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For a business with fluctuating throughput, a project pipeline that changes quarter to quarter, or an operation that is scaling up rapidly, the question of whether to hire forklifts short-term or long-term is one of the more practically consequential decisions in the equipment strategy. Get it right and you have the right machine for the job at a cost that matches your actual usage. Get it wrong and you are either overpaying on a long-term commitment for capacity you do not need, or paying the short-term premium repeatedly for what is essentially a permanent need.
Mars Forklifts provides both short and long-term forklift hire to businesses across Sydney and the east coast. Here is how we help clients think through the decision.
Discuss Hire Options with Mars Forklifts
We offer flexible short and long-term hire across the full fleet. Sydney and east coast. Call 1300 736 231.
What Short-Term Hire Covers
Short-term forklift hire typically refers to hire arrangements from a single day through to a few weeks. It is the hire model designed for specific, time-limited needs.
The most common scenarios where short-term hire makes straightforward sense:
- Covering a breakdown or mechanical failure: when your regular forklift is out of service for repairs and you need to keep the operation moving. Mars Forklifts offers same-day delivery for urgent hire needs
- Seasonal peaks: businesses with predictable seasonal surges in throughput (pre-Christmas, harvest season in agricultural logistics, end-of-financial-year stocktakes, major retail events) hire additional capacity for the duration of the peak
- Project-based work: construction site setups, warehouse relocations, major installations, or events where a forklift is needed for a defined period and then the need ends
- Trialling a machine type before committing: short-term hire of a specific machine type (for example, trying a reach truck in a new racking configuration) allows operational validation before a longer commitment
- Supplementing a permanent fleet during growth: a business whose owned or long-term hired fleet is fully utilised can short-term hire additional machines to cover temporary demand spikes without the commitment of expanding the permanent fleet
Short-term hire is the most flexible hire arrangement. It carries a higher daily rate than long-term hire, which reflects the flexibility premium and the provider’s logistics costs for shorter deployment periods.
What Long-Term Hire Covers
Long-term forklift hire typically refers to arrangements from one year through to multi-year contracts, though the market definition varies between providers. Mars Forklifts’ long-term hire arrangements are structured around the actual operational profile of each client.
Long-term hire is the right model when:
- The need is ongoing and predictable: a warehouse, distribution centre, or production facility that runs continuously or near-continuously, with a forklift requirement that does not vary significantly week to week
- Capital preservation is a priority: long-term hire avoids the significant upfront capital outlay of purchasing a forklift, freeing working capital for other uses. This is particularly relevant for growing businesses where capital is being directed at other growth investments
- Maintenance management is a consideration: All Mars Forklifts hire agreements include servicing, maintenance, and breakdown support. Long-term hire arrangements also provide businesses with the certainty of having this support built into their ongoing equipment solution, helping to simplify fleet management and budgeting over time.
- Fleet consistency and reliability are important: a long-term hire arrangement guarantees the business access to a specific machine (or a replacement of equivalent specification) for the duration of the term, without the risk of the machine becoming unavailable
- Tax and accounting treatment: hire costs are typically treated as operating expenses rather than capital expenditure. For businesses managing their balance sheet and depreciation profile carefully, this distinction has material value. Always discuss with your accountant for advice specific to your situation
The Cost Comparison
The core cost dynamic between short and long-term hire is straightforward: the daily rate for short-term hire is higher than the equivalent daily rate for long-term hire. This is because:
- Short-term hire involves more logistics (more frequent delivery and pick-up cycles) and more administration per day of hire
- Long-term hire agreements typically offer a lower weekly or monthly rate, helping businesses reduce their equipment costs over time.
- Long-term hire provides cost certainty, making it easier to budget without worrying about unexpected maintenance or repair expenses, as servicing and breakdown support are included.
For a business that needs a forklift for more than a certain number of days per year, the crossover point at which long-term hire becomes less expensive than repeated short-term hire can be calculated. This calculation depends on the specific rates quoted for your machine type and hire duration, which is why a conversation with the Mars Forklifts hire team is the most useful starting point rather than a generic comparison.
Thinking About Growing Businesses Specifically
Growing businesses face a particular hire strategy challenge: their equipment needs in twelve months may look very different from their needs today. The hire approach needs to accommodate this uncertainty.
Common approaches we see at Mars Forklifts for growing businesses:
Start short, convert to long
A business entering a new operational phase (a new warehouse, a new product line, an expanded distribution contract) starts with short-term hire while the operation establishes its actual equipment requirements. Once the throughput stabilises and the right machine type and quantity is confirmed, the hire is converted to a long-term arrangement at the improved rate.
Multi-machine mixed terms
A core fleet of machines hired long-term to cover baseline operational needs, with short-term hire used to supplement during peaks. This approach gives the predictability of long-term hire for the permanent need while retaining flexibility for variable demand.
Pathway to purchase
For some businesses, hire is a deliberate step toward ownership. The operation validates the machine type over a hire period, builds confidence in the equipment requirements of the growing business, and then transitions to purchase when the capital position and the clarity of need both support it. Mars Forklifts’ sales division provides both new and used forklifts for purchase for businesses at this stage.
✦ Ask about fleet upgrades: A long-term hire arrangement should include a clear process for upgrading the hired machine if the business’s operational requirements change. A growing business that hires a 2.5-tonne electric forklift today may need a 3.5-tonne machine in twelve months. Confirm with Mars Forklifts what the process for upgrading mid-term looks like before signing any hire agreement.
Talk to the Mars Forklifts Hire Team
Flexible hire for any duration. Late-model fleet of Toyota, BT, Raymond, Manitou, and more. Call 1300 736 231.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum hire period at Mars Forklifts?
Mars Forklifts offers hire from a single day for urgent or short-term operational needs. Same-day delivery is available for qualifying hire requests. Contact the hire team to discuss availability and logistics for your specific requirement.
Does long-term hire include maintenance?
Yes. Long-term hire arrangements with Mars Forklifts include maintenance support for the hired equipment. This means that scheduled servicing and repairs required to keep the machine in safe operating condition are managed by Mars Forklifts rather than by the customer. This is one of the significant practical advantages of long-term hire over owning the equipment outright, particularly for businesses without in-house mechanical capability. Learn more about Mars Forklifts’ repair and maintenance services.
Can I change the machine type during a long-term hire contract?
Yes, subject to agreement. Business requirements change and Mars Forklifts works with clients to accommodate changes in equipment type or capacity during a hire period. Raise the conversation with the hire team early: adjusting to a different machine during a hire term is typically more straightforward when planned in advance rather than in an emergency.
