to need a narrow truck that can slip comfortably between the aisles. It might also be useful to have a truck with telescopic reach, so items can be picked straight from the shelves without the need for manual loading and unloading.

On the other hand, a forklift used for agricultural and industrial purposes may be much wider, increasing the turning circle but also improving stability. Where items only need to be collected from floor level and moved, standard front forks are more suitable than a telescopic handler.

Some trucks can combine functions through changeable accessories and variable counterbalance weights. A forklift is typically used for lifting goods, but it might also be called into action for lifting people. As long as the right access platform and truck size are used, forklifts can be extremely useful for short-term work carried out at height, such as maintenance and repairs.

Three wheels or four?

Many forklifts have three wheels – two at the front, and another at the back. However, some have four wheels. There are advantages and disadvantages to each kind, so make sure you go with the correct option. Trucks with three wheels can turn and reverse quickly, but they also have a higher risk of tipping. Trucks with four wheels are more capable on rough terrain and can handle slopes more safely. They also offer less chance of tipping when they lift. However, they tend to be larger and have less manoeuvrability.

Buy new and used forklifts today

Hitec Lift Trucks is a Wellingborough based company offering new and used forklifts for sale and for hire, along with a range of forklift care and maintenance services. We are an official supplier of CESAB forklift trucks and accessories, with an extensive range of trucks available for almost any commercial, industrial or agricultural application. For more information on our range of forklifts for sale, and to discuss the best forklift for your needs, please contact us today through our website – or call 01933 228 127.

When it comes to deciding what type of forklift is best for your business, there are many factors to consider. From your day-to-day needs and flexibility requirements, a lot of different things should be considered before you decide which type is the right fit for you. There is a variety of different elements that make electric forklifts different from their competitors, and here are just a few.

Indoors or outdoors

If your forklift will be mostly used indoors, then it’s likely that an electric forklift will be the best choice for you. In comparison to diesel or petrol-powered models, an electric forklift produces none of the fumes or emissions that occur with engine-powered forklifts. Not only does this mean you’re far more likely to meet all health and safety regulations for your workplace, but it also keeps your staff healthy and happy.

An electric forklift is still a viable and more eco-friendly choice for outdoor use, but engine-powered forklifts can also be used efficiently in wide open spaces without fear or causing harm to your staff through fumes. As such, these kinds of forklifts might be built with more rugged use in mind, especially on uneven surfaces.

Running costs

As with electric cars or generators, when it comes to powering an electric forklift, there’s a far reduced cost over its lifetime in comparison to similar engine-powered machines. Combined with the simplicity of an electric machine, which causes electric forklifts to have far cheaper repair costs, this type of forklift is ideal for a business where heavy and prolonged use is likely, making the most of the cost of electricity.

Of course, as with all battery or charge-powered technology, unless you have a spare power source on the go, you’ll experience downtime when your machine needs to charge; cutting into work time if not used carefully. In comparison, a diesel or petrol-powered forklift can be ready to go with a quick top-up. For urgent work, where there isn’t time to charge an electric model, an engine-based forklift might be suitable but you’ll need to bear in mind the cost of fuel.

Learning curve

If you’re looking for a forklift that is easy to learn and drive, as well as quiet to run, then an electric forklift is the best choice for you. These types of forklifts equate to an automatic car in terms of reduction of handling and the learning curve required to become a competent driver or one of these machines. There’s little need for additional actions, methods or other tweaks to make electric forklifts run smoothly.

In comparison, an engine-powered forklift requires a slightly steeper learning curve, with the requirement to ‘rev’ for gradients, and no clutch pedal in sight. For teaching purposes, an electric forklift is ahead of the rest of the class, but when it comes to robustness and the ability to apply that learning to other machines, an engine-powered machine is slightly better.

All weathers

An electric forklift is often the ideal choice for use in enclosed warehouses and spaces, and can even turn and position better thanks to the easier to handle controls. When it comes to solid ground with no incline, an electric forklift can do everything that an engine-based forklift can, at the reduced cost and increased ease of use you’d expect. When it comes to the great outdoors, however, an electric forklift may run into an issue.

When performing site work or even just working in the open for extended periods, in all weather, an electric forklift can be reduced in effectiveness. In comparison, a more manual machine is capable of navigating less even ground, more diverse climates and weather without problems occurring. For towing duties or extended outdoor work, an engine-based forklift may be best.

