Ever wonder why some forklift drivers take a pride in their trucks? The answer may be more curious than you think, but much of it surely revolves around truck reliability. This would resonate with Braegate Contractors (see elsewhere in this issue) who supply potatoes to supermarkets, wholesalers and processors. This company had a bad experience with its preceding forklift fleet. “We used to run a competitor’s brand of machines which were useless for the job and constantly breaking down,” explained Brian Whittaker, deputy transport manager for Braegate. “The engines were always seizing up—we took the decision to replace them all.” The choice of 13 new trucks fell to Hyundai, acquired through Hessle Forktrucks, which included six 3.5 tonne diesels. “The trucks work 14 hours a day and they don’t really get any downtime, added Mr Whittaker. “With our previous trucks we were continually having to swap trucks around as one would bread down.

Owing to this superb truck reliability an affinity has developed between forklifts and drivers. “We like to keep it that one operator on each shift drives the same truck. It works well, as each of the operators knows his/her own truck and is familiar with how it runs, as even though the models are the same – each truck is different. This in turn results in the operator having some affinity for his/her machine and looks after it,” says Brian.

What this shows is the key importance of a pre-acquisition truck assessment exercise. There are many factors that influence fleet buying or leasing decisions but on reliability one might think that there was little to choose between the major leading truck brands. On that, however, it seems the jury is still out. Moreover, it is more than just about reliability. It is also about productivity, and in this field among the leading makers there can be a variation of as much as 25%, so if visiting sites where trucks you fancy are working ask about any productivity changes. This is important in the overall life-cycle cost structure of the fleet operations to bring you to making the best acquisition. So what else should truck fleet acquirers do before making the final decision?

All of the leading truck brands will at least offer to visit one’s premises to gauge your current operation so as to make the key crucial recommendation in matching the right trucks to the job and also the right maintenance regime, and they should all offer to take potential clients to sites where their trucks are operating. This would give valuable feedback on truck reliability, after sales back-up and maintenance issues. There is one caveat, however, that particularly applies to running a mixed fleet of trucks. Truck suppliers are keen to offer trucks only in their own stable when, in fact, the better choice for a mixed fleet could be for a truck from another company because that truck has unique handling advantages like, for example, a space-saving articulated forklift.

One rule of thumb is that if your operation is a tough, multi-shift scenario then shun second-hand trucks. Another is that if going for a lease/hire deal be sure to be ultra diligent in studying the small print because these contracts can vary widely and snare the unwary, ending in financial shocks.

If environmental concerns you much to the point of making electric your motive power choice then there is good news here. Battery choices are now more varied and thanks to technology advances they can deliver the same performance punch as diesel and LPG in all weathers.

Bill Redmond

Features Editor

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