Forklift orders are forecast to rise in 2026 – is your fleet ready?
The 2026 UK forklift market is growing again, after a period of downward trends due to wider economic uncertainty. Businesses are beginning to review, renew and invest in their fleets again. For operations teams, placing an order is only part of the plan, the bigger question is how you keep your site moving whilst waiting for assets to arrive.
Fleet investment is starting to return
According to the UK Material Handling Association, total forklift truck orders are forecast to recover by 9.4% in 2026. This is supported by easing inflation, more favourable finance conditions and improving confidence. Counterbalance and warehouse truck orders are also expected to grow, suggesting more businesses may be preparing to renew or expand their fleets.
This is a positive sign for businesses, and the wider material handling industry, that investment decisions that may have been delayed are starting to move again. As more companies return to the market, planning around availability, timing and operational continuity becomes ever more important.
The challenge: Your operation cannot wait for delivery
Although a new fleet may be on order your operation still needs to continue, with stock still moving and orders being fulfilled. Therefore, vehicles still need to support the pace of the site. Lead times on a new forklift could be from 6-12 months from the OEM. In this gap between ordering and receiving assets, existing assets can come under more pressure. This can create temporary fleet gaps, reduce flexibility and increase the risk of disruption.
Lead times can create pressure through:
- Temporary gaps in fleet capacity
- Existing trucks being pushed harder
- Reduced flexibility in busy periods
- Greater impact if one asset is unavailable
Fleet planning should include the waiting period
When reviewing or renewing a fleet, it is easy to focus on the final asset mix: truck type, power source, contract terms, maintenance and total cost, but the transition period matters too. If new assets will not be available straight away businesses should consider how they will protect capacity in the meantime.
Questions to ask before new assets arrive:
- What assets are due to be replaced?
- How long can the current fleet retain output?
- Is demand expected to increase before delivery?
- Would one breakdown create a capacity issue?
- Is temporary cover needed before the new fleet arrives?
How interim support can help
Flexible rental support can help businesses maintain capacity while they wait for ordered assets to arrive. It gives sites access to equipment during the transition period, without forcing long term decisions before the permanent fleet is in place, filling the gap with forklift lead times.
This can be useful for businesses waiting on new trucks, preparing for a new contract, covering seasonal peaks or reducing pressure on ageing equipment.
| Short-term cover | Support while ordered assets are delayed or pending delivery. |
| Flexible capacity | Scale support up or down around changing site demand. |
| Maintained equipment | Rental assets ready to work and supported by service teams. |
| Operational continuity | Help keep stock moving and reduce disruption. |
Plan the gap before it becomes a problem
For businesses planning fleet changes in 2026, the period between ordering new assets and getting them on site is worth factoring into the wider fleet plan. Temporary support can provide flexibility during that transition, helping operations maintain capacity while longer-term assets are still on order.
