Interpreting a Telehandler’s Load Chart

Telehandlers are great for lifting, moving and placing a wide variety of materials and supplies. Their versatility allows an operator to complete various tasks with just one unit, making them quite a constant on construction sites. In fact, a telehandler can often replace the need for a skid steer. Heavy loads like steel, masonry and bricks can be moved with ease with a telehandler, but moving heavy supplies always comes with risk.

A telehandler load capacity chart can inform an operator about what the machine can do, including how much it can lift, how high it can lift and at what angle.

The Telehandler Load Chart explained

When reading a telehandler’s load chart, it is important to not only look at how much weight the machine can lift, but also understand where the telehandler can lift the weight, and how the various attachments affect the load capacity.

The job site varies as frequently as the applications.

 A telehandler load capacity chart (also known as a telehandler load reach chart) looks similar to this:

To effectively use the load capacity chart, the operator must first determine some basic criteria:

1. The weight of the product or material being elevated or carried
   2. Desired height or reach they need to achieve
   3. The load capabilities of the specific telehandler in use

When putting a load on the telehandler, centre the load on the forks and position it against the back of the fork frame. The fork length should always be at least two-thirds the load length.

The Genie telehandler fork carriage load charts are based on a horizontal load centre that is 61cm from the front vertical surface of the fork arm. Other telehandlers may have a different horizontal load centre.

If the load centre exceeds the horizontal load centre, an operator will need to determine the reduced load capacity for a specific load zone.

You can calculate the reduced load capacity at a load centre greater than the standard load centre by multiplying the zone capacity from the load chart by the appropriate reduction factor listed on the table supplied with the load chart.

Once you’ve worked out the multiplier, complete the reduced load capacity calculations using this formula:

You can then use this information to check the telehandler’s load chart to understand the unit’s load capacity, lift height and outreach.

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