Archive for the Forklift Rental Category
Pallet Jacks are the heart and soul of many of our warehouses and business. Without our pallet jacks, we could only get half the work done in double the time with triple the worker fatigue. Pallet Jacks, also known as Pallet Trucks, Walkies, Hand Trucks, or HPTs (hand pallet trucks), are a growing in popularity as the push for instant replenishment and shipping increases. One of the many advantages Lift Truck Supply brings you is a well-rounded renting, buying, servicing, and knowledge base for your companies Pallet Jacks’.
Use:
Pallet Jacks are a piece of equipment used to lift and move palletized loads from one point to another in settings such as shipping, receiving, warehouses, and industrial areas. Manual Pallet Jacks use human-power to move and lift a load on hard surfaces like wood, concrete, asphalt. Electric Pallet Jacks (Walkie) uses battery power to move and lift with little to no human effort.
Types:
Manual:
The Manual Pallet Jack is solely human-power. When hauling heavier loads there is increased exertion from the operator, making it better suited for short runs and quick jobs. It is an economical option whose size makes it highly versatile and ergonomic without any added electrical wiring or battery maintenance. It is ideal for retail, cold storage, and general warehousing industries.
Electric:
The Toyota Electric Walkie reduces operator strain, making it perfect for mid-distance runs. The electric brakes are an added bonus when working on a slope where you need to slow down or stop. The Toyota Walkie also has an anti-rollback system that will help keep your load in place when going from braking to moving. You will not find that in a manual pallet jack! The Walkies’ big advantage comes into play when you maneuver over dock plates, ramps, and grates.
What to consider when you are picking out your Pallet Jack:
1) Environment
Talk with your Forklift Dealer about how and where you are going to be using your pallet truck. Depending on the type of environment, they may recommend options such as corrosion resistant metal for humid refrigerator environments or non-sparking tires for areas where combustible gases are present.
2) Length
You do not want to purchase a pallet jack that is the wrong length. Fork length and width refers to how wide or long the forks on the pallet jack are from the outermost part of each side of the jack. The most common fork size is 27×48” and the most common size of wood pallets is 40×48”. For pallets that are 40” long, you should be using a pallet jack with forks that are 27” wide. Whether it is too short or too long can affect what your pallet jack load size.
3) Capacity
It is very important that you buy a pallet jack that is equipped to carry the items that you transport. Not all pallet jacks have the same maximum capacity. Pallet jack capacities can range from anywhere between 4,500 lbs. and 5,500 lbs. Even some heavy-duty models are equipped to hold loads that exceed 5,500 lbs.
4) Weight
Take into account the base weight of the unit when purchasing. When you move a pallet with your pallet jack you are not just moving the weight of the pallet, but the weight of the pallet and pallet jack combined. Because of this, you have to be sure that the combined weight of your pallets and pallet jack can be supported by the surfaces that you will be carrying your pallet jack over like container floors or vehicle trays. If you buy a pallet jack that makes your loads too heavy because of their base weight, you can damage parts of your warehouse or other equipment when transporting them.
5) Lift Height
The lift height is how high the forks on the pallet jack can be lifted. The standard height is 3” at the lowest point up to a maximum of 7 ¾”. You can also use low profile models that go lower than the standard height for pallets that sit at lower heights. While some pallet jacks can lift higher than others it is important to make sure that your pallet jack can safely lift the weight of your pallets to the desired heights. Once raised to a certain point pallet jacks can tip if they are holding too much weight at certain heights.
6) Wheels
Wheels provide easy and safe maneuvering throughout your warehouse. Making sure you have the right wheels on your pallet jack is important to make sure that your pallets are making it from point A to point B easily and safely. Choosing wheels that are made of the wrong material can cause lasting damage to your floors, warehouse, and personnel depending on the warehouse environment.
Renting:
Whether you are expanding or have a temporary increase in product demand, you will need the right equipment to get the job done. Buying equipment that you might not need year round is not always the answer. Renting a Manual or Walkie can expand your productivity while keeping your equipment storage, insurance, depreciation, maintenance, and tax costs down. Talk with your material handling reprehensive to find out if renting a Pallet Jack is right for your company’s current needs.
Renting also allows you access to the newest equipment available on the market. Renting is a great way to try before you pick the model you want to buy.
