Transporting a forklift can be something of a challenge, not least because there are so many rules and regulations that you will need to accommodate before your forklift is allowed on the road.
Forklift trucks, to be driven on roads, must be registered with the DVLA. They must have licence plates, tax and insurance. They must also have appropriate lighting, including an amber beacon when travelling below 25mph.
Vehicles travelling 1000 yards of more will need to comply with Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, which may require significant modification to the vehicle. If travelling less than 1000 yards, for example from one site to another across the road, the vehicle may not need to be modified to comply with these regulations.
Transporting a forklift truck can be difficult, and in many cases almost impossible, without additional help. It’s also an inconvenient choice if you need to move your truck over a long distance – these aren’t vehicles that are made for motorway driving!
If you need to transport one or more forklift trucks, then you are likely to decide that this is a job best done by someone else. A forklift transportation service is likely to be the best option for moving your vehicles.
How can you transport a forklift?
A specialist forklift truck transportation service can move one or more trucks, getting them from A to B effortlessly. If they will be used on private land at both ends of the journey then there will be no need to worry about registrations and regulations.
This may also be the best or only option available if you have a forklift truck that won’t start or is a non-runner and will need to be moved from one place to another.
What should you consider when choosing a forklift truck transportation service?
Finding the right service for forklift truck transportation may seem like it involves a lot of planning. After all, you want your vehicles in the best possible hands. Working in an industry where health and safety are so important and where rules must be closely followed, you also know that it doesn’t make sense to choose a company that takes risks with the wrong equipment or with staff that are not properly trained. Here are a few things to consider when choosing who to use for transportation:
How far can your truck be moved?
Some transportation services will only work in very specific areas. If you’re based in London then it helps to find a service that operates both within the London Emissions Zone (LEZ) and throughout the rest of London, so that you are not faced with additional complications when planning transport routes around the city.
Before you arrange forklift transportation, check that your provider can accommodate the length of the trip, and that they won’t create unnecessary delays by avoiding the London Emissions Zone or any toll roads that they might come across.
If you need your forklifts moved across the country then it is important to find a service that offers national travel. If you need them moved a shorter distance then you may be better served by a more local company, with more detailed and specific knowledge of the local roads and best routes.
When can your truck be moved?
If your project allows you to plan in advance, you’re in a fantastic position. Unfortunately, sometimes a forklift needs to be moved at very short notice.
Can your chosen forklift transportation service work to your schedule, perhaps even providing same-day delivery if required, or do they expect you to fit around their other clients?
It helps if you can be flexible about when you want your forklifts to be collected, and when they should be delivered to their next location. Unfortunately, things are very rarely that simple. Usually you’re working to tight schedules and very specific deadlines, with projects that require everything to be in the right place at the right time. If the companies you contact seem unsure about their ability to keep to your deadlines, think carefully about the impact that this might have.
Relocation should, ideally, happen at a time to suit you.
How many trucks can be moved at once?
If you need to have one forklift truck moved then you may have a wider range of options for local and national transportation. There may be more companies that can accommodate your request, even if they don’t have very large lorries for the transportation of multiple vehicles.
Often, businesses like yours will need to move a small fleet of forklifts at once to a new location. Check to ensure that there are vehicles that can accommodate your needs, carrying multiple forklifts at the same time. You don’t want to deal with a convoy of lorries, each carrying one forklift truck, when there are transportation providers with vehicles onto which more than one forklift can be loaded.
Are the forklift movers fully trained?
You will need to find a provider that offers full training to every member of staff, so that they are properly equipped with the knowledge and experience that is required to move your forklift.
HGV drivers can move their vehicles with the forklifts on the back, but may not have the additional skills and experience to do the loading on your behalf or to make adjustments en-route in an emergency.
Your transportation providers should be able to help you load and unload, safely and efficiently.
Look for providers that have their own forklift licences, and will be able to help you navigate your trucks into position for transportation.
You should not be expected to load your own forklifts onto the back of a lorry, unless you agree to this and it has been previously discussed.
Remember that it is illegal to operate a forklift without a licence, so your chosen provider should not be offering to quickly load the forklift onto their vehicle unless they have the appropriate licence. It doesn’t matter that this process takes only a few minutes, because the law is the same in all circumstances. There are more than 8000 accidents involving forklifts each year, and you don’t want your company to experience one of these as a result of using an unqualified transportation provider.
What about accreditation?
A specialist provider of forklift truck moving services is likely to have accreditation to put your mind at ease. They might be members of the Fork Lift Truck Association, for example. These are not just badges that you’ll find included on a website for fun – they’re an assurance of quality, indicating that your chosen provider knows what they’re talking about!
Don’t forget to ask around for the reviews and experiences of others that might have used a similar service in the past. A recommendation from someone that you trust could be just as valuable, if not more valuable, than multiple positive reviews that you might find online.
Why should you choose a specialist for forklift transportation?
As well as having all of the necessary training and experience for moving forklift trucks, specialists will have the right equipment.
Your forklifts are a business asset that must be transported safely, and should stay in the same condition from the start to the end of the journey. This means that they may need to be moved on purpose-built lorries, which only specialists will have.
At Budget Forktrucks, these purpose-built trucks have full-width ramps and can carry up to 22 tones, moving a whole fleet of forklifts quickly and easily. The low ramps are suitable for vehicles with low ground clearance, ensuring that there are no unwanted scrapes and scratches as part of the loading or unloading process.
Some forklift movers do not have lorries suitable for bigger and heavier forklift trucks, and instead are only able to transport small and lightweight forklifts. With a specialist, any make and model can be moved. This also ensures that you don’t need to break your forklift down into pieces, removing component parts to get it under the required weight, and transporting different parts of your forklift using different vehicles.
If you have only one truck to move, then you will be able to select a smaller vehicle and keep your costs down. If you want to transport multiple forklifts, then it is better to do so on the smallest possible number of lorries. Specialists should have a selection of vehicles available to use, so that you can work together to find the most convenient and cost-effective forklift transportation solution.
With purpose-built trucks, it may also be possible to transport multiple pieces of different plant machinery on the same vehicle, cutting down costs and saving time.
Choosing Budget Forktrucks for your forklift transportation
Instead of worrying about vehicle modifications and regulations, choose Budget Forktrucks for your forklift transportation.
We have the experienced, fully-trained staff and the specialist vehicles for transportation. We can accommodate your needs, working around your schedule, with same-day delivery if it’s required in an emergency.
With lorries of varying shapes and sizes, we can find the right solution whether you wish to transport one forklift or dozens. We can cover short-distance trips between two sites in close proximity, or longer trips across London, including the London Emissions Zone.
Should you need forklift transportation in London or further afield, you can trust Budget Forktrucks.
