About Telehandlers
History of the Telehandler
The telehandler—short for telescopic handler or reach forklift—combines the heavy lifting power of a rough-terrain forklift with the elevated reach of a small crane. Early precursors emerged in the 1950s and 1960s with machines like the Lull "High-Lift," which featured a forward-sliding boom on a tractor chassis. However, the modern telehandler fully took shape in 1977 when British manufacturer JCB launched the iconic Loadall. Around the same time, European companies like Manitou introduced dedicated telescopic frames designed to move materials both up and forward over jobsite obstacles.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, telehandlers became indispensable assets across construction and agriculture. Manufacturers introduced multi-mode steering—including front-wheel, four-wheel, and crab steer—allowing operators to maneuver long frames through congested spaces. Subsequent breakthroughs included quick-attach tool carriages, frame-leveling hydraulics, and rotating "roto" telehandlers capable of 360-degree upper-structure rotation. Today’s telehandlers range from ultra-compact units to high-capacity machines capable of lifting over 20,000 lbs, equipped with digital Load Moment Indicators (LMI) and automated safety shut-offs to prevent tip-overs.
Uses Of a Telehandler
High-Reach Construction & Material Placement
Telehandlers are essential on commercial and residential jobsites for lifting heavy structural materials directly to upper floor decks and scaffolding. Featuring telescopic booms with forward reach capabilities and lift heights often ranging from 19 to 55+ feet, operators can deliver palletized brick, framing lumber, roofing materials, and trusses over muddy ground or site obstructions, eliminating the need for expensive mobile cranes on mid-rise projects.
Agricultural & Farm Operations
In farming and livestock management, telehandlers function as high-capacity, multi-purpose utility loaders. Equipped with specialized hydraulic attachments—such as bale spears, silage grabs, high-capacity grain buckets, and manure forks—they excel at stacking oversized hay bales high into storage barns, filling feed mixers, clearing corrals, and moving bulk agricultural inventory across unpaved, uneven farmyards.