The Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) has awarded Most Valuable Partner (MVP) status to Eastern Lift Truck Co Inc.

The forklift distributor, based in Maple Shade, New Jersey, becomes the 22nd MHEDA member to qualify for the award.

"Companies are using the MVP award to brand themselves for their customers," says Kathy Cotter, membership coordinator for MHEDA in Vernon Hills.

MHEDA launched the MVP program at its convention in May 2011. MHEDA does not charge a fee for the process but does require that an applicant provide letters of recommendations from customers, an indication of willingness to invest in employees' training and evidence of best business practices and good supplier relationships. The program is available only to MHEDA distributor members.

"The MVP status is further validation that our long-standing commitment to excellence has been noticed and appreciated by our customers, suppliers and peers," says Mike Pruitt, president of Eastern Lift Truck. The firm has business roots back to 1971, employs more than 500 staff and operates at 12 locations in the US mid-Atlantic region.
Fewer than 5% of the association's members hold the award.

MVP members will receive special recognition at a general session during MHEDA's 2013 convention on 4-8 May at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Hotel in Palm Desert, California. "We encourage them to wear their MVP (lapel) pins" and MVP badge ribbons, Cotter notes.

In some MVP firms, the sales force uses the designation as a way to differentiate the business from other vendors.

A distributor can apply for MVP status at any time during a year, with MHEDA recognising the achievement in the next calendar year.

American Warehouse Systems was the first recipient of the MVP designation.