Facilities that rely on yard tractors to reposition trailers may soon have another option.
Sidekick Attachments has introduced a forklift-operated fifth-wheel attachment designed to move semi-trailers within terminals, distribution centers, and manufacturing yards. The equipment allows a forklift to push or pull fifth-wheel trailers without the use of a road tractor.
For trucking companies and warehouse operators managing tight yard space, short repositioning moves can slow down dock operations when yard trucks are tied up. This attachment is intended to reduce that bottleneck by using existing forklift equipment.
How the Forklift Trailer Mover Works
The attachment mounts to a standard forklift and connects to a trailer through a fifth-wheel mechanism. According to the company, the system is hands-free and self-locking once the forklift forks are inserted and lifted properly.
Sidekick describes the system as providing a “guaranteed lock” without requiring chains or pins. The unit is built from heavy-duty steel and includes wide fork pockets to accommodate various forklift setups.
An integrated air compressor is also part of the assembly, supporting trailer air system requirements during repositioning.
The design is aimed at short-distance yard movements rather than highway transport.
Where It May Fit in Trucking Operations
The attachment is targeted toward:
- Trucking terminals
- Distribution centers
- Manufacturing facilities
- Logistics-heavy yards
In operations where trailers frequently need to be repositioned between docks, storage rows, or staging areas, forklifts are already part of the workflow. Integrating trailer movement into that equipment may reduce wait times for dedicated yard tractors.
Sidekick also offers multiple standard trailer mover configurations beyond the fifth-wheel model, with custom sizing available depending on operational needs.
Manufacturing and Availability
Sidekick manufactures the equipment in Marshall, Indiana. The company reports typical lead times of approximately 10 business days.
Engineers are available to assist facilities in selecting appropriate sizing and configurations, particularly for operations handling specialized trailer types.
Operational Considerations for Fleets
For industry stakeholders, equipment like this raises practical questions about safety protocols, forklift capacity ratings, trailer weight distribution, and yard policy adjustments.
Facilities considering forklift-based trailer movement would need to evaluate:
- Forklift lift capacity versus trailer tongue weight
- Yard surface conditions
- Operator training requirements
- Dock safety procedures
As yards continue to look for ways to improve efficiency and reduce idle equipment time, alternative trailer-moving systems are becoming part of the conversation.
Source: Heavy Duty Trucking
