Industrial trucks: technology, use and selection

Industrial truck is the umbrella term standardised in ISO 5053 for floor-bound conveyors that are not guided by rails. It covers forklifts of all designs, high-lift trucks, reach trucks, pedestrian stackers, rough-terrain forklifts and telehandlers. In everyday language, 'industrial truck' and 'forklift' are often used synonymously – technically, the forklift is a subgroup. This guide explains the individual designs, the legal framework under Dutch occupational health and safety legislation (Working Conditions Act and Working Conditions Decree) and the selection criteria that really make the difference in practice. It is aimed at dispatchers, site managers and buyers preparing a purchase or rental decision.

The Luibl rental fleet includes all relevant designs, from the electric pedestrian stacker to the heavy-duty telehandler Manitou MHT 10200 with 20 t load capacity. We rent classic forklifts in diesel, electric and LPG versions up to 16 t load capacity. Delivery is made with our own low-loader fleet throughout the Netherlands and to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Italy, Hungary and other European countries.

Not in the range: automated guided vehicles (AGVs). Technically, these also fall under the rules for work equipment, but they are not operator-controlled industrial trucks and are not part of our rental fleet.

Counterbalance forklift By far the most common design. The counterweight at the rear balances the load on the forks. Universally usable, from the 1.5-tonne warehouse truck to the 16-tonne heavy-duty forklift.

Distinction by drive: Electric forklifts are suitable for indoor areas, food logistics, pharmaceuticals, cold stores and anywhere exhaust fumes or noise must be ruled out. Modern lithium-ion units can now complete a full shift without a battery change. Their weakness remains outdoor use in wet and cold conditions: if units stand outside during prolonged frost, battery life is noticeably reduced.

Diesel forklifts are the robust choice for outdoor use, construction sites and heavy loads. All current Luibl rental units meet the EU Stage V emissions standard. Diesel units are ruled out in enclosed halls – the workplace limit values under Dutch health and safety rules cannot be met without extensive ventilation.

LPG forklifts are the classic compromise: lower emissions than diesel, more powerful than electric, and permitted in well-ventilated halls. In practice they are ordered less often than in the past because electric has caught up technically.

Reach truck The lift mast can be retracted between the wheel arms. This eliminates the large counterweight, making the unit more compact and able to drive in narrower aisles. Typical use: high-bay warehouses with aisle widths under 3 m and racking heights up to 13 m. Available exclusively as an electric version.

Pedestrian stackers and high-lift trucks Low-lift pallet trucks transport pallets close to the floor, typically for order picking and goods receipt. The operator walks alongside or rides on a standing platform. High-lift trucks are pedestrian-operated units with a lift mast of up to several metres – an intermediate solution between a pure transport unit and a counterbalance forklift. Useful in companies that regularly store goods on two to three rack levels but do not have the volume to justify a full-size forklift.

Rough-terrain forklift Robust design with off-road tyres, increased ground clearance and often four-wheel drive. Essential as soon as the site is unpaved – construction sites, timber yards, building materials stores, agriculture. A normal counterbalance forklift with SE solid rubber tyres fails on soft ground and gets stuck; this is a common reason for expensive emergency re-orders.

Telehandlers Combine the forklift with an extendable telescopic boom. Reach significantly greater lift heights and outreach than conventional forklifts. By changing attachments (forks, bucket, work platform, winch, concrete skip), they often replace three individual machines on site.

• Fixed telehandlers: fixed superstructure, classic construction machine profile, lift heights up to around 20 m.
• Roto telehandlers (roto): 360° rotating superstructure. Luibl carries Magni RTH and Manitou MRT – lift heights up to 39 m, usable at Luibl as an aerial work platform (basket) or crane (winch) by changing attachments.
• Heavy-duty telehandlers: Manitou MHT 10200, 20 t load capacity – used for industrial assembly, heavy machinery relocation, wind energy.

Heavy-duty forklifts A category of its own from around 8 t load capacity. Typical applications among Luibl customers: metal construction (coils, beams, sheet bundles), container handling, transport of tools and moulds in the automotive industry. Forklifts up to 16 t are regularly deployed.

The honest rule of thumb from rental fleet planning: below 1,200 operating hours per year, renting is almost always the better deal. In between – 1,200 to 1,800 hours – it is a trade-off that depends on interest rates, maintenance costs and flexibility requirements. From around 1,800 operating hours per year, the forklift is effectively running in two shifts and buying becomes economical.

What is often overlooked: the operating hours calculation only applies if the requirements profile remains stable over the holding period. If the hall layout, product mix or racking technology change regularly, renting remains the clean solution – even with heavy use. A purchased forklift that no longer fits is a millstone; a rental unit can be swapped for another one next Tuesday.

Telehandlers with a winch replace a mobile crane on many sites. This works reliably if:

• the lifting loads are below the rated load capacity of the telehandler – at the required outreach, not at the rated value. The telehandler's load chart drops steeply as outreach increases.
• the site has a load-bearing set-up area (telehandler supported on outriggers or on wheels on a level surface).
• the lifting frequency is low to medium. For series lifts, the mobile crane is still faster.

Not advisable: lifts close to the load capacity limit, lifts over obstacles with large side outreach, and in principle any lifting work involving people – that is a job for an aerial work platform, not a crane task. For 80 % of site lifts, a roto telehandler is sufficient. The remaining 20 % should be honestly calculated with a crane hire company, not with an overloaded telehandler.

What is the difference between a forklift and an industrial truck?

Industrial truck is the umbrella term under ISO 5053. Forklifts are the best-known, but not the only subgroup.

What training does the driver need?

Demonstrable competence of the forklift operator, to be ensured by the employer in line with applicable Dutch health and safety rules; regular refresher instruction is recommended. Luibl provides an operator briefing on handover for all machine types in the rental fleet.

How often does a forklift have to be inspected?

Under the Working Conditions Decree, work equipment must be inspected periodically. For Luibl rental units, the periodic inspection of work equipment under the Working Conditions Decree is included in the rental.

How much does it cost to rent a forklift?

Long-term rental of a standard forklift 30–80 €/day, short-term rental 10–25 €/hour. The exact calculation depends on design, load capacity, rental period and location.

Is a work basket on a forklift permitted?

Only for short-term, occasional work, with a firmly attached, approved attachment. For regular work at height, an aerial work platform is the appropriate solution.

Does Luibl deliver at weekends?

Yes, with its own low-loader fleet. Collection on Friday and return on Monday at a daily rate is possible depending on location – please ask our dispatch team directly.

Which countries does Luibl deliver to?

The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Italy, Hungary and other European countries.