Forklift maintenance is more than just a task that keeps your forklifts safe. It also enables you to get more value when it comes time to sell your equipment. Forklifts that are regularly maintained comply with governmental safety regulations, reducing the risk of hefty fines and legal complications. Regular inspections ensure that all safety features are working correctly.
Prevents Breakdowns
If you follow a service schedule for your lift trucks, minor problems are prevented from becoming major. Simple maintenance tasks like keeping fluid levels up and ensuring that parts work as they should reduce unexpected breakdowns and repairs, which can be expensive. In addition, regular forklift maintenance prevents workplace accidents. In the United States alone, 85 forklift-related fatalities and 35,000 serious injuries yearly. Following OSHA forklift safety rules, including daily inspections and addressing issues promptly, can reduce these numbers and save you money in worker’s compensation claims and fines from regulatory authorities.
A forklift that is in good repair runs smoothly, which increases productivity and reduces overall operating costs. A routine inspection can spot issues like leaky hoses or worn tires that will need replacing soon, preventing these from breaking down and creating costly accidents. In addition, a forklift that is regularly maintained has higher resale value when it comes time to upgrade. A forklift warranty also usually stipulates requiring routine maintenance to preserve it.
Preserves Your Warranty
When you invest in a forklift repair and service, you are ensuring your employees’ safety and protecting the equipment’s warranty. A forklift in poor condition can easily break down, leading to expensive repairs and a loss of productivity. By keeping up with the forklift’s manufacturer-recommended maintenance schedule, you can avoid unexpected breakdowns and extend the life of your forklift. In addition to daily inspections, which your operators should run through before operating their trucks, you will also want to ensure that all manufacturer-recommended maintenance tasks are completed regularly. These include oil changes, tire conditions, filter replacements, and drive and brake servicing. Remember, small repairs are much less expensive than emergency repairs that can result in production shut-downs, unforeseen costs, and fines from OSHA. Addressing minor problems as they arise prevents them from becoming major, saving you money in the long run.
Increases Resale Value
When your forklifts are well maintained, they perform better and last longer. This also means you can get more value from them when trading them in or selling them on the secondary market. Maintaining forklifts regularly prevents minor issues from becoming major problems that require expensive repairs. In addition, it reduces downtime due to unexpected breakdowns and other costly disruptions. This prevents you from paying for expedited shipping and overnight repair services and reduces labor costs. A forklift that a service technician has properly maintained is more likely to operate safely, reducing the risk of accidents and workplace injuries. This reflects your company’s reputation and shows you care about safety and quality.
Increases Productivity
A well-maintained forklift performs much more efficiently than a machine in poor repair. It also uses less fuel, which results in lower operating costs. Keeping equipment well-conditioned also helps prevent unnecessary breakdowns and downtime, which can be costly in productivity loss. A well-maintained forklift also retains a higher resale value. This can be important if your company plans to upgrade to new equipment or sell it off when it is no longer needed.
Taking a proactive approach to forklift maintenance can save you money and time in the long run and help keep your employees safe. Putting off routine forklift inspections may seem cheap, but it can result in costly repairs later and show that you don’t care about employee safety or your bottom line. The extra investment in regular forklift maintenance and repair is a small price to pay to ensure smooth, efficient operations and get the most out of your equipment. Forklifts are one of the most valuable tools in a warehouse or fulfillment center, and keeping them well-maintained is essential for your business to continue to thrive.
Increases Safety
While a forklift may be able to meet its manufacturer’s specifications when new, that isn’t guaranteed to continue to be the case. In fact, without routine forklift maintenance and repair, lifts will begin to fall short of their original performance specifications and can become dangerously unreliable. With forklift accidents a leading cause of workplace injuries, keeping equipment properly maintained is key to improving facility safety. Malfunctioning forklifts pose a risk to the operator and anyone else in the immediate area. Inspecting equipment daily helps ensure that all safety features work correctly and prevent accidents.
While putting your forklift fleet on a maintenance schedule may seem expensive, you’ll save money in the long run by avoiding costly repairs, preserving your warranty, increasing resale value, and maximizing uptime. A reputable forklift service center can provide planned maintenance and full maintenance programs with affordable monthly rates so you can rest easy knowing your lift trucks are well cared for and working at their peak. You’ll also benefit from reduced operating costs, lower repair bills, and increased productivity from a reliable forklift.
