Delivery Truck With Forklift Guide

Delivery Truck With Forklift: How Piggyback Units Work and What to Buy

By the Rainier Machinery teamNovember 10, 20264 min read

A delivery truck equipped with a piggyback forklift features a truck-mounted forklift secured to the rear of the vehicle for transportation. This setup allows the driver to transport and unload palletized freight at job sites, customer locations, and other destinations without requiring a loading dock or on-site forklift. Upon arrival, the operator dismounts the forklift from the truck and uses it to unload materials directly from the flatbed. We specialize in selling used piggyback forklifts designed for this type of delivery operation, with an inventory of more than 50 used material-handling units at our facility in Mesa, Arizona. Our primary inventory consists of truck-mounted forklifts, led by Moffett, along with other recognized brands, including Princeton, Sellick, Manitou, Donkey, and Palfinger.

A delivery truck with a forklift uses a piggyback (truck-mounted) forklift that rides on the truck's rear and dismounts to unload freight at sites with no dock.

Moffett leads Rainier Machinery's piggyback inventory, alongside Princeton, Sellick, Manitou, Donkey, and Palfinger, all sold used from Mesa, AZ.

Choose a used piggyback forklift by matching its capacity to your heaviest load and its drive type to your delivery ground, and confirm the mounting kit fits your truck.

Rainier Machinery buys and sells used forklifts outright by phone or request-a-quote, with shipping across the continental US and no online cart.

What is a piggyback forklift and how does it mount to a delivery truck?

A piggyback forklift, also known as a truck-mounted forklift, is a compact material-handling machine designed to be transported on the rear of a delivery truck. It attaches to a compatible mounting system secured to the truck's rear frame, allowing the forklift to travel with the vehicle and be unloaded when the driver reaches the delivery location. At the job site, the operator dismounts the forklift from the truck and drives it independently to unload palletized freight from the flatbed. Once unloaded, the forklift can transport materials across paved surfaces, gravel, dirt, and other job-site terrain, depending on the model and tire configuration. The mounting system keeps the forklift securely attached during transportation and allows a single operator to mount and dismount the equipment without requiring a separate forklift or additional unloading machinery.

Which used piggyback forklift brands do we sell?

We stock seven brands of used forklifts, with truck-mounted piggyback units as our core inventory. Moffett is the largest brand in our stock, which makes parts and operator familiarity easy to find. We also carry Princeton, Sellick, Manitou, Donkey, and Palfinger piggyback units, plus Navigator rough-terrain forklifts for job-site work that does not ride on a truck. Each brand has its own strengths: some run two-wheel drive for paved and yard deliveries, while others offer all-wheel drive for soft ground and grades. When you call, tell us your typical load weight, ground conditions, and truck size, and we will point you to the units in stock that match. Our inventory turns, so the exact models available change as equipment sells and arrives.

How do you pick the right truck-mounted forklift for your loads?

Pick a truck-mounted forklift by matching its rated capacity to your heaviest palletized load and its drive type to your delivery ground. Capacity is the first number to check: a unit rated for the block, brick, or bundled lumber you move most days keeps you from overloading and losing lift height. Drive configuration matters next, because two-wheel-drive units handle paved lots and firm yards while all-wheel-drive units pull through mud, sand, and site grades. Consider fork length and mast reach if you stack loads or need to place pallets on elevated surfaces. Also weigh the unit's own weight against your truck's payload, since the forklift rides on the tail and counts against what you can legally haul. We help buyers work through these tradeoffs by phone so the machine fits the truck and the route, not just the price.

What should you check before buying a used piggyback forklift?

Before buying a used piggyback forklift, confirm the mast and hydraulics lift smoothly to full height, the tires match your ground, and the mounting kit fits your truck's frame. The mounting system is the part buyers most often overlook, because a forklift and truck have to be paired with the correct hitch and kit to load and unload safely. Look at real specs rather than assumptions: we list only the details actually recorded for each unit and never invent specs we don't have. Ask about drive type, capacity rating, year, and fuel, and ask us to walk you through the machine's condition over the phone. Because we both buy and sell used forklifts, we know how these units hold up. When you find the right one, we sell it outright and ship it across the continental US from Mesa, AZ.

Can we ship a used piggyback forklift to your site or yard?

We ship purchased used forklifts across the continental US from our yard in Mesa, AZ at 11901 S 202nd St. There is no online cart: you buy directly by phone or through a request-a-quote, we confirm price and availability and share what is known about the unit, and we arrange freight to your location. This keeps the process straightforward for fleet buyers who need to line up delivery with their own schedule. Whether you run one delivery truck or a full building-supply operation, we can get a piggyback unit, a Navigator rough-terrain forklift, or another machine from our stock to your door. If you also have a used forklift to move, we buy directly from owners, so a single call can cover both the unit you are selling and the one you are buying.

Common questions

What is a delivery truck with a forklift called?

A delivery truck with a forklift is commonly called a piggyback setup, because the forklift rides piggyback on the rear of the truck. The forklift itself is a piggyback forklift or truck-mounted forklift, and Moffett is the best-known brand. The unit mounts to a hitch on the truck's tail for transport and dismounts at the delivery site to unload freight without a dock.

How much can a used piggyback forklift lift?

Used piggyback forklifts are built to handle palletized delivery loads, and capacity varies by model, so match the rating to your heaviest load. Building-supply loads like block, brick, and bundled lumber are common jobs for these machines. Tell us your typical load weight when you call and we will point you to units in our Mesa, AZ inventory that carry it safely.

Do you sell used truck-mounted forklifts and ship them?

Yes, we sell used truck-mounted forklifts outright and ship them across the continental US from Mesa, AZ. Our core inventory is piggyback units led by Moffett, alongside Princeton, Sellick, Manitou, Donkey, and Palfinger. There is no online checkout, so you buy by phone or request-a-quote and we arrange freight to your location.

What piggyback forklift brands do you carry?

We carry seven brands: Moffett, Princeton, Sellick, Manitou, Donkey, and Palfinger for truck-mounted piggyback forklifts, plus Navigator for rough-terrain forklifts. Moffett is the largest brand in our stock, which makes parts and operator familiarity easy to find.

Do you buy used forklifts as well as sell them?

Yes, we buy used forklifts directly from owners and also sell used units from our yard in Mesa, AZ. This means one call can cover both selling the machine you no longer need and buying the piggyback or rough-terrain forklift you want. We handle sales by phone or request-a-quote and ship across the continental US.