Hallo everyone... Just a general comment. I have been working in the aftermarket spare parts in Europe since 2005, Unfortunately I just lurk about this forum, but find many of the subjects interesting.
One thing that dissapoints me is to see the negativity that seems to be continually directed at Exalt. I feel he is a person with a great deal of knowledge, experience in the MH world and tries to share his insights, thoughts about the future and starts many of the discussions contained in this forum. (being one of the few who do that)
I don't agree with all that is said, predictions, forecasts, rumours or what ever. After all this forum is called 'Industry News and WHISPERS' (I remember whispers as being things people know for certain, have heard, have picked up third hand or first hand,,,, which may actually be a rumour and not always fact.)
All I am trying to say guys, lets all treat other with a bit of respect (instead of having critisism on each spelling mistake or misquote, or something that you don't agree with.... after all nobody is forcing you to read it...) lets discuss!!
Hope by posting this I haven't poked my nose it to much.. (and sorry for any spelling mistakes, but they come free with the festive season and were intentional :) )

I call that a real good case of bird ****, I have only been fired once , BUT I had another job with another dealership that day and drove home in service truck that night. Every body knows everybody in the DFW area, They know the good ones and the not so good ones. I am glad you have stayed in contact with the industry, you always have some really good insight

I call that a real good case of bird ****, I have only been fired once , BUT I had another job with another dealership that day and drove home in service truck that night. Every body knows everybody in the DFW area, They know the good ones and the not so good ones. I am glad you have stayed in contact with the industry, you always have some really good insight

@triumphrider
Understand that as I say to each their own and one makes their own bed lay in it and don't complain when things go south.

Many years ago mid '70s when I was at A-C, had a "small" account called Kroger, Cincinnati , O. Each year Kroger would go out for bid for their annual purchases. Each year, we lost the business by $800/unit.....that was strange. I felt something was going on in the purchase decision chain & it wasn't the purchasing department. Fast forward, we finally got an opportunity to demo equipment for 6 mos. at several locations. I followed the demos like a dog in heat. They all worked just fine. At one location I became close to the operations manager in Columbus, Ohio. One day he asked me to price out some high usage service parts as he wanted to compare our $ vs what the incumbent was charging. One item he picked the Presolite power steering motor that most lift truck companies used in their electric sit downs. Our price to the customer was a little more than $800 less than what the incumbent was charging - hmm - same difference as what we were losing the bid on the annual purchase. We found other similar differences on other parts. Guess what, after 2 years of trying. We finally were awarded the contract. A few years after that the dealer ship who handled the Kroger account went out of business and the person who the incumbent was close to at Kroger corporate was transferred to Texas.
Now I realize that most independent dealers or commission sales would not been able to to what I did - proved two electric with batteries for 6 month demo, sell parts at published list price but I was one of those factory "****" aka District Sales Mgr. w/ National Account responsibilities that could get it done - but my head was on the line. I was brought up with the belief "Give me a half dead bear and I'll do my best to skin 'em" even with my Barlow that I had since I was 12.

No too many years like 3 after that I was fired by AC (economic termination) after 14 years. S _ _ _ Happens.

Johnr j I agree with you but like I said I know of at least 1 dealership that does not seem to care. Their attitude is..........there is a new duck on every corner!

The FLTA (fork lift truck association) have came up with a fear wear and tear guide booklet, i think it was based on the booklets used by Barlow World, they had separate books for light and medium use. I think it is a good idea but doesn't really cover paintwork in much detail. I think most companies would expect a certain amount of paint damage.

If the booklet is issued at the start of the hire at least he knows where he stands if the truck does get damaged.

Having read a report on CO2 Emissions for cars that they have to be under 95Kg of CO2 per Kilometre or the car manufacture would face a 95 euro fine per gram of CO2 over that would translate to just under 1.5 Billion Euros for VW , it make me wonder what would happen if the same was added to forklifts and Reach Stackers

An average Reach Stacker would produce around 52Kg of CO2 per Hour and an average 8 ton forklift would produce around 28Kg of CO2 Now if this was lowered to say 35Kg of CO2 Per hour for a reach stacker and say 19Kg of CO2 per hour for a 8 ton forklift how would the OEM'S per form.


Would this see the increase of the development of all electric forklifts or 100% zero emission forklifts and Container handling equipment.

