Forklifts are an essential part of the way many businesses operate. If you want the benefit of a forklift but don’t want to commit to a full purchase, short term forklift hire may be the perfect solution for you. Over the course of this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about forklift hire, allowing you to make the right decision as to whether or not it’s something your business can benefit from.
What is short term forklift hire?
So to start with, what are we actually talking about when we mention short term forklift hire? Forklift hire is, of course, the process by which you basically rent a forklift. For a given monthly fee you can use the forklift at your premises for any and all of your forklift needs. Generally speaking, there will often be some form of servicing, maintenance, and some additional features to your rental agreement. Every rental agreement is different, however, so it’s important you know exactly what’s covered and what isn’t.
Forklift hire contracts come in a broad range of configurations, which means you can find the best deal for you, your business, and your budget. Whether you need a certain type of forklift, you have a certain monthly budget you need to work within, or it’s for a certain period of time, your rental agreement can often be configured to your requirements, so make sure you tell your forklift rental company exactly what you need.
Specifically, short term forklift hire will cover a rental period that is relatively short. Some forklift hire contracts can be as long as five years, depending on the provider. A short term forklift hire contract will generally cover anything up to a year, though this can vary considerably.
What are the benefits of short term forklift hire?
There are many benefits to both forklift hire and short term forklift hire specifically. Starting with the benefits of forklift hire in general, one main benefit is that it’s much more affordable. When you purchase a forklift outright you have a host of costs associated with it. This can be ongoing maintenance and servicing costs, as well as another serious cost – depreciation. When you rent a forklift, you don’t have to worry about any of that. Often your servicing and maintenance will be covered as a part of your package, and because you don’t actually own the forklift, you aren’t the one who will take the hit when it comes to depreciation.
Another benefit of forklift hire is that it makes it easy to upgrade and change your forklift. That means you can be sure you’re using the best forklift for your purposes, by trying out a selection of them in the context of your business operation. Renting limits the red tape and paperwork associated with actually purchasing a forklift – you can hire a forklift and then change it pretty much whenever you want.
A benefit of short term forklift hire specifically is it allows you to flex with the flowing demand of your business – in times when there is more demand, you can simply hire a forklift to help you with it. When the demand settles back down, you can end your rental agreement and send the forklift back. You aren’t stuck finding something for the machine to do while you’re still having to pay for it. This makes it much easier for businesses to provide a more flexible approach to the way they handle their forklift needs.
This also means that short term forklift hire should be high on the list of considerations for small businesses or those that have just started out. The more budget-friendly approach and arguably better value for money presented by hiring over purchasing makes for a compelling choice. It also, as mentioned, will allow that business to more easily satisfy its own changing needs as it begins to grow and develop.
What kind of business would benefit from this kind of hire?
Forklifts are the backbone of many types of business. If your business involves cargo loading/unloading or logistics at any point in its operation, a forklift is going to be essential for you. Short term forklift hire can help you to make sure you’re able to better serve the needs of your customers.
This means businesses such as warehouses, factories, delivery and logistics companies, builders’ merchants and construction companies, to name just a few, will all benefit from using forklifts. It’s important they use the right forklift, however, because as with any machine, there are different types of forklifts for different needs. Short term forklift hire will allow you to find the perfect forklift for your business.
How does short term forklift hire actually work?
It’s simple – you first choose a company to hire a forklift from. When you’ve done that, you have a browse of the available forklifts they have to offer. When you have chosen the one you know you need or the one you want to try, you then set about building your perfect rental package with them.
It’s a delicate balance between keeping an eye on your budget and making sure your rental package covers the necessities. If you want the top level of maintenance cover, for example, it will cost you more than a package that just has basic servicing. But, you will likely save money in the event that your forklift needs repairs or more expensive routine maintenance. There’s no right or wrong answers, only the rental package that is agreeable to you – you can always change it in your next rental agreement if you need to.
Then you determine how long you want to rent the forklift for. Short term forklift hire can be anything from a week to a month, to six months, to a year. You can also rent a forklift for a longer period of time, often anything up to five years, but this is only advised if you know exactly what you need.
That’s all there is to it – your forklift will be delivered to you on the agreed date for you to start putting it to work. When the rental agreement is finished, it will be collected again.
Choosing the best short term forklift hire deal
To make sure you get the best deal, be sure you understand what the right forklift for you looks like. There are many available, with different weight limits, power figures, and efficiency ratings. There are traditional fossil fuel forklifts and electric forklifts, forklifts designed for working outdoors in all weathers, and forklifts designed for working undercover in warehouses. Take stock of your business, the way you operate, and what you will be using your forklift for to help point you in the right direction of what you need.
Then choose the best forklift hire company you can. Reviews, track record, and experience are all key things you want to be looking for. You want a forklift rental company that has experience in providing businesses such as yours with the forklifts they need with the minimum of stress and delay.
Do your research
You also want to choose a company that offers a broad selection of forklifts for you to choose from, which will allow you to make sure you get the right forklift for your requirements. Pricing matters, so consider several different forklift rental companies if you can, and compare their pricing to one another. If you find a better like for like deal with another company, say so – the company may be willing to match it for you.
Good communication is essential as well. A forklift is the backbone of your business and the way it operates, so if you need to contact your rental company to resolve an issue, it’s important they have the manpower and people skills to be able to attend to you in a professional way, while also solving your problem.
Short term forklift hire and Covid-19
Short term forklift hire can also benefit businesses dealing with the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.
Many businesses have continued working through the Covid-19 outbreak, which has lead to them experiencing excessive demand. Extra forklifts become essential for processing orders, deliveries, and other logistical needs. Other businesses are now just getting back to opening after lockdown, which means budgets and negotiating fluctuating demand is going to be a high priority. Other businesses are anticipating a spike in demand around the Christmas period, with the potential of another outbreak over the winter period.
Something that unifies all of these businesses, and no doubt will be a part of your business considerations, is that it’s impossible to predict what demand will be over the following months. Short term forklift hire becomes a prudent investment then because it allows you to adjust in a very short space of time. You can either hire additional forklifts if you do need them or let your rental contract end if you don’t. If you need them again in the future, it’s easy to simply start a fresh rental agreement, possibly on a month by month basis.
Short term forklift hire is a wise investment
Whichever way you look at it, short term forklift hire is a sensible investment for all businesses. Whether it’s due to the fluctuating demand of post-lockdown business operation, or the desire to make sure you’re maximising your value for money, make sure you browse the short term forklift hire packages open to you.
With hire terms ranging from one day to one week, one month, or even one year, there’s a perfect short term forklift hire package out there for your business. Contact us today to chat to our friendly team about how we can help you out with short term hire.
