It is a constant struggle to educate customers on the value of spending a few extra dollars towards genuine OEM parts. We feel so strongly about it, we "almost" insist on them when working on competitive units. Time and again the aftermarket or "might will fit" parts end up disappointing everyone in their ability to perform, or in too many cases simply just failing in the application.

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 May 31st. 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.

First Time Fix", or "One and Done", just what is it?

First time fix is a way to measure how effective a service company is at providing customer service. When a customer's forklift is not operational, they want it put back into operation as quickly as possible and they want it to remain operational. Being able to respond to a service call, repair the forklift quickly and accurately, and leave is the ideal situation.

As we've mentioned throughout the month on the blog, it is peak rental season, and there are a lot of reasons to consider renting a forklift. Let's say you have identified a need, you have found answers to the seven questions to answer before you rent, and you're ready to pull the trigger. What comes next?

You probably feel relatively safe walking around forklifts, right? Most people do. However, you may not be as safe as you feel if you aren't careful. Forklifts weigh as much as a bus, and even the most skilled operators do not always see pedestrians, making it highly unsafe to ever assume having the "right of way" means you won't be hit.

Check out these five common misconceptions held by pedestrians when working or walking around forklifts. Dispel these myths, and you'll be far more likely to encounter unfortunate collision-related injuries and deaths.