December brings a sharp rise in orders, quicker stock movements and tighter delivery windows. Warehouses, retailers, manufacturers and logistics teams all feel the pressure as workloads increase. Existing forklift fleets can reach their limits fast, which leads to delays and extra strain on staff.

Forklift hire offers a simple way to stay in control during the festive peak. It gives businesses the support they need without long commitments or high upfront costs. In this blog, we’ll look at how short-term hire helps companies handle the Christmas rush and stay productive through the busiest weeks of the year.

What a ‘Seasonal Surge’ Looks Like in Real Life

A seasonal surge often starts with holiday stockpiling as businesses prepare for December. Orders rise at short notice, goods arrive faster and dispatch volumes climb each day. Last-minute buying adds even more pressure, which pushes teams to work quicker than usual.

Extended trading hours, extra storage sites and higher customer expectations all add to the strain. This sudden rise in activity can overwhelm an existing fleet, especially when every truck is already in use and deadlines continue to tighten.

Why Buying Extra Forklifts Just for December Rarely Makes Sense

The need for extra equipment is short, yet the cost of buying new forklifts is long term. Once the festive period ends, most of these extra trucks sit unused, which makes the investment hard to justify.

Idle equipment in January still needs space, upkeep and regular servicing. These trucks also tie up cash that could support other parts of the business, making outright purchase a poor fit for a brief seasonal peak.

How Forklift Hire Helps Businesses Cope with Christmas Demand

Forklift hire gives businesses fast access to extra trucks when order volumes rise. This quick availability helps teams stay on top of goods-in, picking and dispatch during busy weeks. It also offers flexibility, as fleets can grow or shrink based on daily needs rather than long-term predictions.

Hiring forklifts removes the need for a large upfront spend, which protects cash during an already expensive month. Maintenance and breakdown support are usually included, which keeps downtime low. Hired trucks are well-maintained and reliable, so teams can work at a steady pace even when schedules tighten in December.

Supporting Temporary and Pop-Up Sites

Many businesses set up overflow units or temporary warehouses during December to manage extra stock. These short-term sites often need their own equipment and forklift hire makes it easy to get trucks exactly where they’re required.

By hiring forklifts for these locations, companies avoid the hassle of moving existing trucks between sites. Once the festive rush ends, the hired equipment can be returned without long-term commitment, leaving the business free from extra storage or upkeep.

How to Prepare Your Fleet for the Festive Period

A good starting point is to look back at last year’s demand to see where pressure built up. This helps forecast any changes and highlights areas that may need extra support. It’s also worth checking your current fleet to spot gaps or tasks that slow the team down during busy spells.

Once you know what you need, securing hire forklifts early is the safest way to guarantee availability during peak weeks. Staff should also be confident using any extra equipment, so training and refreshers are helpful before the rush begins.

Christmas doesn’t have to bring chaos, even with rising workloads. Forklift hire gives businesses the flexibility and reliability they need during December.

Ready to plan ahead? Get in touch with the team at H&F. We can help you explore short-term hire options before demand peaks.