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Issue: #73
January - 2016
Building Cust Newsleter
Sales Department
Revealed: Your Forklift Truck's Most Valuable Component
In any forklift truck, the part that has the biggest impact on safety, performance and running costs is also the most expensive. It's the operator.

Over the life of your forklift truck, you'll spend more on operators' wages than anything else - and with good reason. If your operation is going to be safe, efficient and productive, the driver is your most important investment.

The first thing any forklift truck should be is a good place to work - but too many managers dismiss a good cab environment as a luxury. And that's a huge mistake.

2016 Twin Cities Tour de Cure
Get Behind a Great Cause and the American Diabetes Association
Team Sugar Rush at Trailhead Cycling is celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Tour de Cure with a 25 hour indoor spin and we want you to be a part of this incredible experience. Since 1991, Tour de Cure riders have raised over $250,000,000 to help advance our mission and move us closer towards the ultimate goal to Stop Diabetes!

The Indoor Tour de Cure at Trailhead is more than just a cycling event, it's 25 hours packed with excitement and energy! Riders of all levels join forces in the fight to Stop Diabetes� and raise critical funds for diabetes research, education and advocacy in support of the American Diabetes Association.

Please join us in supporting this cause with your donation. Thank you TLM employees Max Welter and Luke Kocher for your twenty five hour commitment!

safety stripe
safety triangle
"Why does your tech waste time looking at our battery connectors?"

They are looking for cracks in the connectors that might allow wires to stick out. Those wires might come in contact with the battery case and cause sparking. Sparking can lead to an explosion. Avoiding that is worth a little time. 
Parts Department
The Right Forklift Part, at the Right Price
Having the right forklift part in stock, at the right price involves inventory accuracy. In the parts department our responsibilities range from our phone skills to managing the investment of our physical inventory. Making certain that our inventory investment is situated as such to best serve you the customer

To that end, many of us that have worked in forklift parts know and dread the annual physical inventory. A time filled with grime, dust, generally the mid-day pizza, and the end of the day work to get the data entered into the system, and the results out.

Manage Your Risks and Control Your Costs
Train Your Trainer: Forklift Safety - Next Class February 23rd
Forklift Accident How much would it cost in emotional and financial terms if your company experienced a serious forklift accident? How much is it costing you today with the small accidents that happen every day? Should there be a reportable accident, how comfortable are you that in a courtroom your forklift safety program won't wither under scrutiny?

One way is limiting the risk to your employees, product and equipment by having well trained and certified forklift operators. With new personnel coming in, and others changing positions, how can you manage your risk and control your expenses effectively?

One answer is by having your own forklift trainer on staff. An individual familiar with your equipment, your physical layout and your company's plan and vision.

Toyota Lift of Minnesota is holding another "Train the Trainer" course July 28th. We invite you to look at the details and decide if it is time for you to control your risks and costs. Train the Trainer can be an easy choice.

Forklift Photo Moment
The data plate surprise!

Wait a minute! This doesn't say "Toyota"

See more material handling photos and videos [many of them fun] at our Pinterest site. Follow this link.
Service Department 
Forklift Under Ride Danger: Who's Responsible?
With the need to get more and more out of warehouse spaces, companies are relying on the Class II or stand up electric forklift to help.

Businesses look to stand up forklifts to maximize the space available to them for storage. Because the stand up forklift has a smaller foot print and is far more maneuverable than its sit down counterparts, a business can configure it's storage with a higher density by using narrower aisles allowing for more storage. Stand up forklifts also allow the operator to get on and off faster, and can be used for order picking. While the stand up forklift doesn't have certain benefits its sit down cousins do, stand ups are the favored solution for squeezing the most out of warehousing space. The maneuverability and other gains come with unique dangers, one of those being "forklift under ride" accidents.

Rental Department 
Avoid Surprises on Your Lift Truck Rental Invoice
The project is over. Your lift truck rental was picked up and now you're scanning the invoice. Unfortunately, there's a line item you don't recall discussing when securing the rental. You make a mental note to call the provider in the morning - one more thing to do!

The unique operations of rental providers may cause applicable charges to differ. Be aware of common charges, including:

safety stripe 
safety triangle
"Your tech reported to us that we have a forklift without a data plate. Can you tell us our responsibilities?"  
 
The data plate or nameplate tells the forklift operator important information about the truck, including the fuel type, forklift weight, and capacity. OSHA regulation 1910.178(a)(6) states "The user shall see that all nameplates and markings are in place and are maintained in a legible condition."

