• As with road vehicles, return loads are key to
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achieving the greatest efficiency with fork-lifts. A truck performing a single pallet movement, potentially across hundreds of yards, then driving the other way empty is a waste of the resource. Developing systems for double and triple cycles will make for much better usage and, if taken to its logical conclusion, a lower cost per pallet moved.
• It will also help to store pallets sensibly. This means keeping fast-moving product lines down low within the racking, and closest to whichever end of the warehouse they will be dispatched from.
• In choosing what type of trucks to run and how to lay out the warehouse, ask potential suppliers for help. Many offer computer simulation services for free that can help determine the most efficient combinations and layouts. And once you've got the trucks, always try to use the right one for the
job. Don't use a masted truck for a simple pallet movement outside racking if there is a smaller truck available.
• Bear in mind that, with electric trucks, battery charging will be a regular requirement. Plan for this. You will need the space for recharging operations as well as the appropriate charging equipment, and enough time between shifts for a proper charge. Depending on your uptime requirements, it will probably make sense to have at least one spare battery for each truck.
• Keep an eye on driver productivity. Many fork-lift suppliers offer microprocessor-driven systems on trucks that will tell you, rather like a road vehicle's tachograph, exactly how the truck has been driven and how long it has spent travelling, lifting or idle under each driver.
• Get trucks properly serviced at the right time and follow approved safety practices.