Four tires, a seat and a steering wheel, how much different could driving a forklift be from driving a car? It’s different. We’re about to send a newbie through fork lift operator training, a process we’ll document here, so we’ll get an insider’s view of just what the training is all about and how difficult it is. This is someone with...

Batteries seem to have become a regular part of our hi-tech lifestyles.  At any given time you’re charging several items and something else is running out of juice at exactly the wrong moment. You pay attention to how to best manage the batteries in your smartphone, but you need to pay just as much attention to your batter-operated forklift...

Believe it or not, seatbelts are only recently mandatory safety equipment on a forklift.  While, technically, OSHA doesn’t directly mention seatbelts by name they’re firm enough about the wording that we know they’re very serious about the seatbelts.  You should be, too. Here’s the thing: while a forklift rarely travels at a high enough...

More than half a million forklifts in the US operate on propane gas. That’s a lot of gas, and a lot of potentially dangerous situations if the propane is not handled properly. Here’s what you need to know about propane: Propane, by itself (like natural gas that we use to heat our homes) is odorless.  Propane’s distinct odor is added to...

Balance.  We’re all working to achieve it, some with more success than others.  Balance is critical to the successful, safe operation of your forklift as well. Forklifts achieve balance in two ways. A Counterbalance forklift is a truck that can lift and move a load without the use of outriggers to stabilize the unit. These forklifts...

A few entries ago, we mentioned something that started a conversation.  We stated that typically, most of the damage to a forklift is caused by (insert drum roll here) employee abuse. That raised some eyebrows among our customers. To be clear, usually damage to a forklift is not caused by mindful reckless conduct (although that does happen)....

If you’ve ever made a large purchase, you know that the cost of the actual item is only part of what you will spend over the life of the thing you bought. Here are some of the expenses you can expect while you make the most of your new forklift: Someone has to operate the lift.  Combine training and salary and one forklift operator will cost...

We’re surrounded by batteries that need to be charged, from smart phones to cameras, remotes and yes- your forklift.  For every battery type there is a charging and maintenance process that needs to be followed to get the most out of your batteries- and the process is likely different for each type of battery. There’s a LOT of bad...

We know it’s still early in the year but in some parts of the country the mercury is creeping up, and frankly it’s never too early to start thinking about preparing your forklift for Summer.  Some of these suggestions aren’t necessarily Summer-specific. Check these things out all year long. Start with your batteries. Extreme heat and cold...

Used forklifts can be great, affordable alternatives to buying a new machine.  However, with all those moving parts, you need to be sure you are getting a good deal.  Robert Scott takes us on a tour of a used Doosan forklift to show what you should be looking for when purchasing a used...