You may have seen Heavy Goods Vehicles carrying a bit of equipment hooked on the back of their truck and wondered what it is. These are Truck Mounted Forklifts (TMFL) that are carried around at the rear of the lorry and accompany the driver with their vehicle to where-ever the goods are to be delivered. On reaching the destination the machine is right there at the place it needs to be and the driver who also operate the forklift, can simply off-load the goods from the HGV, then securely re-hook the machine back on to the vehicle and drive away to their next delivery point.
In 1986 Cecil Moffett invented the Moffett Mounty truck mounted forklift in Ireland. This was a new concept allowing a relatively light weight forklift to piggyback on the rear of a lorry or trailer combination without taking up load space. The machine is built around the counterbalance principle, but the wheels are moved forward under the load, meaning the fulcrum point is further forward reducing the need for such a heavy counterweight.
Other manufacturer’s now also offer similar machines. However, developments and innovations with Moffett Mounty (now known as simply “Moffett”) continue and have revolutionised the haulage industry and are indispensable in modern transport load-handling situations.TMFL provide greater freedom of movement and reduce the overall costs of making deliveries. Compared to more conventional forklifts, TMFL are lighter, more agile and can be used in places where accessibility is difficult (including off-road for example at construction sites). With TMFL, drivers can unload cargo without waiting for assistance and faster turnaround means increasing productivity and substantially reducing transportation and handling costs and assisting with better logistics and increased profitability.
TMFL can be dismounted and be ready for work in as little as a minute and using them is easy as they are highly operator friendly, and they eliminate manual handling as the load can be precisely and safely positioned by the operator in almost any location.
Drivers with TMFL often earn more because their qualifications and skills increase productivity for their employer who can reward them accordingly.
TMFL’s safety and longevity, high level of operator comfort and optimum manoeuvrability means they are ideal for multiple industries including:
- transport and beverage logistics,
- recycling material applications,
- technical and medical gases,
- agriculture and the live events sector,
- builder and timber merchants – delivering building materials, plasterboard, insulation & wood.
- distributors of pet food, bird seed & agricultural feed,
- drinks and beverage wholesalers,
- many types of palletised distribution are perfect for on-off deliveries like lawn turf.
Drivers on Demand has seen an increase in enquires for both permanent and temporary drivers with TMFL/Moffett experience during the Covid-19 pandemic as companies look for replacement of employees who are unwell or are self isolating. If you need a driver with TMFL/Moffett operating skills or would like to get a Truck-Mounted Forklift qualification, or if you’ve got the qualification and are looking for work we can help. Call Wallace School of Transport – 0208 453 3440 ask for Russell
Drivers on Demand’s sister company Wallace School of Transport offers forklift training on all types of forklifts including TMFL/Moffett. If you are a driver and would like to enhance your skills and job prospects call Wallace Forklift Training for free on 0800 612 8948, choose option 3 or click here to email us.
Wallace School of Transport has over 50 years of experience in LGV/HGV, bus and coach driver training with the aim to get appropriate licence. There is still a shortage of HGV/LGV drivers in UK. With the unemployment rising, if you want to train to be a lorry or bus/coach driver, call us on 020 8453 3440.
Drivers on Demand, 6 Steele Road, Park Royal, London, NW10 7AR
Click here to email us, Tel: 020 8453 3444, Fax: 020 8453 3445