Caterpillar confident in its new line of telehandlers

The Caterpillar TH1255 telehandler on display for a global premiere at World of Concrete in Las Vegas, Nevada, US. (Image: Mitchell Keller)

“It’s been a minute,” Kevin Coleman told Construction Briefing at World of Concrete on 21 January regarding the last time the company launched a line of telehandler lifts. Coleman, a senior product specialist for Caterpillar, noted it’s been nearly 20 years since the company launched its first line. “So, we’re very excited to have four models launching here.”

Caterpillar will manufacture the machines themselves in their Leicester, UK, facility. The prior telehandler models, which first launched in 2005, were build by JLG, a US-based access machine manufacturer owned by Oshkosh Corporation.

The latest line is launching first in the North and South American markets.

The four new machines – named TH0642, TH0842, TH1055 and TH1255 – have a respective maximum load capacity of 6,000, 8,000, 10,000 and 12,000 lbs. The respective maximum lift height for the TH0642 and TH0842 is 42 ft, while the largest two max out at 55 ft.

Coleman told Construction Briefing the priority in developing the new line was safety and end-user input. Stylistically, he noted a few changes, as well.

“We’re going with what we call a two-piece C-type boom instead of the four-plate fabricated boom design,” Coleman explained.

Safety upgrades include an improved cabin, including operator presence technology that prevents machine movements if the operator isn’t seated.

“So, you have to be in the chair, and that’s standard,” Coleman said. He also highlighted improved alarm and messaging programmes on the in-cab monitor, an upgraded telematics systems and a load stability indicator (LSI) as major safety improvements.

The LSI shows operators if the weight they’re handling fits within the machine’s range of acceptable stability. If it indicates in the red, it’s an indication that the weight being lifted is too much for the current site and application.

Caterpillar reveals next-gen telehandlers Caterpillar has announced the release of its new line of telehandlers

“It tells the operator, I’m in a situation where the machine is about to tip,” Coleman added. “Maybe return the load back down and reassess what the weight of the load is, maybe I extended more than I thought… [LSI] keeps you safer as an operator, [and] we’ve had really, really positive feedback on that from operators using these machines in real-life applications.”

Other features include a pilot-control joy stick, a large and comfort-improved cabin, and optional service tool for chain maintenance.

Caterpillar’s Kevin Coleman shows the Cat TH1255 at World of Concrete 2025. (Image: Mitchell Keller)

Coleman is confident, based on Caterpillar’s close development with customers, that the telehandlers will perform well in the market.

“It’s not so overly complex,” he said. “Pilot control joysticks, mount stabilisers, little things like tilt, steering wheel, standard rear camera… it gives the customer exactly what they’re looking for out of a telehandler.”

Personally for Coleman, whose been with Caterpillar in some capacity for more than 30 years, it’s an exciting launch for the OEM.

“We’ve launched a lot of great products, [but] this one’s a little bit different,” he said. “There is an air of excitement.”

Sales of the new line of Caterpillar telehandlers are expected to start in the second quarter of this year for both rental and retail customers.