Telehandler Operator Jobs in the UK

Telehandler operators are in high demand across the UK. With CPCS or NPORS tickets, you can earn £18-28/hour operating telescopic handlers on construction sites. Every major project needs materials moved - and that means telehandlers.

What Does a Telehandler Operator Do?

A telehandler operator drives a telescopic handler - a forklift with a telescopic boom that can reach up and forwards. On site, you lift and move materials that a standard forklift cannot handle: pallets of bricks to upper floors, bags of cement across rough ground, steel beams into position. It is skilled work that requires proper training and tickets.

Telehandlers are used on almost every construction site in the UK, from housing developments to infrastructure projects. Operators who can also drive 360 excavators or dumpers are even more employable.

Telehandler Operator Pay Rates 2026

• Telehandler Operator (CPCS blue card): £18-22/hour
• Experienced Telehandler Operator: £21-25/hour
• Multi-ticket Operator (telehandler + 360): £23-28/hour
• Lead Operator/Foreman: £26-30/hour
• Day rate (contract): £160-220/day

London and South East rates run 15-20% higher than the rest of the UK.

What Tickets Do You Need?

Most telehandler operator jobs require one or more of the following:

• CPCS Telehandler Ticket (A17): the most widely recognised ticket. Blue card for experienced operators, red card for trainees
• NPORS Telehandler Ticket: accepted on many sites, especially housing and civils. Faster to obtain than CPCS
• CSCS Card: green (labourer) minimum, blue (skilled worker) preferred
• 360 Excavator Ticket (CPCS A58 or NPORS): having both telehandler and excavator makes you far more employable
• Dumper Ticket (CPCS A09 or NPORS): another useful addition

Source: cscs.uk.com for card requirements, legislation.gov.uk for LOLER and PUWER regulations governing telehandler operation.

Types of Telehandler Work

• New-build housing: moving bricks, blocks, and roof trusses across residential sites. The most common telehandler work in the UK
• Commercial construction: larger machines on bigger sites - offices, warehouses, data centres
• Infrastructure: roads, bridges, railways - often with bigger telehandlers and longer reach
• Agricultural and rural: farms and estates use telehandlers seasonally. Different ticket requirements may apply
• Multi-trade plant operator: operators who switch between telehandler, 360, and dumper throughout the day. Best pay, most demand

Safety and Regulations

Telehandler operation is governed by the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER). Under legislation.gov.uk, all lifting operations must be properly planned, supervised, and carried out safely.

The Health and Safety Executive (hse.gov.uk) requires that telehandler operators hold a valid ticket and have received adequate training. Site managers must ensure operators are competent before allowing them to operate plant equipment.

How to Get Your Telehandler Ticket

1. NPORS route: 3-5 day course, no prior experience needed. Fastest path to getting on site. Valid for 2 years before NVQ top-up is needed
2. CPCS route: 5-10 day course including theory and practical tests. Red card first, then NVQ Level 2 for blue card. More widely accepted on major projects
3. CITB Health, Safety and Environment test: required before any CPCS card application (£22)

Total cost to get working: approximately £500-800 for NPORS, £800-1200 for CPCS. Many agencies will help you fund or arrange training.

Agencies Hiring Telehandler Operators Now

Call these agencies directly to find telehandler operator roles in your area:

• Daniel Owen: 0345 810 1020 - all trades, national coverage
• Hays Construction: 0207 084 6299 - plant operators, London and national
• Randstad CPE: 0113 244 5100 - construction and plant, national
• MEARS Group: 0800 917 1111 - social housing maintenance, national
• PSI Global: 0151 294 3007 - construction trades, North West
• DCT Recruitment: 0151 221 9658 - construction, North West

Finding Telehandler Operator Jobs on SiteJobs

Every telehandler operator listing on SiteJobs has a real, verified phone number. No middlemen, no waiting for callbacks. Find a job, call the agency, start work. Browse by trade and location to find roles near you.

Locuri de munca operator telehandler in UK

Daca sunteti operator telehandler si cautati lucru in Marea Britanie, aveti nevoie de o autorizatie CPCS sau NPORS valabila. Tarifele variaza intre £18-28/ora, in functie de experienta si bilete detinute. Majoritatea agentiilor necesita si o carte CSCS. SiteJobs listeaza sute de locuri de munca pentru operatori telehandler - fiecare cu numar de telefon direct.

Autorizatiile necesare: CPCS A17 (telehandler), NPORS telehandler, carte CSCS verde sau albastra. Daca aveti si autorizatia de excavator 360, puteti castiga cu £3-5/ora mai mult.

Pune operator telehandler ne MB

Neese telehandler ne UK, ju nevo per leje CPCS ose NPORS. Pagejet jane £18-28 ne ore, ne varesi nga eksperienca. Shumica e agjencive kerkojne karte CSCS. Ne SiteJobs gjeni vende pune me numra telefoni te verifikuar - thirrni direkt dhe filloni pune.

Vakansii operatora telehandler v UK

Esli vy operator telehandler i ishete rabotu v Velikobritanii, vam ponadobyatsya deystvuyushchiye bilety CPCS ili NPORS. Stavki sostavlyayut £18-28 v chas, v zavisimosti ot opyta i nalichiya dopolnitelnykh biletov. Bolshinstvo agentstv trebuyut takzhe kartu CSCS. Na SiteJobs vy naydyote soten vakansiy s pryamymi nomerami telefonov - zvonite napryamuyu i nachinayte rabotu.