Telehandlers are essential machines across modern agriculture, but the right telehandler for one farm may not be right for another. Arable, dairy, livestock and poultry farms all place different demands on machinery. Choosing the right combination of machine, attachment and trained operator can improve productivity while helping businesses operate safely.

Arable Farming – Arable farms often use telehandlers for grain, fertiliser, seed, pallets, straw bales and loading trailers.

Important considerations include

• Lift capacity and reach
• Bale and pallet handling
• Suitable buckets and attachments
• Stability on uneven ground

Larger machines may provide the capacity required for demanding jobs, but operators must understand the machine’s limits, particularly when working at height or with the boom extended.

Dairy and Livestock Farming – On dairy and livestock farms, telehandlers are often used every day for feed, silage, bedding, muck and bale handling.

Here, manoeuvrability and visibility can be just as important as lifting capacity. Machines frequently operate in confined yards and buildings, often around livestock, pedestrians and other vehicles. A telehandler should therefore be selected with the actual working environment in mind.

Poultry and Pig Farming – Buildings and restricted access can make a compact, manoeuvrable telehandler particularly useful on poultry and pig units.

Machine dimensions, turning space and visibility should all be considered alongside lifting capacity. Bigger isn’t necessarily better if the machine cannot operate effectively within the available space.

Don’t Forget the Attachment – Buckets, forks, bale spikes and grabs make telehandlers extremely versatile, but the attachment needs to be compatible with the machine and suitable for the task. Changing an attachment can also affect a telehandler’s lifting capacity and handling characteristics. Operators need to understand these changes before starting work.

The Right Machine Needs the Right Training

Selecting the correct telehandler is only part of the equation. HSE guidance states that telehandlers should only be driven by authorised, trained and competent operators. At Milne Safety, we provide AITT Accredited Rough Terrain Telescopic Handler Training, helping agricultural businesses ensure their operators have the knowledge and practical skills needed to use these machines safely.

Training options include:

• Novice training
• Experienced operator training
• Conversion training
• Refresher training

Milne Safety’s AITT Accredited course cover all the relevant skills and knowledge to ensure competency when using a telehandler including pre-use inspections, safe manoeuvring, machine functions, rated capacity plates, LOLER and PUWER requirements, and practical operating skills.

To ensure all you employees are trained and our forklift instructors will conduct on site training, ensuring your employees are trained on your trucks for your environment, Our trainers cover the local area of Wymondham, Attleborough, Thetford, Diss, Ipswich Norwich and further afield, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need training to operate a telehandler on a farm? Operators using telehandlers for work should be appropriately trained and competent. Formal training helps operators understand safe operation, machine limitations and their responsibilities.

Is a bigger telehandler always better? No. The best machine depends on the task. Capacity and reach are important, but so are manoeuvrability, visibility, access and ground conditions.

Can I use different attachments on a telehandler? Yes, provided they are suitable and compatible with the machine. Operators must also understand how an attachment can affect the telehandler’s capacity and stability.

Which telehandler is best for livestock farming? There isn’t one answer for every farm. A machine used regularly inside livestock buildings may benefit from good visibility and manoeuvrability, while farms handling large bales may require greater capacity and reach.

Does Milne Safety offer accredited telehandler training? Yes. Milne Safety provides AITT Accredited Rough Terrain Telescopic Handler Training, with courses available for novice, experienced, conversion and refresher operators.

For more guidance Farmers Weekly provides an guide on the telehandlers 2026