If you’ve ever had a shipment show up at a site with no loading dock and no forklift, you already understand the problem a Moffett solves. The two terms get used interchangeably, but “Moffett delivery” and “forklift delivery” describe different things — and the difference decides whether your freight gets unloaded or sits on the truck.
What a Moffett actually is
A Moffett (the brand name people use for a truck-mounted or “piggyback” forklift) is a compact forklift that rides on the back of a flatbed or trailer and travels with the load. When the truck arrives, the driver unhooks it, drives it off, and unloads the freight directly — onto a curb, into a yard, or across a job site. When the job is done, the Moffett hooks back onto the truck and leaves with it.
A standard forklift delivery, by contrast, assumes the forklift is already at the destination. The truck backs into a dock or pulls alongside, and the receiver’s forklift (or dock crew) takes the freight off.
The core difference: who unloads
- Moffett delivery: the truck brings the forklift. No dock, no site equipment and no receiving crew required.
- Forklift delivery: the site provides the forklift and the labour. The truck just has to get there and be reachable.
When a Moffett is the right call
- Construction and job sites with no dock, uneven ground or gravel.
- Retail, residential and remote deliveries where there’s no receiving equipment.
- Building-supply drops — lumber, brick, windows, drywall — placed exactly where the crew needs them.
- Any location where waiting on the receiver’s forklift would stall the delivery.
When a standard forklift drop is fine
If you’re shipping dock-to-dock between warehouses or distribution centres that already have forklifts and staff, you don’t need to pay for a Moffett. The equipment is already there, and a standard flatbed or dry van is the more economical choice.
What it means for cost and planning
A Moffett adds equipment and a trained operator to the load, so it costs more per trip than a plain flatbed. But it removes the biggest hidden risk in off-dock delivery: showing up and not being able to unload. For most construction, building-supply and no-dock work, that certainty is the whole point.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Moffett the same as a piggyback forklift?
Yes. “Moffett,” “piggyback forklift” and “truck-mounted forklift” all refer to the same thing — a forklift that rides on the truck and unloads the freight on arrival. Moffett is a common brand name that became shorthand for the category.
Do I need anyone on site to receive a Moffett delivery?
No. The driver operates the Moffett and places the freight where you need it, so no receiving forklift or crew is required — just a safe, reachable spot to set the load down.
How much can a Moffett lift?
Capacity varies by unit, but truck-mounted forklifts commonly handle in the range of a few thousand pounds per lift. Share your heaviest piece when you request a quote so the right unit is dispatched.
Have freight that fits this?
Talk to dispatch for a straight answer on equipment, timing and rates.