Because Columbia vehicles are so much more than a golf cart, our team of highly qualified engineers are passionate about ensuring each component in a Columbia vehicle is energy efficient and ready to safely move you and your team. Their dedication makes owning and operating a Columbia vehicle a breeze with its sophisticated simplicity!

Here are 5 complex Columbia vehicle elements, simplified:

• The Controller -  Our controllers contain advanced software technology for a smoother ride. Driving a Columbia vehicle feels like driving the car that took you to work today!
• Energy Storage - High-efficiency lead acid batteries allow for more energy to make its way to the Controller and then for most of that energy to be transferred to the drive system. Columbia also now offers a lithium battery option in our Utilitruck! Lithium batteries  increase performance and put your mind at ease; with its advanced technology, the controller for our lithium batteries will alert you when energy storage is low instead of unexpectedly losing power completely! Lithium is also maintenance-free, unlike standard batteries that need just a bit more attention. All of our vehicle options allow you to conveniently plug directly into a standard outlet for easy battery charging on the go.
• The Drivetrain - Responsible for delivering power from the battery to the wheels, Columbia endeavors to have an advanced understanding of the drivetrain duty cycle to help you choose the best vehicle to match your job!
• Speed Sensitive Power Steering* - While it may not be seen as an essential to some, this complex feature under the hood makes your life easier by delivering only the assist you need, providing you with maximum steering response and driving stability.
• Safety - The most important vehicle elements under the hood are our safety features. The Columbia team strives to be the safest on the market! Top safety features are brake lights, automatic parking brake, back-up camera, and charger anti-drive-away interlock, which prevents the vehicle from being driven away while actively charging. These features are in place to keep you and your team safe on the job!

Columbia’s Engineering Research and Development department is constantly working to innovate and introduce new products and services, while striving to implement the latest technology in battery charging. Looking to the future, we will continue to evaluate the evolution of energy storage and look for advanced charging solutions beyond lithium.

The takeaway? Columbia has a sophisticated vehicle to make any job you throw at it, simple. Contact our team at info@columbiausa.com to find out what Columbia can do to simplify your workload! Or locate one of our exceptional dealers at http://hubs.ly/Q01nQ2730.

All features mentioned in this article may not be available on all models. 

While their use is rising in popularity, many common misunderstandings still surround electric forklifts. Electric forklifts are low-emission vehicles powered by an electric battery that also serves as the counterweight. Toyota Electric Forklifts can utilize either lead-acid or lithium-ion batteries, depending on the need of the buyer.

If you open yourself up to the idea of utilizing electric forklifts, you can see how the following misconceptions are easily dismissed.

Electric Forklift Misunderstandings

ELECTRIC FORKLIFTS DON’T OFFER THE SAME PERFORMANCE AS AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE FORKLIFT.

One of the most common misconceptions associated with electric forklifts is that they do not provide the same high-level performance as internal combustion (IC) engine forklifts. However, specific electric models are made to operate with similar performance to internal combustion forklifts.

High voltage electric models are equipped to perform comparably to their IC counterparts. Higher voltage translates to more power, meaning you can benefit from increased travel, lift, and acceleration speeds. Built with a lift capacity ranging from 4,000-11,000 lbs., the Toyota 80V Pneumatic forklift has the strength, speed, durability, and reliability needed to perform in tough environments such as concrete and oil and gas, while minimizing emissions.

COST OF OPERATING AND MAINTAINING THE EQUIPMENT IS TOO EXPENSIVE.

Another misunderstanding about these lifts is that operation and maintenance costs are too extravagant. In addition, some view the upfront cost of the forklift battery to be too costly.

However, over time they require less maintenance due to having fewer components than their IC counterparts. These lifts can also have a longer lifespan, allowing owners to maintain and use their forklift for longer periods of time.

To maintain an IC forklift, items such as filters and oil will need to be replaced with use. However, electric forklifts do not have these components, which can reduce maintenance and labor costs. Electricity also typically costs less per kilowatt-hour to operate, resulting in a reduced cost of operation. This can lead to significant ROI for your business.

ELECTRIC FORKLIFTS CANNOT OPERATE OUTDOORS.

The misunderstanding that electric forklifts cannot operate outdoors may stop many businesses from purchasing them. Many industries, including construction, general manufacturing, and block and pipe, need forklifts to work outside while carrying heavy loads.

Toyota produces specific forklift models that can operate indoors and outdoors, like the 80V Pneumatic Forklift. It offers low-maintenance and low emissions while supporting rugged, outdoor, traditionally IC applications.

ELECTRIC FORKLIFTS CANNOT LIFT AS MUCH AS INTERNAL COMBUSTION FORKLIFTS.

Not only is this incorrect, but it can hinder buyers from converting their fleet from IC to electric. Toyota electric forklifts have a lift capacity of up to 40,000 lbs. And they are designed and tested to safely lift their maximum capacity to a designated lift height, similar to their IC counterparts.

Electric forklifts continue to grow in popularity and are being utilized in a variety of industries. 

At Toyota, we understand the importance of maintaining a highly productive operation all while instilling a culture of safety in your facility. You need to be able to move product quickly while keeping your operators comfortable and secure. To help you accomplish all of your business’s goals, Toyota has designed the latest technologies to help you keep your eye on the prize and move your operation forward. Enter Toyota Assist. Toyota Assist is a robust family of features and options that work together to actively or passively assist certain operations in regards to operability, productivity, or situational awareness.

