A closer look at fleet management practices

When times were good, lift trucks and their associated costs didn’t inspire much scrutiny. These warehouse workhorses chugged along, dropped in and out of the maintenance bay, and were replaced every so often by newer, shinier models.

Lately, as many savvy warehouse/DC mangers have keenly noticed, current business conditions tend to reward those who apply a magnifying glass to each and every nook. According to Scott McLeod, president of Fleetman Consulting, Inc., an independent forklift fleet management company, fleet management practices are about due for their moment in the spotlight.

If McLeod is right, and if the assortment of third-party offerings is any indication, site managers and corporate number crunchers will find their warehouse workhorses could stand to slim down. Old habits die hard, but McLeod says he’s confident that a thoughtful examination of fleets of all sizes will yield dividends for most organizations.