Safety:
When using your pallet jack, safety should always be your number one priority. Maintaining a high level of safety can become complicated when customers or an excess of employees are near a pallet truck route. When your equipment is in an area where pedestrians are present, you and your operators must take extra precautions. There are a number of safety precautions and that you should keep in mind while operating your pallet jack.
- Do not place your feet under the jack.
- Do not exceed the maximum listed capacity.
- Always use proper lifting measures when loading or off-loading the pallet jack.
- Never pull the load, always push the load.
- Proceed down an incline go in reverse.
- Mark your route to avoid pinch points that may cause injuries.
- NEVER leave your material handling equipment unattended around customers.
- Come up with alternative pallet jack routes for use during busy pedestrian traffic times to help reduce the risk of pedestrian injury.
- Ensure that your employees are the only ones using the pallet jack. One way to ensure this is to have a restricted access to your material handling equipment.
- Train and certify all your warehouse personnel to operate the pallet trucks. Training helps reduce injury and maintains OSHA compliance.
No matter if you call it a pallet jack, hand truck, or an HPT; you can be sure Lift Truck Supply has you covered from the beginning to the end its’ material handling life. Contact us today to discuss the best option for your HPT needs.
TOYOTA ELECTRIC WALKIE PALLET JACK
$4,299
The Toyota 8HBW23 is a premium product that is ideal for high throughput applications where its speed and energy efficiency increase productivity. This unit comes with a 24V battery pack and built-in charger and it is used primarily to transport pallets of products horizontally over short distances. The operator walks behind the unit, using the control handle to turn, request travel, and lift and lower the forks. The forks only raise enough to be able to lift the product up from the ground a few inches for horizontal transport (these are not used for stacking). The 48″ long forks and are designed to primarily handle 48″ long pallets (the industry standard).
Oct23
5 Things to Know Before Renting a Forklift
Announcer: Is your forklift being repaired? Do you have a sudden or a short-term forklift need? Are you interested in a new forklift but want to try it out first? If any of these scenarios apply to you, renting might be the perfect solution. But before you decide to rent, consider the following:
Number one, you need a trained operator to run the forklift at all times. Standard safety regulations don’t change for rentals. Number two, you’ll be charged for damage to the forklift, just like you would for a rental car. Don’t do anything with a rented forklift you wouldn’t do with your own, including pushing or prying things with the forks. Number three, work with your dealership on your needs. A dealership will be able to help you figure out what model you need to get your work done.
Josh Smith: As a customer, when managing your rental fleet, one of the best things to do is to stay in contact with your dealer representative. The more communication you have with your dealer representative, the more stable and the better off your rental fleet will be. As a consultant, the dealership is able to provide their knowledge and their expertise in order to make the customer more efficient and more productive with their rental fleet.
Announcer: It’s important to understand that if you use a rental forklift in an application for which it was not intended, it could cause, or be considered to cause, damage.
Number four, you can rent a forklift for many different time increments. Renting a forklift is different than renting a car. In fact, a typical rental length for a forklift is two months. Number five, renting can be a great financial decision. If you need a forklift for a short time or only for certain times throughout the year, renting might make the most financial sense as you typically won’t have to worry about maintenance costs.
For more information on how renting could benefit you, or for answers to many rental questions, contact your local Toyota forklift dealer.
Oct18
What to Expect When Renting Forklifts
Announcer: You’ve probably rented a car, but if the time is right for you to rent a forklift you may be wondering what to expect. Actually, renting a forklift is very similar to renting a car. A lot of the same rules apply but in a slightly different way.
First, if you’re unsure of exactly what you need, don’t worry, your local Toyota Forklift dealership will be able to help you decide which forklift is right for your application. For instance, if you will be operating primarily indoors a cushion-tire model is probably best. If you need outdoor use, a pneumatic-tire model may be the better fit.
After you’ve decided on a forklift you will need to confirm with the dealership that you have a trained operator. Safety is the most important aspect of any forklift operation. If you don’t have a trained operator, most forklift dealerships offer in-house operator safety training courses. Just like renting a car, the dealership will also make sure that they have the correct billing and delivery information, and that the billing expectations are clear. It’s important that you understand and agree to the billing expectations. In most cases, maintenance is included in a rental fee, but always check to make sure that both sides understand the maintenance liability.
