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 places 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.

That is why it is a standard machine on construction sites, in agriculture and in industry. The difficulty lies in the selection: Which type fits, how much load capacity remains at full outreach, and what training does the operator need? This guide answers these questions in an overview 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, work 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 only works 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° and stand 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 produce no local emissions during operation. They are suitable for halls and jobs with noise protection requirements. What matters inside buildings is explained in the guide Telehandlers in halls.

Using 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 basket: bringing people up 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 work basket. For crane operation and passenger transport, the operator also needs extended training (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 work 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 surfaces, handling bulky goods, maintenance work at height

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

The maximum values from the brochure are not enough for the selection. What matters 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 handler 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 saves repositioning. Soft ground, slopes and support surfaces determine whether and how safely the machine can be stabilised.
4. Drive and environment. In halls and city centres, a lot speaks for electric; on rough terrain, for diesel with all-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 the forklift, the telehandler has the advantage on rough terrain and at height. On level hall floors with many lifting cycles, a Counterbalance Forklift usually works more economically.
• Compared with the crane, the roto 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 the aerial work platform, the telehandler with basket pays off when material is also lifted in the same job. For pure work at height, an aerial work platform is more flexible and usually cheaper.

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

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

The operator needs training or instruction under VUV Art. 8, in practice usually documented with a telehandler operator card, and an appointment by the employer. The training must cover the actual use: fixed machines, roto and crane operation, and passenger transport in the work basket. A forklift operator card is not enough. Details on content, duration and costs can be found in the guide Telehandler operator card.

On public roads, a driving licence under SVG/VRV is also required. Depending on speed and weight, a different category is needed. Which category applies when is explained in the guide Telehandler driving licence.

The machine must be inspected periodically by a competent person in accordance with VUV and ArGV 3 (inspection under VUV), usually once a year according to the manufacturer's specifications. In addition, the operator checks it for defects before each use. Luibl rental machines are handed over with a valid inspection, together with a machine-specific briefing. 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 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 added. With weekly and monthly rentals, the daily rate drops significantly. All price factors and three calculation examples can be found in the guide Renting a telehandler: costs.

Luibl delivers from our Passau location with its own low-loaders directly to the site, throughout Europe and via a network of more than 200 locations. With early scheduling, the right machine can be reliably planned in. For short-notice requirements, we clarify availability promptly.

Rent a telehandler → · Send an enquiry →

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 work 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 set up
6. Period: start and expected duration, as weekly and monthly rentals are cheaper
7. Training: what training under VUV Art. 8 the operators have (fixed, roto/crane operation, work basket)

If a detail is missing, the machine is easily chosen too large or too small. That costs an additional 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 operator card under VUV Art. 8: content, duration and costs of the training
• What does a telehandler cost to rent?: prices per day and 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 work basket, it lifts, stacks and places loads on construction sites, in agriculture and in industry.

What is the difference between a telehandler and a forklift?

The forklift lifts vertically on the mast, the 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 from 4.30 to 18.80 m, roto telehandlers from 15.42 to 38.90 m. How much load is permissible at this 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 drops significantly.

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 may operate a telehandler?

Anyone who is at least 18 years old, suitable, trained under VUV Art. 8 and appointed by the employer to operate the machine. On public roads, the appropriate driving licence is also required.

Is a telehandler an industrial truck?

Yes. In occupational safety, telehandlers are classed as all-terrain industrial trucks (telescopic forklifts), which is why the VUV rules for industrial trucks with periodic inspection apply to them. Under road traffic law (SVG/VRV), they are treated as self-propelled work machines.