Telescopic Handler

Our novice CPCS Telehandler course runs every month and lasts for 5 days, start dates can be found in the training schedule. There is a maximum of 4 candidates to the course. We always advise that candidates take the CPCS A17 Telescopic handler endorsement ‘C’ category which covers you for a machine with any reach (excluding slew).

Some of the skills you will acquire during your course:

• Complete Pre-start and running checks.
• Travel and manoeuvre in confined spaces, rough terrain and on the road.
• Safe travelling on slopes.
• Lifting and retrieving loads from work platforms.
• Loading and unloading vehicles.
• Stacking crates and palettes.
• Using and swapping attachments using a quick hitch.
• Transporting wide loads.
• Set the machine for road travel.
• Using the RCI and lift charts
• Secure shut down procedures.

About Telescopic Handlers

The Telescopic Materials handler, sometimes called a Telehandler, Teleporter, Loadall or Forklift is used widely in construction and agriculture for transporting loads and materials. A Telehandler is a more versatile forklift with a telescoping boom and a variety of attachments that can be fixed using pins or a quick hitch system. Attachments include forks, buckets, grabs, grapples, hooks and working platforms. The boom on the machine can be raised, lowered, extended and retracted. The chosen attachment can then be tilted forwards and backwards and any auxiliary services can be used such as opening and closing a grab. The long reach of the machine means that it is a cost effective replacement for a crane, able to lift heavy loads onto buildings.

Telehandlers are wheeled machines that feature 2 wheel drive and steer for road use. 4 wheel drive and 4 wheel steer for use on rough terrain. Differential locks offer better traction on very poor surfaces. Some machines feature ‘crab steer’ where all wheels point in the same direction allowing the machine to travel sideways for maneuverability in confined spaces. Chassis levelling is a feature on some material handlers that allows the whole body to tilt in the lateral axis (side-to-side). This allows the operator to level the machine to the terrain if for example traversing a hill with a load.

The drive system on a Telehandler is normally powered by a torque converter for good inching control, where as all steering, body and boom controls powered by rams and engine mounted hydraulic pump.

Machine stabilisers or ‘legs’ are fitted on larger machines which gives added longitudianl stability and allows the machine to reach further and lift more without tipping over. The only problem is that the machine has to be stationary while the legs are deployed so an element of judgement is required from the operator for lifting or placing accurately. An RCI (Rated Capacity Indicator) or load indicator will warn the operator when they are about to exceed the machines rated capacity (tip over!). The operator should first refer to the lift chart to check the machine is capable of the lift rather than relying on the RCI.

 

Basic Telescopic Handler Components