When peak season hits — your forklifts are pushed to their limits. With inventory replenishment, order picking, slotting, shipping and receiving operations at full capacity, it is a race against time to meet demands. Especially if your materials handling fleet is performing poorly or too small for the task at hand. Barclay has your back with our expert team of qualified service technicians to perform operational maintenance and pre-emptive repairs on your fleet as well as seasonal forklift rentals, designed to bridge the gap for this short but critical time of year, ensuring your operations continue running smoothly. If your operation feels the pressure of seasonality, this guide is your ticket to a stress-free peak season.
For peak season planning consider managing the busiest periods of the year for your warehouse to avoid breakdowns, industrial battery and charging equipment failures or short fleet size for higher demand periods.
Plan your forklift rental with our peak season forklift guide for efficient results. Contact us today at Barclay to book your forklifts on time.
Peak Season Maintenance Tips
There are three service initiatives to consider:
- Preventative Maintenance – Perform complete preventive maintenance on all equipment prior to ramp up time. Like your automobile, lift trucks need regular operational maintenance to maintain high level performance.
- Pre-emptive Repairs – Identify and repair any immediate issues that may cause an impact to your fleet productivity. If you are proactive with repairs, it will help to avoid unnecessary and costly breakdowns down the road.
- Motive Power Inspections – Perform an inspection of all industrial batteries and charging equipment. Identify bad cells, underperforming or aging equipment that may require repair or even replacement.
Plan For Your Seasonal Forklift Rental Requirements Like A Pro
Success during peak season starts with smart planning. Here’s how to nail your seasonal forklift rental needs:
- Dive Into Last Year’s Data: Look back at last year’s forklift fleet utilization and performance. What worked? What did not? This analysis is your roadmap to a more efficient rental strategy this year. Identify mechanical issues, integration challenges, and any gaps in your existing fleet.
- Are There Any Major Changes From Last Year? Look at your upcoming peak period and ask yourself, “Has anything changed in my operation this year that will impact my equipment needs?”
- Forecast Your Needs: With insights from last year, estimate how many and what types of forklifts you will need. If certain models were in high demand, make sure to have more of those ready for action this year.
Book Ahead: Peak season in your industry means everyone is after the same equipment. Secure your rentals early to ensure you get the best-performing units without any last-minute worry.
Maximize Forklift Productivity During Peak Season
Improve operational performance with your warehouse equipment using these fleet management strategies:
- Safety First: Barclay performs a comprehensive safety inspection of each machine prior to delivery, insuring it hits your facility Ready To Go.
- Match Forklifts to Tasks: Assign each forklift to the job it does best. The right equipment match boosts efficiency, productivity and reduces unexpected breakdowns.
- Pre-Season Maintenance: Get your existing fleet in top shape before the peak season starts. This ensures your team has safe, 100% ready-to-use top-performing forklifts from day one and throughout your busy season.
In weighing compact forklifts versus narrow aisle forklifts, the chief consideration is the facility’s current storage density. A compact forklift will still move fairly quickly thanks to its three-wheel design, while a narrow aisle lift truck or VNA being more geared toward pallet or product retrieval makes it less efficient for more general activities.
Secure Your Best Seasonal Forklift Rentals with Barclay
At Barclay, we are the one stop “Material Handling Solutions Specialist,” offering a wide variety of forklifts, hydraulic lift truck attachments, racking and anything else you would need to run your warehouse in the most efficient cost reducing way from a manufacturer and dealer you can trust.
Count on us for a solid selection of material handling equipment to enhance your forklift fleet productivity and overall business. Contact us today for a free consultation and take advantage of our forklift rental services and specials.