Most of the top OEM'S now have electric forklift up to 8 ton and Doosan will soon have an electric truck in this range.

Knowing that tier VI is causing problems for diesel forklift OEM'S and will slow the market down over the next couple of years would this cause even more problems

@triumphrider
That type of short term profit taking policy only opens up the door wide for their competition. Most dealer allow for normal wear & tear - damage/abuse is another matter

I know of a couple of companies that paint, replace all decals, replace seats, hoses, tires anything that is wearable when a unit comes in from rental /lease. I do mean a complete paint job. The unit is to be in the same condition as when it left their dealership, you want to see a customer blood pressure go to unheard of levels be around when they get the final invoice for their FULL lease with maintence.

Just a couple of points on the above,

One person did reply saying that some companies will hire at a low rate then hit the customer with high repair cost for damage to the truck.

An other post un related to this was about damage to a hire truck. the person put before and after photos of a hire truck, before it left their premises it was like a fully reconditioned truck, it was placed on hire and when it was returned it was full of mud the ballast weight had big groves and scratches in the paint work, Now this company would have to re paint the ballast and clean the truck before it went back on hire so is it fair that they charge for this work.

As they did point out if a customer hired a car form say Hertz and returned it covered in mud with a big dent in the boot they would have to pay for the damage

I agree that the next tier engines will see more customers look at electric trucks or gas trucks as against diesel trucks,

But seen this and thought it was quite interesting its a post by some one on how the market in the UK has changed and one of many replies


Just found this rental quote from 1990 while having an office clear out and it just shows how stupid the materials handling industry has become in giving away machines at ridiculous rates, 3 ton diesel, pretty standard spec, 7 year deal at £105.41 per week! We now see companies putting trucks out at nearly half the rate on 5 year deals nearly 20 years later, anyone can get deals by giving machines away, that's not selling, but what's the point in working for nothing, all of our costs and truck prices have gone up but our rates have gone down.


I was told that you got the cost of the forklift back after 3 years of rental, not the case now. I think that the manufacturers that don't use a dealer network have a surplus of machines due to hitting factory production targets. Hence they get they but then at cost plus a bit (inter company transfer) and just get them out at any price. Cheap Chinese trucks don't help. But neither are going away so you have to re-model your business and maximise all your profit centres. Servicing, repairs, keep your fleet healthy and win every hire you can. There are still some good rates out there.

Just two comments to make.
In relation to the diesel market. We have the next tier engine due and rumours are that they will be much more expensive so customers have a choice. Do nothing and keep their old forklift or change to a cleaner version which is either diesel or gas. this might be a culture shock to some customers.

I don't think Mitsubishi will take on another brand. They still have not figured out what to do with the Uni Carriers since they took them over.

might or mite (both pronounced the same way) = a very, very small insect

Having seen the new Heli G3 series forklift could this be a challenger to the Korean OEM's Hyundai, Doosan and Clark might we see some consolidation with Korean OEM's, and might this see komatsu joining the MCFA TCM Nissan organisation

Totally agree with you John

exhalt - in reply to your inquiry I offer these responses Yes, Possibly or Maybe - everyone is for sale at the right price. Speculation on what will or might happen produces rumors. Best not to speculate - it can get one in trouble. In other words - Speculation = "That dog don't hunt". Worked for Mitsubishi (MCFA & MDI -a Mitsubishi Corporation company - a trading company - that introduced the Mitsubishe F/L line to the US and Mexico markets in the States. The President of MDI(from Japan) frequently reminded us a good business policy that went something like this. "Rumors are rumors, facts are facts, deal with the facts, never a rumor."
Rumors are only allowed in the newspapers, politics, Hollywood and at gatherings at the company water fountain.

Well the best things are worth the wait, but this post is about do people think there is a market slow down and will this result in consolidation in forklift OEM's

Will this be like the Superlift and you will just keep talking about it for years hoping someday it will come true?

Most definitely slow this season

During most up cycles sales of new equipment keeps most dealers going strong installing new equipment and doing warranty repairs / service. During most down turns instead of replacing equipment more is spent keeping equipment going instead of replacement. Most end users know this from experience. They will spend more on things that would not be repaired but replaced in an up turn. Smart management budget spend as much unspent budget funds as possible to prevent funding cuts in the new year. Upper management looks at it like this , if you did not need it last year you do not need it this year. I know I had it happen to me before