Forklift Rental Tips to Remember

For companies that use forklifts every day, there is sometimes a dilemma on whether to buy or rent a forklift. When investing, your own forklift may be good for a company which needs it all the time, the flip side might be true for those that use the equipment every once in a while. If you use different types of forklifts to complete different tasks, you are also better off renting one. Many entities end up feeling cheated after renting out forklifts that are not in good condition, overpriced, or simply unsuitable for the job at hand. Forklifts that lack proper servicing break down numerous times and the rental company takes long to replace it, leaving you with unsustainable downtimes. Next time you go searching for a forklift for rent, consider the following: 

• Get a dealer with a wide range of clean, well serviced lift trucks, so that even when you need a different kind of forklift they can easily exchange it for you, with some adjustments in the rental fee. This is advantageous when the forklift you are using breaks down, they can easily replace it.
• Ensure that your forklift dealer has a fully equipped forklift service shop with experienced technicians who can be dispatched to fix any faulty machine on site. In case of small faults they should not delay you from achieving your daily target.
• What is the range of the load your forklift is expected to carry? You must be clear about this one so that you get a forklift which can manage the job you need it to do.
• What kind of environment are you working in? Whether indoors or outdoors, rough or smooth terrain, it should be specified. This will help the dealer give you the right forklift. Else if you get a forklift which is meant to work in warehouses for an outdoor job, it might easily get damaged.
• How long would you like to use the forklift? Decide depending on the nature of your operation, how long you will need the forklift. Though renting for a short time might be quite pricy, most dealers have different reasonable rates to customers who rent a machine for an extended period of time.
• Be clear about the rental contract. Be sure that your dealer will be the one to service and maintain the lift trucks. Ask if they will give you an operator or you will need to get one by yourself.
• Finally, inspect the forklift before it is moved to the site. Take note of any faults and inform the dealer about them. If you are not comfortable with the truck request a replacement. 

There are a number of seasoned forklift leasing companies in the Atlanta area that boast extensive fleets featuring different makes and models. Go for one that provides a reputable service with reasonable rental rates, to make the most out of the machinery.

Tips on Choosing the Right Forklift

Selecting the right forklift is very important for you to enjoy maximum utilization in your company. There are many elements that come together to influence the best choice of forklift truck for your requirements. If you wish to own a forklift for your company’s operations, it is best that you consider a few important aspects so that your investment is worth its while. Below are a few pointers that will help you in doing just that.

Nature of your work

If most of your operations require the use of a forklift truck and you use it for more than 5 hours every day, it may be better to purchase a forklift than keep on renting. You must also be sure that it is not only for temporal but you will be using it a lot more in the foreseeable future. However, it may not be necessary for smaller operators to purchase a forklift as opposed to bigger companies.

Working Environment

You must identify the environment in which the forklift will be working. Either indoors or outdoors, smooth or rough terrain etc. This helps your forklift sales provider better assist you to choose the right forklift. The right choice ensures that the forklift will have a longer lifespan, giving you value for your money.

Load Size

How much is the load that the forklift will be expected to carry? Specify the maximum, minimum and average load that your forklift will carry. The best way forward is to opt for one with a load capacity that is higher or within the range of your requirements. It is important that you consider the nature of your load so that you get a lift truck with fork attachments that are suitable for the job. There is nothing more frustrating than getting a machine which cannot handle its operations due to configuration issues, which is why you must keep this in mind when choosing your lift truck for sale in Atlanta or any other place.

Fuel type

Choice of fuel type is related to your work environment. Let’s say you require the lift truck to work in a warehouse, it is advisable to go for battery power. This is due to the fact that it does not produce much noise, the power source is cheaper, and has a longer life span, although it has high maintenance cost. If the forklift is required for outdoor work, a diesel or gas powered option is the best. This is because they can handle higher power requirements to maneuver around different terrain while carrying maximum loads. Big lift trucks are often either diesel or gas powered.

Brand new or Used.

You do not always need to purchase a brand-new forklift. If you are looking to add a forklift in your fleet or seek to buy your first truck on a restricted budget, you may want to consider a reconditioned forklift truck for sale. This will help you save lots of money and get a near-mint condition machine in the process. If, however, you need a machine with a longer lifespan to handle major operations in your company, then search for the best deals on brand new forklifts for sale online.

Final remarks

When getting a lift truck, find a that enjoys a good reputation in the market and gives you access to wide choice and great deals on forklifts for sale in Atlanta or any other jurisdiction. Conduct background checks on the service provider and google the specs of the various options on your shortlist. Get some expert help and maybe hire the same model before buying to assess its performance and suitability for your requirements.

The Do's And Don'ts Of Forklift Service

If you own a fleet of forklifts for lease or your in-house operations, it is important to craft an appropriate maintenance regime designed to ensure safety in the workplace, minimal downtimes, efficient operation of equipment, few costly repairs, and long life for the equipment. Regular inspections and maintenance must be done in line with manufacturer’s instructions and standards. You must design and implement procedures to report and investigate any incidents that deviate from the norm or dangerous occurrences during operation of the lift trucks. It is always paramount to seek the services of seasoned forklift servicing service providers in Atlanta or any other place, if you don’t have the skilled people in-house. This blog covers a few do’s and don’ts that you ought to remember when it’s time for forklift servicing. 

What are Some of the Do’s?

• Wear the right protective equipment, such as goggles, aprons, rubber boots, leather glove, as and when required when grinding, handling batteries, and changing LPG fuel tanks.
• Make sure to disconnect all batteries before beginning any work.
• Keep all forklifts in your fleet clean to make it easy to detect defective or worn parts.
   
• Use water to clean, as opposed to flammable liquids to clean the forklifts and also keep the work area clean and well lit.
   
• Only trained and certified people should inspect maintain, or repair your forklift trucks.
• Your qualified tire fitters must use a safety cage when fitting or inflating tires, and the compressed air hose must be a clip-on feature to allow fitters to be away from the wheel rim when inflating the tire.
• Check all tools before use and remove them all before starting the engine.
• Make sure to inspect the forklift for twisted, distorted, or bent sections and conduct the necessary tests if you observe any defects.
• Magnetic particle testing ought to be done for main mast welds and forks if cracks develop or annually, and on couplings, hoses, cylinder connections in the tilt control system and main mast assembly.

What are Some of the Don’ts?

• Don’t drive, initiate maintenance or repairs without first checking the operator’s daily checklist or finding out why the forklift is in for repairs.
• Never remove the counterweight without first attaching a chain hoist.
• Don’t work under an elevated forklift if it is not safely supported by blocks.
• Never do heavy lifting of equipment beyond your capacity, as you can always use a hoist or other tools.
• Don’t work on a forklift truck’s attachment if you are not knowledgeable with regards to its operation.
• Never start a forklift truck if it is on wheel stands or lift hoist.
• Don’t smoke, light a match, or weld around battery-charging and refueling zones.
• Never leave tools, parts, cans, creepers, and other items around the work area. 

Remember

Never engage in shortcuts or work with which you are not familiar. Providers of forklifts for sale and forklifts for lease in Atlanta and other places also provide inspection, maintenance, and repairs for most makes and models or forkifts. Comparison-shop online to find the best forklift servicing expert in your jurisdiction. Professional and timely servicing saves you from expensive repairs, hazards in the workplace and also ensures that your equipment serves you for long.