Lift Truck Tips: Teaching an old lift truck new tricks

Newer lift trucks boast an assortment of design features and technology aimed at improving operator comfort in their mobile office. But for those fleets made up of older units, there are a number of ways to improve ergonomics, productivity and operator satisfaction without replacing a lift truck outright.

The appropriately named Susan Comfort, product manager for The Raymond Corp., says no detail is too small when working to improve the operator’s safety and productivity. A thorough cleaning is a good starting point, including the removal of any stickers. A new seat might be in order if the existing one is worn or torn. Updated tires or wheels can improve the ride, and eliminating any hanging papers, screens or other attachments should create better visibility for the operator.

Next, it’s time to start looking at what additional things an operator will need to be most effective in the specific environment of the application. A cooling fan can do wonders in a warm environment, much like a few lights can make life easier in a dark one. For rider-up applications, Comfort advises reviewing the advances (and new regulations) for fall protection equipment. Features like retractable tethers can enhance mobility during day-to-day work while reducing the severity of injuries in the event of a fall. Whatever the environment, Comfort identifies three must-haves that will be almost universally beneficial.

With the increase in the number of accessories and materials an operator will need onboard, dedicated storage trays can help organize items like pens, coffee, shrink wrap and RF scanners. Second, side-shifters are very useful and create a direct increase in productivity, Comfort says. Third, a fork-tip laser guide is a big help whether working at height or ground level. “A laser guide gets more useful the futher a pallet is from the operator,” says Comfort, “but even on the ground, you’re trying to put a 1.5-inch fork through a 3-inch opening. If that is made easier, that operator will be more productive.”

And while a radio or other music player might boost spirits, it is more often a distraction that can compromise safety, Comfort says. To help ensure operators will embrace any changes, it is often valuable to solicit their input from the beginning.

“They are the ones who know what it takes to get the job done. They’re also the highest cost element of moving a pallet, so making them more effective is important,” says Comfort, who adds that ergonomic considerations are much more commonly discussed than in the past. “Customers realize it is important and becoming more so,” she says. “They are forming cross-functional trams including operators and managers to evaluate new equipment or accessories. Better than half of the time, the decision is made based on ergonomics and operator feedback.”