Do I need a licence for a telehandler?

Requirements depend on the configuration and use. Using a telehandler with a suspended load (jib or hook) or a work platform can bring high-risk licensing into play. Check with the supplier and your state work health and safety regulator.

Telehandler or forklift?

Forklifts work best on firm, flat surfaces at low heights. Telehandlers handle rough ground and place loads at height and reach.

Can a telehandler replace a crane?

For some lifts, especially with a jib attachment. For heavy loads, long radius or complex lifts, a crane is usually the right tool.

MACHINE FIELD GUIDE / REACH · LIFT · PLACE

Telehandler hire

Telehandlers combine a forklift's load handling with a telescopic boom, placing pallets, steel and materials at height and across obstacles. Fixed-frame and rotating models suit different sites.

FIELD PLATE / 8 PUBLISHED SUPPLIER RECORDSMatch the size class to the task, then confirm the exact unit.

Telehandler size classes.

Class	Typical work
Compact (up to ~6 m)	Landscaping, farms and tight building sites.
Medium (10–14 m)	General construction material placement.
High-reach (17 m +)	Multi-storey building and roof loading.
Rotating (roto) telehandlers	Crane-like placement with 360° slew.

COMMON USE / 01Loading materials onto scaffolds and roofs

COMMON USE / 02Unloading trucks on rough ground

COMMON USE / 03Farm and agricultural handling

COMMON USE / 04Lifting with jib or bucket attachments

QUOTE CHECK

What to specify.

Heaviest load and reach required
Attachments: forks, bucket, jib, work platform
Ground condition and slope
Fixed or rotating frame

Watch points.

Capacity falls as the boom extends—use the load chart.

Suspended loads and work platforms may change licensing requirements.

Levelling and outriggers affect stability on slopes.

Rates for telehandler hire vary with size, location, duration, operator arrangement and transport. Read the plant hire cost guide and the wet vs dry hire comparison before comparing quotes, and use the supplier checklist to confirm the details.

FIELD FAQ