Toyota Material Handling USA Inc (TMHU) has launched a broad-based program for forklift fleet management including procurement, use and service. Some other forklift makers and aftermarket providers in the United States also offer such programs.

The reinvigorated program, called the Toyota Fleet Solution, focuses on fleet analysis, consolidated billing, fleet metrics system, a 24/7 toll-free call center and a customisable Toyota TotalFleet component. The elements are available individually or in combination with the proprietary TotalFleet flagship product.

"We want to provide our customers with the best possible fleet management program so that they can better run their businesses," says Shankar Basu, president and CEO of Irvine-based TMHU.

The data-driven, comprehensive approach to fleet management is designed to create long-term partnerships and deliver better bottom-line business performance for users.

The program incorporates a SAP-driven fleet metrics system and underscores the value of measuring fleet management through performance over time.

TMHU supplanted a less comprehensive fleet solution originating about 15 years ago and rolled out the new program to its dealerships in June. "We have not put anything on that system yet," says Jonathan Greven, sales contact with dealership W.D. Matthews Machinery Co in Auburn, Maine. "None of the other manufacturers we represent have a program." The Matthews dealership, which also has sites in Concord, New Hampshire, and Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, sells Clark, Doosan, Manitou, Combilift, JCB, Genie and JLG lifting equipment in addition to its TMHU line.

Crown Equipment Corp, Nissan Forklift Corp North America, Raymond Corp and Yale Materials Handling Corp are among other USA forklift manufacturers offering specialised fleet management services.

Crown of New Bremen, Ohio, offers a wireless InfoLink System for monitoring fleet truck usage and performance and has a FleetStats program for service tracking, accounting and tactical support.

Nissan of Marengo, Illinois, has its web-based Fleetraxx fleet management system with components for tracking equipment, usage, operating costs and maintenance scheduling.

Raymond of Greene, New York, offers a fleet management program that includes regular fleet surveys, analyses and reporting steps. Toyota owns Raymond, but the separate businesses operate independently.

Yale of Greenville, North Carolina, has fleet management analysis guaranteeing cost savings, fleet right-sizing techniques and collaboration with Yale's in-house leasing and financing services.

Among aftermarket providers, BEB Fleet Source Group LLC, formerly BEB Software Systems Inc, has offered fleet management software for almost 20 years. BEB's primary software products are QuoteMaster, PMFleet Plus and PMFleet.com. The Kansas City, Missouri, firm provides back office support for online fleet tracking, bill paying and planning, scheduling and performance tracking.

"The forklift industry is demanding our kind of service," says Jason Bratton, BEB Fleet Source vice president. "We are a third-party, unbiased service provider."

BEB Fleet Source collaborates on forklift leasing matters with Industrial Fleet Management Inc of Forest Hill, Maryland, and, for accessing aftermarket forklift parts, Diversified Industrial Solutions of Lenexa, Kansas.