This is of course is low fruit for any OSHA inspector, and often it is very easy to rectify through the forklift's manufacturer. 
Warehousing Systems
That Darn Forklift Driver
I was walking through a large bottling plant. When I approached a point on the line where cans of soda that had been improperly packaged were put back on the line for repackaging, I heard a worker named Jim say, "That darn forklift driver." I approached him and asked what the problem was.

Jim replied with great annoyance, "I've asked Tom over and over again to put the pallets with cans to repackaged right here," pointing to a spot next to the line. He continued, "Does he do it? No. Sometimes the pallet is here, sometimes it's there; it's wherever he feels like putting it down." He continued with gusto, "It needs to be right here. Exactly here."

Jim asked me, "What's so hard about understanding this?"

I hesitated for a moment before answering him, realizing that all he really wanted to hear was my confirmation that the forklift driver was indeed an idiot.

About Us

Toyota Lift of Minnesota has been serving its customers and the industry for over 37 years. Our mission is to improve your productivity and bottom line through better products, services and customer service personnel.

Toyota-Lift of Minnesota
8601 Xylon Court North
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55445
Phone 763-425-9066 Toll Free 800-523-0611

1526 Voll Drive Northwest
Byron, Minnesota 55920
Phone 507-444-0063 Toll Free 877-315-9207

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Save 10%
Do you have an existing service, parts or rental quote from TLM?. Call us with the code 021616JOS and we'll take ten percent off the amount you were originally quoted [limited to parts, labor or rental fees and cannot be used in conjunction with other specials or discounts nor applied to any services sublet].

Take advantage of this now, we genuinely appreciate your business and look forward to working with you in the future.

Coupon can be used on only one quote thank you, and cannot be used along with any other offer extended or work/sale previously billed.  
Offer Expires: February 15th 2016
In This Issue
Sales - Revealed: your forklift truck's most valuable component
2016 Twin Cities Tour de Cure - American Diabetes Association
Parts - The Right Forklift Part, at the Right Price
Safety: Train Your Trainer: Forklift Safety - Next Class February 23rd
Forklift Photo Moment
Service - Forklift Under Ride Danger: Who's Responsible?
Rental Department - Avoid Surprises on Your Lift Truck Rental Invoice
Warehouse - That Darn Forklift Driver
Energy Saving Dock Blanket
Free OSHA Poster
Online Warehouse Catalog
Video - Loading Dock Dangers
Lift Truck Stuff Catalog
Factory Links
Quick Links
 
GSA Sales
Providing Product and Service Leadership
Offering most favored customer pricing and volume discounts, the Toyota Lift Truck brings you savings in both time and money.  Through Toyota Lift's GSA Schedule, you can purchase Toyota forklifts, the number one rated forklift in the world for quality and customer satisfaction. Also, we offer Crown industrial batteries.
  • Pre-qualification of pricing and quality has already been done by GSA for all government purchasers
  • Through Toyota Lift of Minnesota's GSA Schedule, customers benefit from a direct relationship with volume discount pricing, 100% quality products, warranty and delivery, with significant opportunities to help meet your small business goals
  • Orders placed against Toyota Lift Truck's GSA Schedule meet FAR regulations and are considered to be issued using full and open competition.

Contact Toyota Lift of Minnesota for your GSA Schedule needs. 

Easy to Install Energy Saving Dock Blankets! 
 
 
Winter and Heat Loss, They're Both Hear!

Fight Against Both With The Dock Blanket

* Substantially Reduces Energy Costs
* Improve Employee Comfort and Productivity
* Quick and Easy Installation

Call Bill Bezenar to order this simple energy saving tool. 763-315-9240 or email Bill at [email protected] 
 
safety poster  
Free OSHA Forklift Rules Poster

Would look great in your lunchroom! 
Call us or email us at
[email protected]
We'll mail one off to you immediately! 
 
Catelog Splash
On Line Catalog:

Great Source For Warehouse Supplies 
Toyota Lift of Minnesota offers you an easy way to shop for all your associated needs. Follow the link below and see for yourself. From lockers to storage bins, we have it all. 

 

Catalog
The loading dock is one of the most active locations in almost any distribution center and it is certainly one of the most dangerous.

See one example of not watching your surroundings.
Lift Truck Stuff Catalog

Great Source For All Things Forklift 
A catalog that brings it all together for you. Our "Everything Around the Lift Truck" catalog. Click the "Catalog" link at the bottom to review or download our catalog or through this link place your on-line order. It's that easy. 

 

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Toyota Lift of Minnesota's Blog
Updated almost daily with material handling, warehouse and safety tips. We're working to put good information in small bites out to our readers.
 
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OEM Links