Let’s face facts here, Forklift trucks are not sexy!
Nobody ever wakes up in the middle of the night thinking about how much they want the latest VNA or Stacker in their life.
When was the last time you saw a poster of a forklift adorning the bedroom wall of a pubescent teenage boy. Or spoken to the young man in question about how he remembers lying on his bed dreaming of the day when he could finally own one of these magnificent machines.
It just doesn’t happen. Forklifts are mundane, perfunctory and utilitarian. They’re not designed to be anything other than functional. They do the job they’re designed to do and then they’re hidden in the corner for the night, out of sight and out of mind.
However, the humble forklift should not be underestimated. It plays a much more important role in our lives than you might think. Just take a second and imagine this for a moment.
Have a quick look around the room you’re in right now, maybe your office or perhaps you’re sitting in a comfy chair at home. Have a look and count the number of items that will, at some point in their lives, have been touched by a forklift truck.
I guarantee that you can make a case for every single item in direct view of you right now having been perched on a pallet or stacked in a warehouse at some point.
I would venture to suggest that the forklift truck is the most undervalued piece of machinery in use today.
So what can we do about it, what can we do to elevate these beasts of burden to the heights they so richly deserve?
The answer is: Nothing. The forklift truck is happy to live with its image problem. All it cares about is being used to its full potential, having its batteries charged and being maintained on a regular basis.
We take them for granted and just assume they will go on forever. The truth of course is that these noble machines need just as much attention and looking after as the most exotic Lamborghini or Ferrari if you’re going to get the most out of them.
This is where regular maintenance and servicing comes in.
It’s essential that you recognize the vital role that servicing and maintenance plays in keeping your forklift running, day in, day out and that you put a plan in place, sooner rather than later.
I’m sure we’ve all heard the horror stories of a forklift breaking down on a Friday afternoon leaving the factory on shutdown over the weekend and the MD pulling what’s left of his hair out. You really don’t want to find yourself in that boat.
Do your research, find an organisation you can trust and then you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your trusty forklift will go on and on.
