A forklift thorough examination is a LOLER requirement, and what it costs depends on how many trucks you run, what type they are, and what's fitted to them. There's no flat rate that fits every fleet. This guide explains what moves the figure, so you can read a forklift inspection quote with confidence.
What affects the cost of a forklift thorough examination
- Number of trucks. Each truck is examined in turn. A single truck is a fixed minimum job; for a fleet, the per-truck time usually falls as the count rises, since the engineer is already on site.
- Truck type. A standard counterbalance truck is more straightforward than a reach truck, a side-loader, or a rough-terrain machine, each of which has more to examine.
- Attachments. Fork extensions, rotators, clamps, and other attachments are lifting equipment in their own right and are examined alongside the truck, they add to the scope, and they're easy to forget when comparing quotes.
- Inspection interval. A forklift used only to lift goods needs a 12-monthly thorough examination; one that lifts people, with a working platform, for instance, needs examining every 6 months. The interval shapes the annual budget.
- Site access and timing. Examining trucks during a quiet period is straightforward; work that has to happen out of hours, or around a busy operation, takes more arranging.
- Location. Travel to your site is part of the job, so a site near our Irlam base involves less of it than one further out.
What a proper quote includes
- A full LOLER thorough examination of each truck and its forks.
- Examination of any attachments fitted, as lifting equipment in their own right.
- A written report of thorough examination, classifying any defects by how urgently they must be dealt with.
- The next examination due date and certification you can show to an HSE inspector or insurer.
- Travel to your site.
A genuine forklift examination is functional, not just visual, chains, forks, hydraulics, mast, brakes, and controls all get checked. If a quote is for a quick look and a certificate, it isn't a thorough examination.
Why the cheapest quote can cost more
- Visual-only checks. A thorough examination of a truck involves function, not just appearance. A few minutes per truck isn't enough to do it properly.
- Attachments left out. If the quote covers "the truck" but not the clamp or rotator fitted to it, part of your lifting equipment goes un-examined.
- No professional indemnity insurance behind the engineer who signs off the truck.
- A report too thin to stand up if the truck is involved in an incident and the paperwork is scrutinised.
How to compare quotes fairly
- Confirm every truck and every attachment is covered, in writing.
- Ask whether the examination is functional, not just a visual check.
- Check the engineer's qualifications and competent-person status.
- Check professional indemnity and public liability cover.
- Ask how quickly the report is issued.
Safe-Lee examines forklift fleets as an independent consultancy; examinations are carried out by Engineer Surveyor Lee Charnock (EngTech MSOE MBES), and reports are typically issued within one to two working days. See our forklift examination service or ask for a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Is a hire fleet examined differently?
The examination itself is the same. What differs is who holds the duty: for hired trucks, responsibility for the thorough examination depends on the hire agreement, so it's worth confirming whether you or the hire company arranges it.
Do you examine all makes of truck?
Yes, the LOLER thorough examination applies to the truck as lifting equipment regardless of manufacturer, so make and model don't change the requirement.
What about older or imported trucks?
Age doesn't exempt a truck from examination; if anything, older equipment warrants closer attention. Any truck used to lift loads at work is in scope.
Can examinations be done out of hours?
Often, yes, to avoid disrupting your operation. Out-of-hours work takes more arranging, so mention it when you ask for a quote.
What happens if a truck fails?
The report records the defect and how urgently it must be addressed. A truck with a serious defect should be taken out of service until it's repaired. We explain findings on site and follow up with the written report.