NATIONAL FORKLIFT
SAFETY DAY
A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO DC VELOCITY 3
THE FORKLIFT INDUSTRY will once again be out in force
in Washington, D.C., as members of the Industrial Truck
Association (ITA) take part in the group’s fifth annual National
Forklift Safety Day. This event, scheduled for June 12 in the
nation’s capital and across the country, will provide an opportunity for the industry to educate customers, the public, and
government officials about the safe use of forklifts and the
importance of proper operator training.
Safety is one of Washington, D.C.-based ITA’s biggest priorities. The organization, which represents
manufacturers of lift trucks, tow tractors,
pallet trucks, and automated guided vehicles in North America, promotes international standards for product safety, advances engineering and safety practices, and
partners with the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) and other
safety-focused organizations.
To learn more about the event, we spoke
with Scott Johnson, newly elected chairman of ITA’s board of directors. Johnson,
a 20-year veteran of the material handling
industry, is vice president of marketing
and sales for Lexington, Ky.-based forklift
manufacturer Clark Material Handling Co.
Johnson joined Clark in 1995; prior to taking on his current
responsibilities, he held the positions of vice president of
dealer services, vice president of business development,
director of marketing, director of aftermarket sales, and
regional sales manager, trucks and parts. Johnson has long
been active in ITA, having previously served on its Statistics
Committee and Executive Committee. An active member of
the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association
(MHEDA), he holds a degree from the University of Kentucky.
Here’s what he had to say.
Q: WHAT IS THE INDUSTRIAL TRUCK ASSOCIATION’S
MISSION, AND WHO ARE ITS MEMBERS?
A: For more than 65 years, the Industrial Truck Association
has been the leading organization for manufacturers of
forklifts and other types of industrial trucks, including the
suppliers of industrial truck component parts and accessories. We have a diverse international membership, and
we cover products shipped into the United States, Canada,
and Mexico. Based in Washington, D.C., ITA is an influential
voice in national and international standards development for the industry. We
advance engineering practices to promote
safer products, disseminate statistical marketplace information, and provide industry
forums for learning and networking.
We have two categories of members.
Our regular members are the primary manufacturers of forklift trucks shipped into
North America. Lift trucks have been used
for material handling in the United States
since 1917, and we have ITA members that
date back to that beginning. Our associate
members include suppliers that provide
components, accessories, and attachments
and the inputs used in manufacturing state-of-the-art industrial trucks—everything from the steel to
the tires to the controllers. Collectively, we address the top
issues that impact today’s market, working to ensure that
we have products that will best serve our customers in the
future.
We also maintain relationships with international associations in our industry, primarily the Japanese Industrial Vehicle
Association, the Chinese Industrial Truck Association, and
the Industrial Truck Division of the Federation of European
Manufacturers. Along with ITA, these organizations consti-
CARRYING ON
THE SAFETY TRADITION
Industrial Truck Association chairman Scott Johnson talks about
the goals of National Forklift Safety Day and how he plans to build
on past successes to support the organization’s mission in the future.
BY TOBY GOOLEY, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
