Having a planned replacement strategy for your fleet of lift trucks and other materials handling equipment is the key to maximizing your fleet’s value and reducing overall operating and maintenance costs.
Generally, lift trucks have a useful life of about 10,000 to 12,000 operational hours, depending on maintenance practices, operating conditions and the type of vehicle used. Electric trucks tend to have a longer useful life because they have fewer moving parts than internal combustion lift trucks.
Environment Affects Durability
How you use your trucks also plays a major role in how long they will last. Vehicles that are exposed to extreme temperatures — such as those used in freezer warehouses — tend to break down sooner than those that are used in clean warehouses with wide aisles. Brines and corrosives also will affect the operational life of a vehicle.
Trucks that have been used for 10,000 hours or more break down or require service about twice as often as trucks that have been used for less than 10,000 hours. Vehicles that are not operational aren’t productive. Also, repair costs can be expensive. Overhauls, replacement of major components, or even frequent minor repairs drive up the cost of operating your fleet.
Still, many operators keep older trucks operational far beyond the point where repair costs outweigh replacement costs. There are also hidden costs because older lift trucks have more downtime, making them less productive than newer vehicles.
Trading In After 10,000 Hours
The best bet for many operators is to plan to replace their vehicles once they reach about 10,000 hours.
Reducing older, less efficient trucks at precisely the right time can lower your maintenance costs, improve your fleet’s productivity, and ultimately save you money. When you plan for fleet replacement, rather than simply purchasing new vehicles after old ones break down, you also can depreciate your existing fleet and amortize your investment over time.
You will get the longest and most efficient useful life from your fleet if you follow a standardized maintenance schedule. Having your employees check vital fluids at the start of each shift can add as much as 1,000 to 2,000 hours to the life of your vehicle.
A poorly maintained fleet has more downtime than properly cared for vehicles. Plus, their trade-in value is reduced. So spending money on maintenance is a way to ensure long-term value and short-term savings in unexpected repair costs.