10th Nov 2013

How to look after your Pallet Truck.

Where pallet trucks are concerned, regular maintenance is of paramount importance.

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Keeping your pallet truck in good working order always goes a long way in ensuring your employees are kept safe. Damaged or faulty wheels, frame, electrics and hydraulics can all have serious consequences and can leave you dealing with hefty fines, keep yourself covered!


These factors not only affect regular pallet trucks but also stackers, high lifters, lift tables, electric pallet trucks and any other piece of equipment.


Ensure a thorough examination of ALL lifting and handling equipment takes place at least once a year.  This is not the same as a pallet truck service which is the actual work undertaken. A Thorough Examination is more like an MOT on your equipment. Knowing all of your materials handling equipment has been checked, be it standard pallet truck or electric stacker is fully certified and your obligation to look after Health and Safety in the workplace.


Checklists are the key to preventative maintenance. We can't expect our team to prioritise maintenance without reminders. By developing a series of required inspection documents, we emphasize the care of company assets.
Break the checklist down to functional areas: fluids, lights and signals, tires, etc. If you are unsure about the items on the list, consult the dealer who sold you the truck. They can help advise you on preventative maintenance. If necessary, pay for someone to come in and train your people. By the way, having an outside vendor come in and perform regular maintenance is perfectly acceptable. I guarantee they are working from a checklist.

Some of you may be raising an eyebrow reading this, all pallet trucks are critical pieces of material handling equipment? You try moving a keg of hex nuts without one.