Fork Lift Association & Thorough Examination

Why Should I Service My Forklift?


“My forklift is a robust, heavy-duty vehicle, meant to lift extremely heavy loads for hours on end, and I’m not driving it on the roads. So why do I need to get my forklift serviced, especially when I carry out regular maintenance checks?”


Whilst regular maintenance checks are essential on a working forklift, these checks don’t stop parts from wearing out, and don’t cover internal components only reachable and serviceable by a trained forklift engineer.
But, to answer this question a little more thoroughly, we’ve put together this article, pointing out the main reasons for getting your forklift serviced regularly by a forklift specialist, with some reasons you might not have considered.




  1. For safety


    Safety has to be the main concern when it comes to getting your forklift serviced. If components vital to the overall safety aren’t in good working order, apart from potentially causing an accident, insurance may be invalidated.


    The type of components a good forklift service will cover include:



    • Brakes

    • Tyres

    • Lights and lenses

    • The mast, lifting assembly and other attachments

    • Hydraulic hoses and unions

    • Gauges



  2. To maintain the warranty


    Just like your car or van, a new forklift or used forklift will have a servicing schedule that you have to stick to if you want to maintain the warranty, which in turn can save you a lot of money should something go wrong.




  3. To prevent downtime


    The world of business is competitive, therefore any downtime your business suffers due to your forklift not working because you didn’t get it serviced, not only has a financial impact, but the time delay could also affect your business reputation.




  4. To help with budgeting


    Keeping a close eye on the budget is essential to any business, but when you have a fleet of un-serviced forklifts that could go wrong at any point, you could suddenly find your budget flying out of control.


    Alternatively – if you regularly get your forklifts serviced by a reputable and professional forklift engineer, you’ll always have a good idea of the annual cost, and know in advance if the cost is expected to rise.




  5. To help your forklift last


    Another main reason for getting your forklift serviced regularly by a forklift servicing professional, is to prolong the life of the vehicle, and save you from having to shell out for a new forklift, before you need to.




  6. For your forklift operators


    A good boss looks after their employees, and that means providing the right tools for the job. If you have an un-serviced forklift that keeps breaking down, coughing up smoke, or cutting out unexpectedly, forklift operators' morale will drop.




Conclusion


There’s no way around it – you need to get your forklift serviced, and when you do, make sure the company you choose has registered, trained and experienced forklift engineers, who know what they’re doing.


Forklift Servicing


If you’re looking for forklift servicing or forklift truck repairs in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire or Buckinghamshire, contact Beds & Bucks Forktrucks Ltd., one of the UK's leading forklift servicing and repair specialists.


Mechanic servicing forklift