Telehandlers
Telehandler vs Forklift: Choosing the Right Lifter for Construction Sites
By Jonah Tan, Equipment Specialist · · 2 min read
A forklift and a telehandler both lift pallets, but they are built for very different jobs. On construction sites the telehandler vs forklift difference matters, because the wrong machine can mean materials stuck at ground level.
Telehandler vs forklift: the key difference
A forklift lifts straight up on a vertical mast. It is compact, precise and ideal on firm, level floors such as warehouses and loading bays.
A telehandler (telescopic handler) has a boom that extends forward and up. It can place loads on upper floors, over walls and onto rooftops, and it is built for rough-terrain sites.
When a telehandler is the better choice
- Loading materials onto upper floors, balconies or scaffolds
- Reaching over obstacles, trenches or barriers
- Working on uneven or unpaved construction ground
- Jobs that need attachments such as buckets, jibs or a work platform
- Replacing several small lifts with one versatile machine
When a forklift is the better choice
- Warehouses, factories and loading bays with firm, level floors
- Tight aisles and racking
- High-frequency pallet moves over short distances
- Indoor work where a battery forklift avoids exhaust fumes (see battery vs diesel forklift)
Rotating telehandlers
A rotating telehandler, such as the Merlo Roto, adds a turret that turns 360°, plus stabilisers. It can lift, turn and place a load without moving the whole machine, which is useful on cramped sites. With the right attachment it can do some jobs you might otherwise book a small crane for.
Tip: our forklifts run on standard tyres and need firm ground. If your site is soft, sloped or unpaved, a telehandler is the safer option.
What to tell us for a quote
- Heaviest load and its size
- How high and how far forward it needs to go
- Ground conditions and access to the site
- Any attachments needed
- Start date and rental period
Telehandlers and forklifts we carry
A&G Equipment is an authorised Merlo distributor. We rent and sell Merlo fixed and rotating telehandlers for construction and industrial sites, up to 26 m lift height on Roto models, with delivery to Johor, KL & Selangor. See our telehandler rental in Johor range. For warehouse and yard work, we are also an authorised EP distributor; browse our forklift rental in Johor range. Every machine is serviced and safety-checked before delivery.
From our fleet: Merlo Telehandlers for reach and rough ground, and the EP 7 Ton Diesel Forklift for heavy yard lifting.
