A new, independent, national survey in the UK shows Toyota is one of the country's favourite forklift brands.

The 2005 Handling & Storage Survey, by Benchmark Research, involved 300 interviews with chief engineers and warehouse and transport managers. It has 94 per cent of respondents rating Toyota's overall performance as good, very good or excellent.

Respondents cited a forklift's reliability and robustness as the most important performance considerations. According to the survey, the company outscored its competitors by nearly 40 per cent on that point.

TIE managing director Steve Hodkinson said it was excellent that the survey also revealed health and safety was one of the most important considerations in forklift purchase.

"Toyota has been rated higher than the average of all brands in this category, which is testament to our innovative technologies such as SAS (system of active stability) and our dedication to training," he said.