Not All Telehandlers Monitor Loads the Same Way
The difference between knowing you’re safe and hoping you’re safe comes down to what your machine actually measures.
Key Takeaways
Most telehandler LMIs measure rear axle pressure — not the actual weight of your load
Magni measures load weight directly at the boom via hydraulic pressure sensors
An LMI can read 80%+ with an empty boom — it’s measuring tip risk, not load weight
Magni’s RFID system auto-detects attachments and loads the correct load chart — no guesswork
How Most Telehandlers Measure Load
The majority of telehandlers on the market use a system called an LMI — a Longitudinal Moment Indicator. It works by measuring what’s happening at the rear axle. There’s a strain gauge bolted on. As the boom extends and the load moves further forward, pressure comes off the rear wheels. The LMI reads that decrease and shows it as a percentage on the display. The closer you get to the tipping point, the higher the number climbs.
That’s fine if you understand what the system is telling you. The problem is, a lot of people assume the LMI is showing them how much they’re lifting relative to what the machine can handle. It’s not. It’s telling them how close the machine is to tipping forward. One dimension of safety — not the full picture.
How Magni Does It Differently
Magni telehandlers use a completely different approach. Instead of measuring what’s happening at the rear axle, the system measures what’s happening at the boom — where the actual lifting takes place.
Hydraulic pressure sensors on the lifting cylinders measure the actual weight being lifted
Potentiometers measure the boom angle and extension length in real time
Rotation sensors track the turret position throughout every lift
RFID on the boom head auto-detects the attachment and loads the correct load chart
The system combines all of this data in real time to show the operator exactly where they sit on the load chart for their current configuration. Forks, hook, winch, jib, work platform — each one has its own chart, and the machine knows which one applies without the operator having to select it manually.
What This Actually Looks Like in Practice
Here’s the bit that surprises people when they see a Magni working for the first time.
You pick a load up off the ground. Before you’ve even started the lift, the system reads the weight — say it’s 4.1 tonnes. Then it shows you, right there on the screen, exactly how far and how high you can take it. The load chart updates automatically based on the actual measured weight, your boom position, your attachment, and your stabiliser setup. Everything.
So before you’ve committed to the lift, you already know the answer. Can I reach that point from here? Yes or no. No maths. No guessing.
Maybe you look at the screen and think “yep, I can make that lift.” Or maybe you see you’re a couple of metres short and need to reposition the machine. Either way — you know before anything goes wrong. Not after.
Now compare that to the traditional approach. Someone on the ground reckons the load is “about 3 tonnes.” Then the operator pulls out a paper load chart, tries to match a weight to a radius, and hopes the estimate was close enough. That’s a lot of hope involved in a lift that matters.
Standard LMI vs. Magni Load Monitoring
What Each System Is Really Telling You
“The back wheels are getting light — you might be about to tip forward.”
“You’ve picked up 4.1 tonnes. At your current setup — hook attachment, stabilisers deployed, turret at 90° — you can reach 14 metres of radius. You’re at 74% of rated capacity. Here’s your working envelope on the screen.”
One gives you a warning. The other gives you a plan.
Why This Matters on Your Site — No Matter What Your Role Is
Operators
This is the difference between a stressful lift and a straightforward one. You’re not relying on someone else’s guess. You’re not squinting at a paper chart. The machine tells you what you’ve got and what you can do with it. Your day gets easier and safer at the same time.
Site Managers
Think about what this does to your programme. No more failed lift attempts because someone guessed wrong. No repositioning three times because the chart didn’t match reality. Lifts are planned from the cab with real data, and they work first time. Fewer delays. Less downtime.
Health & Safety
This changes the conversation entirely. The load weight isn’t estimated — it’s measured. The chart isn’t manually selected — it’s automatic. The attachment is recognised by the machine, not assumed by the operator. And if the operator pushes past the limit, the system intervenes. That’s a documented, system-controlled lift process with the human error stripped out.
Worth a Conversation?
If your team is using telehandlers for anything beyond basic material handling — and precision, safety, and efficiency matter — it’s worth understanding what your load monitoring system is actually telling you. We’re the exclusive New Zealand distributor for Magni telehandlers, and we deal with these questions every day.