Telehandlers: types, load capacity, duties and rental at a glance

A telehandler is an all-terrain lifting machine with an extendable telescopic boom. It lifts, stacks and moves loads where a forklift can no longer reach and a crane would be too much effort. In the Luibl rental fleet, the machines range from 4.30 m to 38.90 m lift height and from 1.25 t to 25 t load capacity.

On construction sites, in agriculture and in industry it is therefore a standard machine. The difficulty lies in the selection: which type fits, how much load capacity remains at full outreach, what competence does the operator need? This guide answers these questions at a glance and refers you to the relevant in-depth article for every detailed question.

Telehandlers differ mainly in whether the superstructure rotates and how they are powered. The values come from the current Luibl rental fleet:

Type	Lift height	Load capacity	Typical use
Fixed	4.30 – 18.80 m	1.25 – 25 t	Loading material, stacking pallets, moving bulk material
Roto (rotating)	15.42 – 38.90 m	4 – 8 t	Roof installation, crane replacement, working over obstacles
Electric	5.85 – 30.00 m	2.5 – 7 t	Halls, city centres, noise-sensitive areas

Fixed telehandlers are the all-rounders. The boom works forwards only, and the machine travels with the load (pick-and-carry). For particularly heavy loads there are dedicated heavy-duty telehandlers.

Roto telehandlers have a superstructure that rotates through 360° and set up on outriggers. They work in all directions from a fixed position and, with a winch or load hook, replace a mobile crane in many cases.

Electric telehandlers run on batteries and are locally emission-free in operation. They are suitable for halls and jobs with noise restrictions. What matters inside buildings is explained in the guide Telehandlers in halls.

Via the quick coupler, a telehandler takes various attachments. Each attachment changes its function:

• Pallet forks: lifting and stacking, the standard for building materials and pallets
• Bucket: loading and moving bulk material such as sand, gravel or harvested crops
• Winch and load hook: lifting freely suspended loads, with the roto telehandler as a crane replacement
• Work platform (basket): raising people to height, the machine then works like an aerial work platform

Each attachment has its own load chart. The load capacity of the base machine therefore does not automatically apply to the winch or the basket. For crane operation and lifting people, the operator also needs additional competence (see below).

Telehandlers are used wherever loads have to be lifted, reached forward and moved over rough terrain at the same time:

• Building and industrial construction: distributing material over several storeys, placing precast concrete elements and roof trusses, facade and roof work with a basket
• Agriculture: stacking bales, handling feed and bulk material, filling silos, usually with compact fixed models and a bucket
• Logistics and industry: loading and unloading on unpaved ground, handling bulky goods, maintenance work at height

This is made possible by four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering with crab steering for sideways movement and coarse-tread tyres. As a result, the telehandler remains operational even on unpaved sites where forklifts and many aerial work platforms can no longer drive.

The maximum values in the brochure are not enough for the selection. What counts is what the machine has to achieve at the specific site:

1. Load capacity at outreach. With every metre of outreach the permissible load decreases. A 4 t telehandler often lifts only a fraction of that with the boom fully extended. The decisive point in the load chart is where the load is set down.
2. Lift height and reach. Height alone is not enough. How far forward the load has to go, for example over a canopy or a trench, is just as important.
3. Space and ground. Where the machine cannot manoeuvre, the roto telehandler saves repositioning. Soft ground, slopes and outrigger areas determine whether and how safely the machine can be set up.
4. Drive and environment. In halls and city centres there is a lot to be said for electric, on rough terrain for diesel with four-wheel drive.

The guide Fixed or roto compares both systems in detail. An overview of the manufacturers is provided by the brand comparison Magni, Manitou, Merlo.

A telehandler only partly replaces other machines. Drawing the line saves rental costs:

• Compared with a forklift, the telehandler has the advantage on rough terrain and at height. On level hall floors with many lifting cycles, a forklift usually works more economically.
• Compared with a crane, the roto telehandler scores with short set-up time and multiple uses. For very great heights, reaches or single loads, the crane remains the right choice.
• Compared with an aerial work platform, a telehandler with a basket pays off when material is also lifted during the same job. For pure work at height, an aerial work platform is more flexible and usually cheaper.

How telehandlers and wheel loaders differ with bulk material is explained in the practical comparison.

Using a telehandler involves duties for the person and for the machine.

