Thursday 25 October 2012

Trying to Decide Which Forklift Truck or Fleet to Use?

Forklift Training
In order to make the complex decision on the purchase of a forklift truck, it will take more than simple knowledge of technicalities to make your choice. The forklift truck that you require may have similar features to another, but has one small difference that changes everything. The right choice will help to increase your business and your productivity.


We will help you navigate the confusing world of Forklift Truck shopping but one bit of advice you should heed is to do your research thoroughly first. You may have been given training in this regard before you got a forklift truck license but most likely they will have only given you the basics pertaining to general forklift truck purposes. So I will go over a few points you need to consider before making any decisions.

First, examine your business needs and match the performance and specifications of the forklift you are purchasing. By using dealers or sales people who understand the industry you work in, and the type of business that you do, the odds are in your favor of finding the perfect forklift truck. Think about not only the type of products you will be moving, but the size of the warehouse they are stored in.

Having a forklift that can handle the loads yet not be able to navigate through the floor would not work. Also consider the workload that a normal truck would do on a normal shift. If the forklift you are considering can handle that workload in the space that you have available, then you are on the right track.

Talk to other people, besides the salesman, about what the forklift is capable of, perhaps they can give you a review from a customer's point of view. When asking questions, make sure to include things such as how easily it can be repaired, the ease of operating, the design on the forklift and how it affects the workload, and any other relevant information to your industry.



Second, look at the dealer that you are purchasing from. Are they a quality dealer that is well known and respected, or is it some guy selling it from his backyard? Will they be able to fix it if necessary? What about maintenance? Are they local, or are they located in several places? If you're business is local, then purchasing from a local dealer can be a great option. However, if you are a nationally used company, you may want to reconsider if you would have to bring the forklift back 3000 miles just to fix a part.

Another important aspect is to ensure that the dealer knows what he is talking about. Anyone can read information off of a piece of paper, but does the salesman truly understand the product? Will he be able to assist you will fleet management? These are all important questions to ask.

Finally, the total cost of ownership takes all of the information together in one shot. Examining the purchase price plus any maintenance and of course the forklift training course that will be needed to operate the forklift, minus the increased productivity and profits that are made from the the vehicle. If the end justifies the means, then you have yourself the forklift truck that you were meant to buy. Take all of the factors that we have discussed and then make the best decision for you and your business. To get some advice visit http://www.aftt.co.uk/.