Terminal Tractors

Cal-Lift Achieves Premier Partner Status with Kalmar Ottawa for 2022

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We are proud to announce that we have achieved Premier Partner Status with Kalmar Ottawa for 2022. We are equally proud to represent American-made Kalmar Ottawa Terminal Tractors and Yard Spotters.

Kalmar sets a high bar for product sales, service, parts and customer service for their users and we are pleased that our team has met these objectives and service parameters.

We will continue to strive to provide our customers with the right Kalmar product for their unique applications and back it up with superior service and parts. Visit our Kalmar showroom to learn more about their line-up. The Kalmar Ottawa T2 has set the bar even higher providing the optimal terminal tractor for your operation. All Kalmar Ottawa’s are built at the US manufacturing plant in Ottawa, Kansas. Along with being the original manufacturer of terminal tractors, Kalmar Ottawa was the first to offer machines with an automatic transmission, a rear door entry, integral air conditioning units, power cab tilt and ABS brake systems. Kalmar Ottawa terminal tractors were also the first on the market to receive DOT/EPA certification – a paramount classification for distribution and industrial customers whose operation entails shunting trailers between yards via public streets and roadways. 

We value and appreciate all our great employees and customers that made this possible.

When is it Time to Update Your Equipment?

Barry Material Handling Equipment, New Forklifts , , ,

Even a well-maintained forklift fleet needs to be replaced at some point in time. Knowing exactly when can be a difficult thing to ascertain. Industry averages reveal that somewhere between 8,000 hours and 10,000 hours of use is when you’re going to reach an optimal point to replace your forklifts. Some questions to ask to help determine if it is time include:

  • What type of operation does each forklift perform each day? Does your forklift face harsh conditions like heat, dust, rough terrain or any other condition that would put undue stress on the engine, transmission or hydraulics?
  • Is your forklift put to the test each and every lift, lower and transport? Does it handle its maximum capacity more than half the time, or less?
  • Does your forklift do a lot of starting, stopping and backing up? Does it frequently conduct long runs in large open areas?
  • Have you adequately maintained the equipment using a regularly scheduled Planned Maintenance Program?
  • How has the cost of repairs for each unit changed over the past two to three years? A dramatic increase in repairs (not normal planned maintenance or normal wear parts) can indicate that you’re spending more than you should on repairs. A cost-per-hour analysis may be in order.

The not-so-obvious costs associated with worn forklifts is downtime, lost productivity and the short-term cost of replacing them with rentals. These costs may not show up on a unit’s cost per hour, but they are costs nonetheless. Keeping count of rentals due to downtime and repairs is essential in determining replacement, as new forklifts will all but eliminate your rentals due to downtime.

There are other reasons that may eliminate the guesswork and actually require you to replace your aging fleet:

  • Safety features are outdated and cannot be updated properly. For example, safety requirements may change and a new safety harness system would replace traditional seatbelts. Also, if safety options have improved fleet safety and the cost to update them would be prohibitive, it would be a good time to consider replacement.
  • If your forklifts are exhibiting signs of unsafe operating conditions like hydraulic failure, equipment shaking or jerking or leaking components, it’s likely time to replace the units.

Another reason to consider updating your forklift fleet are improvements in technology, hardware or performance. For example, now that electric forklifts have become more powerful and reliable outdoors, it could be a great time to consider replacing your IC forklifts.

As you can see, looking at the hour meter is not the sole solution that it used to be to consider replacement. We would be glad to consult with you to assess your fleet condition and help you determine if now is a good time to consider your forklift fleet retirement or replacement. Check out our line-up of new forklifts and terminal tractors, then give us a call at 800-322-5438 for a demo and quote.