LIFT TRUCKS
materialhandlingupdate
Is your lift truck
readyready
to retire? to retire?
Wondering whether
to keep that lift truck
going a little longer
or put it out to
pasture? Here are
some things to
consider when
making that decision.
LIFT TRUCKS ARE THE “WORKHORSES OF THE WAREHOUSE”—ESSENTIAL
tools for shipping, receiving, picking, and putaway. But no piece of equipment can
last forever; sooner or later, every lift truck will reach the point when it should be
put out to pasture, so to speak.
How do you know when it’s time to say goodbye? If you lease the equipment,
it’s not an issue—the “retirement” date will be set as part of the leasing agreement.
But if you own the equipment, this can be a tough call. The key, experts say, is
determining when a lift truck has reached the end of its “economic life.” That’s the
point when the cost to operate a vehicle exceeds the value it provides, and keeping it going would be akin to throwing money away. Several factors play into that
decision, including hours of operation, operating conditions, utilization rates,
maintenance costs, and productivity.
HOURS ON THE JOB
For an automobile, mileage is a better indicator than age of expected longevity.
Similarly, the number of operating hours a lift truck has logged is a more reliable
measure of its expected lifespan than its age. The typical lift truck engine is good
for 10,000 to 20,000 hours, although some last much longer.
