With maintenance and operation costs per year, forklifts are not inexpensive to own. That is one reason that delaying (or avoiding) routine forklift maintenance is so tempting for many businesses. Can’t that money be better spent elsewhere?

Today is the fifth annual National Forklift Safety Day sponsored by the Industrial Truck Association (ITA). This event provides the opportunity to educate forklift operators and companies on the value and importance of forklift safety and operator training.

Proper forklift maintenance might seem like an expensive inconvenience. Taking the time for daily checks, setting up a comprehensive maintenance plan with qualified technicians, and paying to replace hoses, fluids, forks, or tires that have not yet broken might feel like an inefficient use of resources.