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

A telehandler is an all-terrain lifting machine with an extending 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 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 training does the operator need? This guide answers these questions at a glance and refers to the relevant specialist article for every detailed question.

Telehandlers differ mainly in whether the superstructure rotates and how they are powered. The figures 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	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 only to the front, 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 degrees and are set up on outriggers. They work from a fixed position in all directions and, with a winch or load hook, replace a mobile crane in many cases.

Electric telehandlers run on batteries and produce no local emissions in operation. They are suited to 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 crops
• Winch and load hook: lifting freely suspended loads, with the roto as a crane replacement
• Work platform (basket): lifting 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 basket. For crane operation and lifting people, the operator also needs extended training (see below).

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

• Building and industrial construction: distributing material over several floors, placing precast concrete elements and roof trusses, facade and roof work with a basket
• Agriculture: stacking bales, handling feed and bulk material, filling silos, mostly 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 moves 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 work location:

1. Load capacity at outreach. With every metre of outreach, the permissible load falls. A 4 t telehandler often lifts only a fraction of that with the boom fully extended. The decisive point is the one in the load chart 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 saves repositioning. Soft ground, slopes and support surfaces determine whether, and how safely, the machine can be set up on outriggers.
4. Drive and surroundings. In halls and city centres a lot speaks for electric, on rough terrain for diesel with four-wheel drive.

The guide Fixed or roto compares both systems in detail. The brand comparison Magni, Manitou, Merlo provides an overview of the manufacturers.

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

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

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

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

The operator needs adequate training, which the employer must ensure in line with applicable Belgian safety rules. The training must match the machine and the application: fixed telehandler, roto telehandler and crane operation, or lifting people in the basket. Forklift operator training alone is not sufficient. Details on structure, duration and costs can be found in the guide Telehandler operator training.

On public roads a driving licence is also required: the required Belgian driving licence category, depending on the speed and weight of the machine. Which rules apply when is explained in the guide Telehandler driving licence.

The machine falls under the Code on Well-being at Work, Book IV (work equipment), and must undergo periodic inspection by an external technical inspection body (EDTC/SECT). Before each use, the operator also checks it for defects. Luibl rental machines are handed over with a valid inspection, together with an operator briefing on handover. This briefing does not replace the training.

For most companies, renting is more economical than buying because the machine is chosen to suit each project. Guide values excluding VAT, without 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 added. With weekly and monthly rental, the daily rate drops significantly. All price factors and three calculation examples can be found in the guide Renting a telehandler: costs.

Luibl delivers the machine by low-loader to your site, throughout Belgium. With early planning, you can reliably reserve the right machine. If you need one at short notice, we clarify availability promptly.

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. Work location: rough terrain, paved surface or hall, plus access width and clearance height
5. Ground: load-bearing, soft or sloping, and where the outriggers can be placed
6. Period: start and expected duration, since weekly and monthly rentals are cheaper
7. Training: which training the operators have completed (fixed or roto telehandler, crane operation, 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 specialist article explores one question from this overview in depth:

• Which driving licence do you need for a telehandler?: driving licence, registration and special cases in Belgium
• Telehandler operator training: 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 extending telescopic boom. With forks, bucket, winch or basket, it lifts, stacks and moves loads on sites, in agriculture and in industry.

What is the difference between a telehandler and a forklift?

The forklift lifts vertically on its mast, while the telehandler lifts and reaches with an extending 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 from 4.30 to 18.80 m, roto telehandlers from 15.42 to 38.90 m. How much load is permitted 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 falls significantly.

What types of telehandler 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 may operate a telehandler?

Anyone who is at least 18 years old, suitable and has received adequate training ensured by the employer in line with applicable Belgian safety rules. On public roads, the required Belgian driving licence category is also needed.

Is a telehandler an industrial truck?

Yes. In terms of well-being at work, a telehandler is work equipment for lifting and moving loads, related to the forklift. That is why the Code on Well-being at Work, Book IV (work equipment), and periodic inspection by an EDTC/SECT apply. On public roads, the rules of the Belgian Highway Code also apply.