Planned forklift maintenance is essential for ensuring the safety, efficiency, and longevity of these critical pieces of equipment in any industrial or warehouse setting. Whether an electric forklift or one run by an internal combustion engine, planned maintenance is essential for both.  By scheduling regular inspections and addressing potential issues early, warehouse management can ensure a reduction in costly breakdowns and minimize any downtime. Plus, most importantly, planned maintenance promotes a safer work environment. Proper maintenance also extends the useful life of forklifts, ensuring they operate at peak performance while complying with safety regulations. Investing in routine care not only saves on repair costs but also enhances overall productivity and reliability.

Best Practices For Planned Forklift Maintenance

Planned forklift maintenance is important for many reasons. Following are some suggestions for setting best practices that will ensure a multitude of benefits.

Increased Safety

Regularly planned maintenance ensures that forklifts operate safely, reducing the risk of accidents caused by equipment failure. Unfortunately, in a fast-paced warehouse or distribution center environment forklifts can be a leading cause of workplace injuries. Anytime a forklift malfunctions, the operator and workers around it are in danger of injury. Inventory can be damaged and other warehouse components can break down. Planned maintenance helps ensure forklifts remain safe for operators and anyone else on the warehouse floor. Critical components like brakes, steering, hydraulics, and tires should be inspected and repaired before they cause hazardous conditions and working environment.

Extended Equipment Lifespan

Planned maintenance includes inspecting the forklift components regularly and repairing or replacing any parts that could cause issues in performance. Quickly responding to defects or component failures can help avoid major breakdowns that could lead to costly repairs or early equipment replacement. Regular care keeps a forklift in optimal condition, extending its functional life. Setting a planned maintenance schedule based on manufacturer recommendations, can make a difference in warehouse equipment performance.

Tires

One of the most important components whether electric or combustible engine forklift is the tire. Even with high-quality tires, continuous movement of heavy machinery and inventory can wear out these overworked pieces of equipment. A daily check of each tire is imperative to ensure a productive work shift. The tire pressure must be sufficient and a visual inspection of the tread can identify a potential hazard of a blowout or leaks. Any tire deficiency must be handled immediately before beginning daily operation.

Brakes

In order to avoid costly injuries and damages to equipment and inventory, the brakes on a forklift must be in perfect working order. Before starting warehouse shift operation, a check to be sure the brakes are working effectively is extremely important. Waiting until a brake failure to have them repaired or replaced can create disastrous consequences including even injury or death.

Tines

The forklift tines or attachments that handle heavy inventory loads are an important part of the forklift. A daily inspection to identify signs of damage or wear will greatly increase the safety and efficiency within any material handling operation. If any issues are noted, then those tines must be repaired or replaced before being attached to the forklift to resume the workflow.

All forklifts, whether electric or with an internal combustion engine, have safety features. The features such as alarms, spotlights and mirrors, to name a few, must be inspected each day prior to maneuvering anywhere on the warehouse floor. The filters within the forklift as well as the potential life of the battery should be checked before operating the equipment.

Forklifts with internal combustion engines utilize a variety of fluids: brake, hydraulic and engine oil. According to forklift manufacturers’ user manuals, there are recommended levels for all fluids. To remain in compliance with OSHA standards, the levels of all fluids should be reviewed daily and filled to the suggested capacity.

Planned maintenance specifically for an electric forklift should include checking the motor, inspecting the cables and lubricating the moving components as well as hydraulic and brake fluid where applicable.

Minimized Downtime

Unplanned breakdowns can disrupt operations, causing costly downtime. Planned maintenance allows businesses to schedule repairs and inspections during off-hours or less busy times, reducing the impact on productivity. Daily checks should be made prior to operating the forklifts.

Cost Savings

Routine planned maintenance can identify issues before they escalate into expensive repairs. Proactive care is usually more cost-effective than reactive maintenance, avoiding the high costs of emergency fixes or replacing forklifts prematurely. Maintaining a planned schedule for maintenance of a forklift can increase resale value. It ensures the quality and productivity of a forklift is preserved, resulting in a higher return when selling it or trading it in for a newer model.

Compliance with Regulations

Forklifts are usually subject to safety and environmental regulations. Planned maintenance ensures that the equipment meets legal standards, helping to avoid fines or penalties for non-compliance.

Optimal Performance

Regular maintenance ensures that forklifts operate efficiently. Well-maintained equipment consumes less fuel or energy and operates more smoothly, contributing to overall operational efficiency. Planned maintenance of forklifts can guarantee they will run effectively and when they are needed. Taking a little time for daily inspections can produce huge advantages in productivity.

Increased Reliability

Forklifts that are regularly maintained are less likely to suffer from unexpected failures, providing a more reliable tool for daily operations. This reliability is crucial for maintaining consistent productivity levels. By investing in planned forklift maintenance, warehouse operations can expect safety, efficiency and cost control, leading to smoother operations and long-term success.

Darr Equipment Company is the leading provider of high-quality forklifts manufactured by Cat Lift Trucks and Jungheinrich. We offer planned maintenance programs for equipment, fleets and more.

Our 60-point planned maintenance inspection provides a deeper insight into the operating system of a forklift. Designed to meet both OSHA and ANSI requirements, a Darr Planned Maintenance program will keep your equipment running at its peak performance.

Customers with five or more forklifts can take advantage of a Fleet Maintenance agreement. In addition to a reduced labor rate, reports provide operating expenses, part or attachment procurement planning and downtime planning to keep your fleet at the highest rate of productivity.

A Contract Maintenance agreement is best suited after an application survey and assessment of maintenance needs. This agreement typically includes planned maintenance services, a reduced labor rate, parts consignments and replacement equipment to avoid downtime.

Contact Darr Equipment Company to explore our many high-quality forklifts and our exceptional service and planned maintenance package options.