Industrial Trucks: Technology, Application & Selection

Industrial truck (Flurförderzeug) is the standardised term under ISO 5053 for ground-based, non-rail-guided material handling equipment. This category covers forklifts of all types, pallet stackers, reach trucks, tow tractors, rough-terrain forklifts and telehandlers. In everyday language, "industrial truck" and "forklift" are often used interchangeably – technically, the forklift is a subgroup. This guide explains the individual equipment types, the legal framework under VUV, and the selection criteria that really make a difference in practice. It is aimed at dispatchers, site managers and buyers preparing a procurement or rental decision.

The Luibl rental fleet covers all relevant equipment types, from electric tow tractors to the heavy-duty telehandler Manitou MHT 10200 with 20 t capacity. We rent out classic forklifts in diesel, electric and LPG versions up to 16 t capacity. Delivery is handled by our own low-loader fleet from over 200 company-owned and network locations in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Italy, Hungary and other European countries.

Not part of our range: automated guided vehicles (AGVs). While these are technically also classified under the VUV, they are not operator-controlled industrial trucks and are not part of our rental fleet portfolio.

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

Distinction by drive type: Electric forklifts are suited to indoor areas, food logistics, pharma, cold storage, and anywhere exhaust fumes or noise must be excluded. Modern lithium-ion units now achieve single-shift operation without a battery swap. The weak point remains outdoor use in wet and cold conditions: if units stand outside in continuous frost, battery life shortens noticeably.

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 occupational exposure limits cannot be met without elaborate 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, since electric has caught up technically.

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

Tow Tractors and Pallet Stackers Low-lift tow tractors transport pallets close to the ground, typically for order picking and goods receiving. The operator either walks alongside or rides on a stand-on platform. Pallet stackers are tiller-guided units with a mast reaching several metres – an intermediate solution between a pure transport unit and a counterbalance forklift. Useful for businesses that regularly store goods on two to three rack levels but don't have the volume to justify a full-size forklift.

Rough-Terrain Forklifts Robust design with off-road tyres, increased ground clearance, often all-wheel drive. Mandatory as soon as the site is unpaved – construction sites, timber yards, building-material storage, agriculture. A standard counterbalance forklift with solid rubber tyres fails on soft ground and gets stuck; this is a common cause of expensive emergency re-orders.

Telehandlers Combine a forklift with an extendable telescopic boom. Achieve significantly greater lift heights and reaches than conventional forklifts. Through attachment changes (forks, bucket, work platform basket, winch, concrete skip) they often replace three separate machines on a construction site.

• Rigid telehandlers: fixed superstructure axis, classic construction-equipment profile, lift heights up to around 20 m.
• Rotating telehandlers (Roto): 360°-rotating upper carriage. Luibl offers Magni RTH and Manitou MRT models – lift heights up to 39 m, and at Luibl usable with attachment changes as an aerial work platform (basket) or crane (winch).
• Heavy-duty telehandlers: Manitou MHT 10200, 20 t capacity – used for industrial assembly, heavy machinery relocation, and wind energy projects.

Heavy-Duty Forklifts A separate category starting at around 8 t capacity. Typical applications among Luibl customers: metal construction (coils, girders, sheet-metal packs), container handling, and tool and mould transport in the automotive industry. Forklifts up to 16 t are regularly dispatched from the Passau rental depot.

The honest rule of thumb from rental fleet dispatching: below 1,200 operating hours per year, renting almost always pays off better. Between 1,200 and 1,800 hours it's a trade-off depending on interest rates, maintenance costs and flexibility requirements. From around 1,800 operating hours per year, the forklift is effectively running two shifts and buying becomes economical.

What's often overlooked: this operating-hours calculation only holds if the requirement profile stays stable over the holding period. If the warehouse layout, product mix or racking technology changes regularly, renting remains the cleaner solution – even at high utilisation. A purchased forklift that no longer fits the job is a millstone around your neck; a rental unit can be swapped for a different one by next Tuesday.

Telehandlers with a winch basket replace a mobile crane on many construction sites. This works reliably when:

• lifting loads are below the telehandler's rated capacity – specifically at the required reach, not the nominal rating. The telehandler's load chart drops steeply as reach increases.
• the site has a load-bearing standing surface (telehandler supported on outriggers or on wheels on level ground).
• lifting frequency is low to medium. For repetitive series lifts, a mobile crane is still faster.

Not advisable: lifts close to the load capacity limit, lifts over obstacles with large lateral offsets, and generally any lifting work involving people – that then calls for an aerial work platform, not a crane task. A roto telehandler is sufficient for 80% of construction-site lifts. The remaining 20% should honestly be calculated with a mobile crane 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 – more precisely, counterbalance forklifts – are the best-known, but not the only, subgroup.

What training does the driver need?

Training under EKAS guideline 6518 (forklift licence), a written operating authorisation from the employer, and annual instruction. Luibl provides training for all equipment types in its rental fleet.

How often must a forklift be inspected?

Under ArGV 3, at least once a year by a competent person. For Luibl rental equipment, inspection in accordance with the VUV is included in the rental scope.

What does renting a forklift cost?

Long-term rental of a standard forklift costs CHF 30–80/day, short-term rental CHF 10–25/hour. The exact calculation depends on the type, capacity, rental duration and location.

Is a work platform basket allowed on a forklift?

Only for short-term, occasional work, with a permanently attached, approved attachment. For regular work at height, an aerial work platform is mandatory.

Does Luibl deliver on weekends?

Yes, using our own low-loader fleet. Pickup on Fridays and return on Mondays at the daily rental rate is possible depending on location – contact dispatch directly to enquire.

Which countries does Luibl deliver to?

Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Italy, Hungary and other European countries, from over 200 locations.