As with a car, look around the forklift and be sure there isn’t any damage when you take delivery. In addition to checking for damage, check for all required safety features and be sure they’re in good working conditions.
Renting a forklift can be a great short-term or seasonal fix; just make sure you understand the rental agreement and make sure the forklift is in proper condition for the work you’re going to be doing.
Josh Smith: There are several things that a customer can expect when they’re renting a piece of equipment. One of the things that they can expect is the fact that they will be getting a late-model forklift with low hours, and the lift will be in proper operating condition.
Some of the things that the customer would be responsible for is, first of all, making sure that their employees and their operators are properly trained on the piece of equipment that they are renting.
Some other things that the customer should take into account is the fact that they need to keep up with the scheduled maintenance each day before operation of the lift; doing the walk around, making sure that the oil levels are where they need to be. Checking the battery to make sure that it’s been watered; make sure it’s been charged properly. Just some of the general maintenance day-to-day things.
On a dealership-side, our responsibilities is to make sure that if you need training that we provide your operators with the proper training that they need to operate the piece of equipment. At the same time, our responsibility’s to make sure that this lift is in good running operation. So, if a circumstance arises where the truck malfunctions, the sooner a customer calls us, the faster we can respond to get that lift up and running.
Announcer: For more information on forklift rentals contact your local Toyota Forklift dealer.
Oct18
Rent vs Buy – Toyota Forklifts
Announcer: At some point, you may find that you need another forklift and you’ll be faced with a question, “Should I rent, or should I buy?” All forklift purchasing decisions are unique, and what’s good for one business may not be best for yours. Let’s consider both options.
Say you decide to buy a Toyota forklift, one of the key benefits of buying is the forklift’s residual value, and the option to sell your forklift after it has reached its useful life at your facility. Toyota forklifts hold their value very well over time, and have some of the highest residual values in the industry. If you properly maintain your forklift, and work in a relatively clean environment, your Toyota forklifts typically hold a higher resale value than other manufacturers. Another thing to consider is that there are no restrictions about how long you can or can’t keep a forklift you own, like you will find on rental units.
While purchasing is the right move for many businesses, rental options offer another set of solutions. Are you working on a short-term project, and need to temporarily add to your fleet? Or do you have seasonal jobs that require additional forklifts?
Josh Smith: One of the benefits of renting a forklift versus leasing a forklift is the fact that it requires no capital financing. It is generally used for short-term needs. You’re not tied to a long-term lease where you have contractual obligations. As your business expands and grows, and whether it fluctuates from high volume to low volume, you’re able to get the equipment that you need and return it based off your company’s needs.
Announcer: Renting also means no added maintenance costs, as it is typically included in the standard rental fee. If you only need your forklift short-term or seasonally, renting is usually the best option. Toyota’s North American dealer network covers the United States and Canada, and can partner with you to manage and maintain the appropriate fleet levels through new purchases, leases, rentals, and used forklifts.
For more information, contact your local Toyota forklift dealer.
Sep26
It’s coming fast! It will be here before you know it! How will we do it? Are we sure it’s going to be ready on time?
What is “it”? It is the holiday sales season. Most businesses experience large peaks in activity or holiday events that demand extra equipment for short periods of time. Seasonal peaks in activity can be met in a cost-effective way without adding long-term equipment to your fleet. A short-term forklift truck rental can fill the gap, keeping your team running smoothly.
Preparing for the shopping frenzy that occurs during the holiday shopping season requires particular care. If the holiday season is a cyclical event for your business, working closely with your forklift or heavy equipment dealer can help ensure availability of the right equipment, giving you peace of mind. If you need a last-minute rental, many reputable companies with rental fleets can still fill your needs.
Access to the correct material handling equipment rentals to move product effectively and efficiently, allowing you to meet customer demand is a valuable asset any time of year. Even when unpredictable events such as weather phenomenon create supply chain disruptions and dramatic shifts in customer spending you have the ability to scale your operation. Being prepared to meet demand without over burdening your budget is exactly where Texas forklift dealers with a rental fleet, like Lift Truck Supply, come in. Some , like ourselves, even offer Carton Clamp and Push Pull accessories to help meet all your material handling rental needs.
With knowledgeable representatives and on-site recommendations your holiday season can be a little less chaotic. Get prepared today and call your local forklift dealer to discuss your holiday needs.
Jul11