There are many different forklift types, each carefully designed for specific applications and each offering its own unique set of benefits and features. Below is a list of the seven most common types of forklifts: electric forklifts, IC forklifts, order pickers, reach trucks, high-capacity forklifts, pallet jacks, and pallet stackers. Selecting the right forklift for your needs is essential to efficiency and productivity, which is why it is so important to understand the key differences in each class of forklifts. With seven varying forklift “classes” with subtle differences, it can be difficult to even know where to begin your forklift search.

Using the correct piece of equipment can actually have a major impact on the safety of your workplace. This guide will help show you the pros and cons of stand-up riders or sit-down electric forklifts and point you in the right direction for your next purchase, lease, or rental decision. Operator preference tends to play a large role in most purchasing decisions for new equipment. Operators who are used to operating sit-down forklifts are generally resistant to swapping their sit-down for a stand-up rider and vice versa. The main reasons for this are the differences in operating position and operability. Stand-up riders are typically controlled by a single multi-function control handle while sit-down forklifts use conventional cowl-mounted levers or mini-levers. Sit-down forklifts also have traditional brake pedals, while stand-up riders use “plugging” (requesting travel in the opposite direction) for braking and have a dead man pedal for emergency braking. Being familiar with a particular operating style promotes safety and can help to increase productivity and operator confidence.

There are a lot of moving parts on a forklift that are critical to its operation and the mast chains are no exception. As you may already know, a forklift uses hydraulic pressure to raise the mast up by raising the lift cylinders. This, in turn, raises the inner mast channels, but without the lift chains, your forks and carriage aren’t going anywhere. And if your forks aren’t being lifted, you aren’t going to be getting much work done. So how does it all work? As I explained, the lift cylinders will lift the inner mast rails, but the mast chains are actually responsible for lifting the carriage and forks. Each mast chain is attached to the carriage and then routed up and over a chain wheel that acts as a pulley. The chain is then bolted into a boss that is welded onto the inner mast rail. So when the mast rails raise, the chains also raise, and thus the carriage goes up with it.

A High-Capacity Core IC Pneumatic Forklift is a diesel-powered heavy-duty forklift that delivers the power and versatility you need to meet heavy-duty material handling challenges in any high-capacity operation. Toyota’s High-Capacity Core IC Pneumatic has a load capacity of up to 30,000 lbs. and is ideal for lumber, steel, and automotive applications and any application you may need major heavy lifting capacity.

The proper maintenance and handling of forklift batteries is imperative to their longevity. There’s a right way and a wrong way to maintain and handle forklift batteries and doing it properly will ensure your investment is maximized.

One of the most important tasks that face cold room forklift users is the need to reduce condensation on a forklift while in warm temperatures, helping to prevent freezing when re-entering frigid spaces. Freezing can cause inefficient operation and downtime for the forklifts, resulting in lost throughput for the cold operations. A few best practices can help to prevent these inefficiencies, providing maximum use of the forklift fleet while maintaining your return on investment for your capital equipment.

Keeping a warehouse running smoothly and productively is one of the biggest challenges facing business operators across a wide variety of industries. Whether you’re moving pallets full of food, large stacks of tires, or other materials ready for distribution, choosing the right forklift can mean a world of difference in levels of productivity. Toyota’s line of electric material handling equipment is diverse and includes forklifts, electric walkie pallet jacks, electric stackers, order pickers, and reach trucks. All of these options increase your uptime because of low maintenance requirements, drastically cutting the fuel cost of your fleet and producing no fuel exhausts. With lifting capacities ranging from 2,000-17,500 lbs., Toyota offers an electric option for almost any warehousing application. Here are just a few options that help make Toyota your full-line material handling equipment supplier.

Now is the time to buy capital assets. Section 179 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code provides tax benefits for businesses that purchase qualifying equipment, including forklifts. Thanks to the 2017 tax legislation, businesses have been able to deduct a significant amount of 'bonus' depreciation in the year they buy and place an asset into service. In 2023, the maximum depreciation is $1.16 million. Businesses can deduct 80% of the asset in the year you put it into service and must then depreciate the remaining 20% over the asset's life. In 2024, the first-year deduction falls to 60% of the asset price and ultimately falls to 20% in 2026. The takeaway is to maximize that first-year deduction and step up your equipment purchases this year. How to Calculate Your 2023 Section 179 Deduction? The advantage of the Section 179 tax deduction is the ability to increase your upfront tax savings. Your overall savings can vary - the 2023 Section 179 Deduction Calculator can help you estimate your tax savings for 2023. Tax laws and regulations can change, so it's essential to consult with a tax professional or accountant who is up to date with the latest tax codes and can provide guidance specific to your business and tax situation.