Forklift Fleet Management: What to do When Expanding Your Fleet

Forklift fleet management can be a difficult responsibility. You have to make sure that your warehouse is supplied with everything it needs to operate as safely and efficiently as possible. Part of that responsibility is deciding when it is time to expand your forklift fleet. The biggest mistake you can make is expanding without considering all of the important factors. In order to make the right decision about expanding your fleet, take a look at these considerations. They should help you make a well-informed decision.

Inspect the Warehouse

When it comes to forklift fleet management, it’s all about understanding the needs of your warehouse and your forklift operators. Before you purchase or rent a forklift to expand your fleet, inspect your warehouse and determine what is needed. If your warehouse has the ability to raise its racks to higher levels, maybe a new reach truck is what you need. Or maybe you require more efficiency on the ground. In that case, a couple of new pallet trucks might be what you need to increase the speed of operations.

Consider the Product

On top of considering your warehouse requirements, you also need to think about the product or products that are in your warehouse. The type of products you sell will determine a couple important decisions about which forklift you choose to buy or rent. If you dealing with a lot of heavy materials, you’ll need a forklift that can handle a high capacity. If you have a warehouse full of carpets, you may need forklifts with pole attachments to easily transport the product. When you try to push the limits in regard to a forklift’s capacity it can result in damaged products, delayed operation, and possible injuries.

Look at the Numbers

Is your business growing? Have you seen an increase in orders being fulfilled? One of the most important factors to consider when it comes to forklift fleet management is the status of your business. If you’re selling more products than ever before, you may need some additional trucks to help with daily operations. If your business experiences seasonal demand, you can temporarily expand your fleet with forklift rentals.

Expanding into another market with different products is also a good reason to expand your fleet. You can’t expect to handle double the amount of products with the same number of forklifts. As your business grows, your fleet must grow with it.

Audit Your Current Fleet

Once you’ve established the requirements for your warehouse and the products you sell, it’s time to take a look at your current fleet. Talk with your operators about the condition your forklifts. Are there any damaged lifts that could be repaired or do they need to be completely replaced? Maybe you already have the right forklifts for your warehouse but you need specific attachments to increase efficiency. There are a wide variety of forklifts and forklift attachments that can help your business improve its day to day operations.

Remember, the more hours that are spent operating a forklift, the more maintenance will be required. Heavy operations will put a great deal of strain on your fleet which can lower the lifespan of your forklifts. As time goes on, forklifts that experience above average use will have much higher maintenance costs. Because of this, companies that use their forklifts around the clock can benefit from forklift rentals. With long-term rental agreements, you can replace old forklifts after two years when they’ve experienced too much wear and tear.

Forklift Fleet Management – Picking the Right Forklift

At C&C Lift Truck, we have everything you may need when it comes to forklift fleet management. We offer a variety of both new and certified used forklifts, ranging from counterbalance lifts to pallet trucks. If you’re thinking about renting one or more forklifts, we offer a few different packages for both short and long-term forklift rentals. Whether you’re expanding your fleet to keep up with new business or you just need to deal with seasonal demands, we’ve got you covered. Contact us today to start expanding your forklift fleet.