The operator must have demonstrable competence in line with applicable Dutch health and safety rules; the employer ensures this competence and designates the operator. Different competence requirements apply to fixed machines, to roto machines and crane operation, and to lifting people in the basket. A forklift certificate alone is not sufficient. Details on training, duration and costs are in the guide Telehandler certificate.

On public roads a driving licence is also required. Depending on speed and weight, this is the required Dutch driving licence category or a category C1/C licence. Which licence applies when is explained in the guide Telehandler driving licence.

The machine must be inspected periodically by a competent person under the Working Conditions Decree, Chapter 7 (work equipment) (periodic inspection of work equipment under the Working Conditions Decree). Before every use, the operator also checks it for defects. Luibl rental machines are handed over with a valid inspection, together with a machine-specific briefing. This briefing does not replace the required competence of the operator.

For most companies, renting is more economical than buying, because the machine is chosen to suit each project. Guide values net, excluding transport and attachments, as of 09/2026:

Machine class	Day	Week
Fixed, up to 19 m lift height	€150 – 280	€600 – 1,200
Roto, 15 – 39 m lift height	€350 – 650	€1,400 – 2,700

Transport, attachments and fuel are extra. With weekly and monthly rental, the daily rate drops considerably. All price factors and three calculation examples are in the guide Telehandler rental: costs.

Luibl delivers by low-loader directly to your site, throughout the Netherlands. With early planning, you can reliably schedule the right machine. If you need a machine at short notice, we will promptly clarify availability with you.

Rent a telehandler → · Request a quote →

The more precise the enquiry, the better the machine fits and the fewer surprises there are on the invoice. These details help with the selection:

1. Heaviest load and its weight: for example a pallet of roof tiles, a steel beam or a big bag
2. Set-down height and outreach: how high and how far from the machine position is the load set down?
3. Attachments: forks, bucket, winch, load hook or basket
4. Site: rough terrain, paved surface or hall, plus access width and clearance height
5. Ground: load-bearing, soft or sloping, and where outriggers can be placed
6. Period: start and expected duration, because weekly and monthly rentals are cheaper
7. Competence: which demonstrable competence the operators have (fixed, roto, basket)

If a detail is missing, the machine is easily chosen too large or too small. That costs an extra transport or an extra rental day.

Each in-depth article explores one question from this overview:

• Which driving licence do you need for a telehandler?: licence categories, registration and special cases
• Telehandler certificate and competence: structure, duration and costs of the training
• What does it cost to rent a telehandler?: prices per day and per week, cost factors, calculation examples
• Fixed or roto: which telehandler fits?: both types compared
• Telehandlers in halls: choosing load capacity and clearance height correctly
• Magni, Manitou or Merlo?: roto telehandlers in a brand comparison
• Telehandler or wheel loader: the practical comparison

What is a telehandler?

A telehandler is an all-terrain lifting machine with an extendable telescopic boom. With forks, bucket, winch or basket, it lifts, stacks and moves loads on construction sites, in agriculture and in industry.

What is the difference between a telehandler and a forklift?

A forklift lifts vertically on its mast, a telehandler lifts and reaches with an extendable boom. It sets loads down over obstacles, drives on rough terrain and takes various attachments via the quick coupler.

How high does a telehandler lift?

Fixed telehandlers in the Luibl rental fleet lift 4.30 to 18.80 m high, roto telehandlers 15.42 to 38.90 m. How much load is permissible at that height is shown in the load chart of the respective machine.

How much can a telehandler lift?

Depending on the model 1.25 to 25 t, roto telehandlers 4 to 8 t. These values apply with the boom retracted; at full outreach the permissible load decreases considerably.

What types of telehandlers are there?

There are three basic types: fixed telehandlers, rotating roto telehandlers and electric telehandlers. In addition, there are heavy-duty models for particularly heavy loads.

Who is allowed to operate a telehandler?

Anyone who is suitable, has demonstrable competence in line with applicable Dutch health and safety rules and has been designated by the employer. On public roads, the appropriate driving licence is also required.

Is a telehandler an industrial truck?

Yes. Under Dutch occupational health and safety legislation, telehandlers count as all-terrain industrial trucks (telescopic forklifts); they therefore fall under the rules for work equipment in the Working Conditions Decree, Chapter 7, including periodic inspection. In road traffic law they are self-propelled work machines.