When your site depends on forklifts, downtime costs more than lost movement. It leads to missed delivery slots, idle labour, and delayed schedules. According to the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA), an hour of forklift downtime can cost £100–£250 in wasted labour and disrupted logistics. Choosing a forklift hire partner with clear service standards is a risk-management decision, not a convenience.

What delays really cost on a live site (and how reliable hire prevents them)

A delayed delivery or breakdown can stop an entire project. Lorries queue, staff wait, and wages continue while progress stalls.

Reliable equipment hire stops small faults early, which protects productivity, safety, and cash flow.

Compliance insight: LOLER

Under the HSE’s Approved Code of Practice (L117), forklifts must undergo a thorough examination (LOLER, the legally required safety inspection) every 12 months, or every six months if used to lift people. The hire partner must provide proof of inspection, while you remain responsible for safe use and record-keeping on site. Missing or expired certificates can trigger enforcement or insurance issues, so request the paperwork before delivery. Ask your provider to include the current certificate and the next due date in the delivery pack.

How to spot a dependable forklift hire partner

This section shows what good service looks like in forklift hire and why it matters.

1. Proven maintenance standards

Each forklift should arrive with a current LOLER certificate and a recent service record. Regular maintenance extends tyre, brake, and hydraulic life. Ask if the provider logs every inspection digitally so you can check when the next one is due.

2. Predictive maintenance and monitoring

Strong hire partners use telematics (on-board sensors that report faults early) to detect issues before they stop work. These systems give engineers live alerts on oil pressure, temperature, and battery condition, which helps prevent unplanned stops.

3. Engineer response and coverage

Response time drives truck availability on live sites. Providers that deploy engineers by postcode and stock parts in vans resolve issues faster. Glosrose engineers operate 24/7 across the South East with typical attendance within four hours.

4. Clear total cost of hire

Clear quotes include delivery, collection and fuel and any additional hire costs, so you avoid surprises later.

5. Simple communication

One contact number should handle breakdowns, extensions, and collections. Good partners send ETA (estimated time of arrival) updates automatically and record all service calls for full accountability.

6. Flexible, fair terms

Schedules change. You might need to extend or return equipment early. Choose a provider that adapts without heavy penalties. Flexibility helps projects stay efficient and on time.

7. Operator onboarding and safety

HSE data shows about 25% of workplace transport accidents involve lift trucks, often due to poor handovers. Every forklift delivery should include a quick-start guide, operator checks, and safety reminders. A short in house induction reduces accidents and equipment damage.

Is your hire partner keeping pace?

If you already have forklifts on site, review how the hire is performing halfway through the term. Are faults fixed quickly? Do you receive clear communication and proof of servicing? A short audit now can prevent downtime later.

Need a second opinion? Speak with the Glosrose team for a mid-project health check. We can benchmark your current provider’s response times and maintenance records against our own service standards. Start your review at forklift hire.

If the mid-project check shows delays or unclear paperwork, expect the hidden costs to surface on your invoice.

The hidden costs of poor hire management

Treating forklift hire as a simple transaction, leads to waste. The unseen costs include:

• Downtime costs per hour per truck (BITA – industry benchmark)
• Missed LOLER renewals and compliance fees
• Admin time lost chasing paperwork or collections
• Extra hire days billed for delayed off-hire

High-quality partners like Glosrose prevent these losses through proactive maintenance scheduling, automatic documentation, and clear off-hire (the agreed end of the hire and collection) processes.

Why Glosrose is the right forklift hire partner

Here is how Glosrose meets the standards above in day-to-day operations.

Glosrose has supplied construction, warehousing, and logistics clients across Kent, Surrey, Sussex, and Greater London for over 40 years. The fleet is supported by:

• Engineers on 24/7 call-out with regional coverage
• 98% first-time-fix rate (repaired on the first visit) achieved through full parts stock
• Telematics-enabled trucks for predictive servicing
• Automatic LOLER and maintenance reminders for every hire

Because servicing, logistics, and parts are managed in-house, Glosrose provides faster turnaround and consistent communication. Clients gain measurable uptime and predictable costs.

Use the points above as your shortlist criteria.

Plan your next Forklift Hire with Glosrose!

Tell us your site location, working hours, and load requirements. We’ll return a transparent quote covering maintenance intervals, response times, and total hire cost. We aim to return quotes within one working day.

Start your request on the forklift hire page, speak to Servicing for uptime cover, or Contact us to discuss your next project.