Health and safety

Some of the most important words in any workplace with heavy machinery, health and safety are important when it comes to keeping your machines running well and your workforce safe. An electric forklift can contribute to this safety, both due to the lack of emissions and fumes, but also due to the more reliable nature of the fuel that the machine requires; a charger and battery will both be capable of being stored safely away even in a small amount of space.

In comparison, engine-based forklifts require physical fuelling, and as such, that diesel or petrol needs somewhere to live. Highly flammable liquids stored in any facility can be a significant health and safety risk, without mentioning the high levels of emissions and the traditional steering method which is more challenging to master.

In conclusion, the forklift you need depends entirely on the needs of your workforce, from where the machine will be required to the budget you have to fuel it. Both electric and engine-powered forklifts have their benefits – you just need to know which is the best fit for your business. At Hitec, we stock a range of electric forklifts as well as engine-powered forklifts. We also offer training to ensure you and your business stay health and safety compliant. Contact us to find out more.

When it comes to driving a forklift truck, training isn’t just important from a safety perspective, it’s a legal requirement. As health and safety regulations are updated on an almost annual basis, it is imperative that you and your employees keep up with the obligation to be competently trained on how to operate a forklift truck in accordance with the current regulations. If your drivers are without a current certificate, your company is breaking the law.

Basic forklift training

Drivers who are trained in basic forklift operation can expect to learn about the practicalities of how to use a truck, with a focus on inspection procedures, refuelling/recharging, manoeuvring and controlling a unit. This provides drivers with the bare minimum of information required to safely operate a forklift – but in many instances, employers will expect more from their employees to help boost productivity and ensure compliance with internal risk assessments.

Context is everything

When undergoing forklift training, a driver should be taught how to use their skills in a context specific to their workplace. No two warehouses are the same, so it’s important that employees understand the layout of their environment, and how best to navigate that environment.

For example, smaller, more compact warehouses may require a lot more reversing and tricky manoeuvring in comparison to wider spaces. Outdoor environments may have inclines and obstacles to navigate around. The best way to equip your drivers with the skills and knowledge they require is to arrange for on-the-job training at your premises, which can be arranged with Hitec. This can involve drawing up a list of hazards specific to your working environment and ensuring that all employees are familiar with what to look out for during the working day.

Vehicle-specific forklift training

It should never be taken for granted that a driver who has passed a forklift test will be familiar with all types of forklift. Different truck models will invariably have different control layouts, and in a busy working environment, the split-second decision to press a button or flip a switch could mean catastrophe without vehicle-specific training. As a rule, it’s good practice to ensure your drivers are fully trained on all forklift trucks they may be operating over the course of a working week. This helps to avoid malpractice, ensures stock remains undamaged and protects your business against any potential litigation, should an accident occur.

Don’t rush your forklift training

While your employees might be eager to get out onto the shop floor, it’s important to ensure they are 100% competent and 100% ready to engage with the live workplace environment. The best way to do this is to introduce them incrementally to a working situation, as overseen by a qualified forklift driving instructor. While this might seem over-the-top, remember that the health and safety of your employees is paramount, and nothing can be left to chance. This happens on the road after learner drivers pass their test all the time – after all, it’s not uncommon to see green L-plates on a vehicle. After passing their basic training, your employees should ideally be supervised until they display the competence and confidence required to successfully put in a shift unaided.

Forklift training for increased productivity

While safety is the number one concern when it comes to forklift training, learning new skills can help your workforce to become more productive. With the ability to perform complex moves, you can expect your drivers to get more done over the course of a shift. In addition to this, understanding how to operate a forklift more economically can help to save your company more money on fuel/electricity costs, and will ultimately result in less downtime and maintenance of your units.

How forklift training from Hitec could improve the capability of your business

With high-quality forklift training from expert instructors, you can expect all-round improvements from your warehousing team. Whether you’d like to give your team a refresher course, implement more site-specific training or simply bring your business in line with current health and safety legislation, you can expect unbeatable results with Hitec.

For more information on forklift training, or to book your team in for a course, simply contact a member of our friendly and experienced team today – we’re ready and waiting to deliver first-class training at your convenience.