Head to our telehandler quick start guide for a detailed breakdown on how to operate a telehandler.
Telehandler Operating Guide
Telehandlers are versatile machines that can be used in a variety of industries to lift and move heavy loads easily. It’s telescopic boom is a long arm that can extend forwards and upwards from the vehicle, helping to move heavy loads into hard-to-reach spaces.
Our range of JCB telehandlers offer high-level performance and productivity. They are specifically designed to be simple to manoeuvre and offer an impressive lift capacity and reach.
Need some help figuring out how to operate a JCB telehandler? This handy guide breaks down the basics so you can get to work.
Telehandler applications: what are they commonly used for?
Telehandlers are multi-functional heavy machines that are widely used across construction, agricultural and industrial sectors.
- Material placement: transporting bricks, blocks, mortar and timber directly to upper floors and scaffolding.
- Site loading: loading and unloading delivery lorries and moving bulky supplies across unmade ground.
- Steel erection: positioning structural steel beams and roofing materials using specialised jibs or hooks.
- Bale handling: moving, lifting and stacking large hay and straw bales.
- Feed and fertiliser: loading bulk fertiliser, grain bins and livestock feed.
- Yard maintenance: cleaning out livestock facilities and general heavy lifting around farmyards.
- Pallet movement: transporting palleted goods in outdoor storage yards and distribution centres.
- Bulk material: shifting bulk material using bucket attachments to scoop and move aggregates, sand or waste materials.
- Elevated maintenance: attaching work platforms to safely hoist workers for high-reach facility repairs.
Where can a telehandler be operated?
Before you understand how to use a telehandler, it’s vital to know where they can work. Because they are versatile machines, they can be operated across a variety of outdoor and indoor environments where heavy lifting, rough terrain or high reach is required.
Indoors
Most telehandlers can be operated inside large warehouses or spacious industrial buildings, providing there is adequate ventilation and clearance for the machine size.
Rough terrain
Telehandlers are typically designed with all-terrain tyres and frame levelling to operate safely on uneven dirt, mud, hilly inclines and rocky ground.
Public roads
You can drive a telehandler on public roads for short distances, but the machine must be properly registered and fully insured.
What pre-operation checks are needed?
Before you start using your machine, it’s key to complete the daily pre-operation checks to ensure the safe use of telehandlers. Follow this handy checklist:
- Tyres and wheels: check pressure, cuts, chunking, sidewall damage and loose nuts. This directly affects stability and steering control.
- Forks and carriage: check for cracks, bent tips, heel wear, locking pins, alignment. Damaged forks can fail under load.
- Hydraulic system: check for leaks, hose abrasion, cylinder damage, fluid level. Hydraulic failure can drop or drift a load.
- Brakes and steering: check pedal feel, steering response, parking brake hold. Travel safety depends on full control.
- Safety devices: check horn, lights, alarms, mirrors, seat belt, indicators. This protects the operator and bystanders.
- Boom and structure: check for cracks, deformation, unusual noises, wear pads. Structural integrity is critical at full reach.
- Load chart and decals: check they are present, readable and correct for machine and attachment. Operator needs exact capacity information.
If you need more advice on how to use a telehandler, you can use the JCB Operator App. The app includes daily checklists that you can customise to suit any application or site – so it’s never been easier to get your machine ready to work.
How to operate a telehandler
To start your machine, follow these steps:
- Insert isolator key (A): insert battery isolator key switch, push and turn 90 (degrees symbol).
- Disarm the immobiliser: If installed, clear with MD then key in the code followed by enter.
- Set to neutral: put the forward/reverse lever into neutral.
- Insert key: insert key into ignition switch (A).
- Start machine: turn the ignition key to the start position (position III) and hold it there until the engine starts.
- Operate hydraulics: operate the hydraulic services to make sure that each function is working correctly and to help warm up the hydraulic system.
For more information on how to operate a JCB telehandler, head to our quick start guides.
Telehandler operation tips across different terrain
Operating your telehandler across different terrains can pose challenges. It’s important to understand how to keep your machine under control – even in difficult conditions.
- Do not use the machine to move or handle logs unless sufficient log protection is installed as you could cause serious injury to yourself and damage to the machine.
- For rough or uneven terrain, manage the stability and select steering carefully. Keep the boom retracted and the load low while travelling.
- For slopes and inclines, always drive straight up and down, and keep the load orientation correct.
- For tight spaces/indoor areas, watch blind spots, control your speed and switch steering modes for precise operation.
What telehandler attachments are available?
A wide range of optional attachments are available to increase the versatility of your machine. Only the JCB approved attachments are recommended for use with your machine.
- Clap hands bale grab: the JCB clap hands bale grab attachment will pick up either round or square bales with a wide opening/closing grab.
- Bucket brush: the JCB bucket brush range is stronger, lighter and more durable – the perfect agricultural attachment for grain shovels.
- General purpose shovels: built to withstand the toughest applications, JCB’s range of shovels are designed to tackle a wide range of tasks.
- High back bale spike: the JCB high back bale spike has been designed to carry 3 Quadrant bales or 2 Helston bales.
- Multi shovels: JCB attachments offer a range of multi shovels for telehandlers, from 2500kg up to 3200kg.
- Shear grab: features hardox or forged tines, a heavily reinforced construction, and powerful action - ensuring that you can cut grass and maise silage cleanly from the clamp all day long.
- Floating forks: aid pick up of loads on uneven floors by allowing fork tines to ride up and down as they enter the load.
- Fork positioner: uses existing floating pallet forks, eliminating the manual fork shifting and increasing operator safety.
- Industrial forks: maximise changeover time with adjustable fork centres that allow the operator to position the fork sin the safest loading point.
- Precision placer: has both side shift and fork positioning capabilities, creating a safer solution for greater productivity on smaller sites.
Contact your JCB dealer for the full list of approved attachments available.
Do you need a licence to drive a telehandler?
You require a telehandler licence to operator and drive a telehandler. To get a licence, you must complete a classroom written test with a hands-on operational review by a certified trainer.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) advise that ‘drivers should be trained, competent and authorised to operate the specific telehandler used. Training certificates from recognised schemes help demonstrate competence and certificates should be checked for validity.’*Telescopic handlers - HSE
If you are planning on driving your telehandler on public roads, you need to check the machine is road legal with a valid number plate displayed and appropriate lighting. The operator must hold a driving licence of the appropriate category, and the telehandler should be taxed and insured. Fork retainers must also be used if unladden.
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