Telehandler courses in Kent – why should you book?

Telehandler courses

Telehandlers, also known as telescopic handlers are a type of plant equipment used in for agriculture and construction. It is vital that operators have the correct training and experience when using telehandlers, as they can be very dangerous if used incorrectly. 

We have a range of telehandler courses available to book onto at our Diggerland Plant Training School. Find out why you should get qualified! 

WHAT IS A TELEHANDLER AND WHAT ARE THEY USED FOR?

Telehandlers are often compared to a crane or a forklift. Having the capacity to lift materials and to a spectacular height at that, we can see why some people may get confused. 

In comparison to a forklift, the robustness of a telehandler means it is perfect for use on a motorway, busy construction site or in farming. 

Telehandlers are primarily used for the following tasks:

  • Carrying and stacking hay on a farm
  • Moving large loads
  • Lifting pallets of materials using the fork attachment on a building site
  • Carrying and moving gravel or sand when using a bucket attachment
  • Using as a crane to lift materials to a greater height

As previously mentioned, telehandlers are a beneficial machine to have on any site. Especially when you have a large array of attachments to choose from.

BENEFITS OF USING A TELEHANDLER

Telehandlers are versatile lifting machines. They are capable of transporting heavy loads from one place to another.

The telescopic arms can help lift objects with ease. Telehandler operators can also adjust the height of reach according to their requirement.

Another benefit to using a telehandler on site is that you will have the choice to change the attachments. Using a range of attachments and buckets will ensure you get the most out of the machine whilst being time effective and efficient.

Telehandler suspended loads course
Telehandler courses

HISTORY OF THE TELEHANDLER

The first telehandler was invented by Matbro. They modified one of their existing forklifts. In 1949 the Surrey based company developed the first rough terrain forklift. This was then made in 1950. In current times, there are two big brands that are often seen when it comes to telehandlers, JCB & Manitou.

ABOUT JCB

JCB was founded in 1945 by Joseph Cyril Banford. It wasn’t until 1977 after the success of dumpers and the 3CX backhoe loader, that the company started developing telehandlers.

For anyone that has experience using a JCB telehandler, they will know that they are known for their strength and sturdiness. Here at the Diggerland Plant Training School we have a range of JCB machines available to use for any of our telehandler courses. 

ABOUT MANITOU

Manitou has been designing lifting equipment since 1957. They are another brand of telehandlers that are often seen on construction and agricultural sites. In 1981, Manitou began producing telehandlers in their maniscopic range. 

Unlike other brands Manitou focus mainly on designing telehandlers. Rather than the creation of diggers and dumpers for the market. Their focus on one type of plant equipment means they can focus solely on perfecting the design and improving their range.

We also have a range of Manitou telehandlers available on site at our digger school. We believe that using two main brands of telehandlers will give our operators the choice and the flexibility to learn in different machines.

TELEHANDLER COURSES AVAILABLE AT OUR PLANT TRAINING SCHOOL

We have already had a lot of individuals book onto at least one of our available telehandler courses. However, we have highlighted the main information for each course below.

N010 – TELEHANDLER COURSES  

If you want to book onto our N010 Telehandler course, you will be learning the following:

  • Safely mount and dismount the machine
  • Start and safely move the machine and stop it safely
  • Carry out lifting and load handling tasks
  • Be able to find and identify the major components of the machine and why they are used

The course takes roughly 1 – 5 days to complete, depending on any existing knowledge and experience. However the certificate is then valid for 5 years.

N010A – INDUSTRIAL TELEHANDLER COURSES

The N010A – Industrial Telehandler course is perfect for anyone looking to operate an industrial telescopic handler. We will assess your current knowledge and experience and ensure you receive the correct amount of training for the qualification. Similar to the N010 Telehandler course, operators will also learn:

  • Manoeuvre the machine to the work area and correctly configure in readiness to carry out lifting and load handling tasks
  • Carry out lifting and load handling tasks
  • Load and unload external transport safely
  • Fit, adjust and / or remove attachments

This course also takes approximately 1 – 5 days of training in order to complete.

N138 – TELESCOPIC HANDLER SUSPENDED LOADS

If the N138 Telescopic handler suspended loads course is the course for you, operators will be assessed similar to the previous two courses. An NPORS Theory assessment made up of open questions and multiple choice, plus an NPORS Practical assessment will need to be passed in order to obtain the suspended loads qualification.

This specific course will be very useful if you are training up to work on a construction site. The course content includes:

  • Locating, identifying and explaining safe working loads
  • Identifying and explaining different lifting procedures
  • Spotting any potential hazards on site and how to prevent them
  • Using hand signals 
  • Checking load integrity and security

CONTACT THE TEAM AT THE DIGGERLAND PLANT TRAINING SCHOOL

Our telehandler courses are very popular with operators in training. We would highly recommend booking in advance as much as possible. 

Are you already qualified to operate telehandlers? We have plenty of other courses available to extend your skills.

We would highly recommend the following courses if you’re looking to broaden your knowledge and gain some additional qualifications:

We are open from 8am – 6pm Monday to Sunday. If you would like to book onto our courses, we can arrange a date and time to suit you or your company.

Email us today or call: 01634 295355. We look forward to booking you in!