As your business grows, you might need to consider acquiring some tools that will enable you to speed up work. And when it comes to heavy lifting chores, you might have considered a forklift hire for this purpose. However, before you hire, there are some things you must consider. This article discusses this in detail.
What is the skill set of your workforce?
While it might sound simplistic, forklifts are operated by persons who have the right skill set to do so. You might want to eliminate the cost of hiring a forklift plus the operator especially if you are to use it for some considerable amount of time. Therefore having on-site someone who has the right operational skills will save you money and unprecedented workplace injuries.
What are your weight requirements?
Having the right forklift for the proportionate weight load will increase efficiency. This means capacity requirements will be top of the list of considerations, as different forklifts will lift weights of varying loads. It will also be prudent to look into packaging and the type of loads to be lifted as huge irregular shaped weights might mean less lifting by the forklift.
What are your height requirements?
How high would you want the weight to be lifted? If say you want the weight lifted up to two stories, you might need to go for a six-wheeled forklift. This means that your choice of the forklift should be advised by the height the weight that needs to be lifted. For example, smaller sized vehicles are only appropriate for offloading work.
Where will the truck be operated?
Some lift trucks are only ideal for smooth surfaces; they might therefore not perform well in an outdoor environment. Therefore knowing where the truck will conveniently be operated is something you shouldn't overlook.
What budget are you operating on?
Forklift hire is far much cheaper than purchasing a new or even a used vehicle. And while in most cases maintenance of the truck will be covered by the owner, it will be better if you pre-plan and work within a budget. The sort of truck you will be using and how long you intend to hire it will be key in your budget draft. Also, remember that you are in charge of the operational costs and fueling of the truck throughout the lease period.
A lift truck rental could bring you convenience while saving you time and money. However, you need to be keen before hiring to get the most out of your contract.
