Telehandler FAQs​

Yes, you need a valid driving licence to operate a telehandler on the road in the United Kingdom. Please also make sure that you comply with all four points outlined below before driving a telehandler on the road.

The operator/driver needs to have a valid UK driving licence.
The telehandler needs to be registered and taxed with the DVLA. See current DVLA rates of vehicle tax here.

You are required to insure your telehandler for road use. You can either add the telehandler to your existing policy as an “extra“ or insure it on a separate policy.

The operator/driver needs to be competent and trained on how to use the telehandler and have read and understood the operator’s manual.

Plant Hire Tip:

You are not legally required to have a NPORS or CPCS Telescopic Handler A17 Wheeled ticket to operate a telehandler on private land however it is required on a construction site.

Checklist: 

1. You require a valid UK Driving Licence.
2. The telehandler must be registered and Taxed with the DVLA.

Please see the .gov website for more information below:

Link to the .GOV website re license

.GOV re vehicle tax

A 17–metre telehandler is approximately 5.6 metres tall. The overall height of a JCB 540-170 telehandler is 2.69m which does not take flashing beacons into account, which are usually located on the top of the cab. 

*Dimensions are subject to change.

Visit JCB’s website.

The cost of hiring a telehandler depends on the size of the telehandler, the length of the contract, and delivery and insurance costs. The weekly rate of a telehandler starts at roughly £250.00 per week, excluding, fuel, insurance delivery, and operator costs.

You will need to consider the job or range of jobs the telehandler will be used for, the lifting height needed, the weight of loads to be moved, and the ground surface of the work area.

If you are unsure, your plant hire company can recommend the most appropriate equipment for the application and conditions.

Yes, you will need to purchase a plant hire insurance policy to cover the equipment you are hiring.

The hirer is responsible for the hired in telehandler from the moment it is delivered to you or collected from the hirer’s premises.

Additionally, you must store hired telehandler equipment safely and securely for the duration of the hire contract.

In the event of theft or damage to your hired in plant, you should contact your insurer and the plant company immediately. If the plant is stolen you should also report the incident to the police.

No, usually not, as you commonly will not need to hire additional telehandler attachments for most basic lifting and carrying duties.

However, crane jib attachments can be useful for particularly heavy loads, distributing their weight more evenly and buckets are useful for moving loose loads of aggregates.

Plan ahead of time and understand your site requirements, as the correct telehandler attachment can save you both time and money.

There are many reasons to hire a telehandler rather than a traditional forklift or skid steer loader.

Telehandlers are versatile and can easily perform the roles of both machines and more. They can easily place and retrieve loads at heights greater than either.

Telehandlers are more maneuverable and can work on a multitude of surfaces and travel by road. Their three steering modes allow normal two-wheel drive, turning in tight circles and driving sideways into confined spaces.

Combined with a wide variety of attachments, telehandlers are suited to more roles on-site, than almost any other piece of plant machinery.