A plain forklift
A forklift lifts straight up and carries loads at low level on flat ground. It is excellent in warehouses, but it cannot reach forward over an obstacle or up to the second floor of a building site.
A telehandler
A telehandler has a boom that extends forward and upward, and it drives on rough ground. It places pallets on a slab, a terrace or a roof, and it carries the load across the site. For repeated material handling it is usually the quickest choice.
A mobile crane
A crane can lift much heavier loads to much greater heights, and place them with precision. It needs space, setting up and usually costs more. It is the right choice for very heavy items, such as large units, or for single lifts at great height.
How to decide
- Many repeated lifts of pallets and materials: telehandler
- Flat warehouse floor, low lifting: forklift
- A single very heavy or very high lift: crane
Not sure?
Tell us the weight, the size and the height. If a telehandler is not the right tool, we say so.