It is our goal to bring you individualized material handling solutions to help your operation reach unparalleled success. Let’s dive into the different aspects of Toyota Assist and how they may be able to help you take your operation to the next level.

Operator Benefits of Toyota Assist

LOAD HANDLING

At Toyota we don’t just meet the bare minimum. We go beyond what is expected and put the operator at the forefront of our work. At the core of the many safety elements built into our forklifts is our proprietary System of Active Stability™ (SAS). This revolutionizing and industry-leading forklift technology minimizes the likelihood of tip-over, reducing the risk for operators and those around them. When the system detects a situation that could lead to instability, it instantly engages the swing lock cylinder to stabilize the rear axle – changing the forklift’s stability footprint from triangular to a rectangular shape.

PUTTING YOU IN CONTROL

While some operators are content with using the same bells and whistles they’ve grown accustomed to over the years, there are many new technologies available that may make their lives easier, as well as make the tasks more comfortable. Toyota’s EZ Fingertip Controls put productivity at the forefront by placing all hydraulic controls in an ergonomic pattern that can be reached with minimal hand movement. Thanks to an included horn button and forward/reverse directional switch, operators can conveniently maintain one hand on the steering wheel while allowing the other hand to control all necessary functions outside of braking and travel. This intuitive design helps with operator comfort, and controls can be customized to manipulate up to five hydraulic functions, including clamp release interlock.

AWARENESS HEIGHTENED

While moving products from point A to point B is important, Toyota has engineered state-of-the-art stereoscopic vision technologies that can assist operators in identifying pedestrians or objects behind the forklift during a shift. The SEnS Smart Environment Sensor™ (SEnS) pedestrian detection system uses stereoscopic vision technology to assist operators by differentiating between some pedestrians and objects, and providing visual and audible alerts within the detection zone. Along with SEnS, the 360 camera system gives the operator a bird’s eye view of your forklift to assist in navigating tight environments. SEnS is available as an add-on kit that can be retrofitted for select existing and new Toyota forklift models.

In addition to SEnS, Toyota has developed the Smart Environment Sensor Plus® (SEnS+), which not only detects pedestrians or objects behind the forklift, but it limits the movement of the forklift by automatically slowing down the equipment when pedestrians and/or objects are detected. With dynamic zoning, SEnS+ adjusts the range of detection based on the speed and steering direction of the forklift. If the forklift is moving faster, the zone is expanded to account for potential, upcoming obstacles further away, up to 32 feet.

LOGICALLY PRODUCTIVE FOR PRECISE PICKING

At Toyota, our solutions are loaded with features to tackle your unique tasks and keep your operation moving forward. Toyota’s Lift Logic option is a productivity-enhancing solution for the most demanding, high-throughput, order picking applications. Lift Logic continuously monitors the height of the forks, and adjusts speed accordingly. This allows for the maximum speed appropriate for any height in its range.

Adding these features to your equipment can offer many long-term benefits to your operation. While meeting current demands can feel like a daunting and difficult task, it doesn’t have to be. We’re here to make life easier.

Autonomous vehicles like AGVs (automated guided vehicles) and AMRs (autonomous mobile robots) are cost-effective, flexible, and reliable alternatives to conventional material transport methods like forklifts or static conveyors.

Unlike some automation options where automating means completely replacing a process or equipment with an entirely new structure, it’s common that individual AVs (autonomous vehicles) are added and removed as workflow requires, allowing you to see both manual and automated equipment working side by side.

In general, what makes autonomous vehicle integration successful is rooted in thoughtful planning for how it will be incorporated into your operation. How do you prepare to incorporate autonomous vehicles in a way that would improve your operation’s productivity without creating unintentional downtime?

Discover some key factors to consider when balancing both autonomous and manual vehicles in your operations.

Key Autonomous Vehicle Operation Considerations

1. SAFETY

First and foremost is safety. Make sure that your staff is aware of the different moving vehicles or traffic patterns. This can be accomplished through updated employee training plans which should capture new and updated pathways, new lights, indicators or alert sounds, and vehicle right of way. Additionally, stress the importance of keeping pathways clear and the risks of disregarding the rules.

Through recent advancements in safety controllers, AVs of all types offer a safe and predictable method of delivery. AMRs can leverage dynamic path planning to safely move around obstacles and avoid interferences, requiring no human intervention. AGVs can safely detect obstacles but require external intervention like a human individual to remove the obstacle before they can proceed.

In general, autonomous vehicles can operate almost around the clock, without the need for breaks, which means that human traffic and traditional forklift operators will need to be aware of these continuous pathways.

While all AGVs and AMRs go through thorough testing before being incorporated into live operations, hand paddles can be kept on hand to test vehicle sensors in between maintenance checks. By placing the paddle in front of the vehicle’s pathway, your team members can safely verify that sensors will trigger the appropriate automatic stop.

2. WAREHOUSE FACILITY AND OPERATION LAYOUT

Unlike most automated material handling systems that are locked into place, AGVs and AMRs provide flexibility by being able to program new routes/missions on demand. However, there are a few key conditions that will help ensure robust navigation from destination to destination.

1. Flat floors – by contrast steep grades, uneven concrete, and large cracks will reduce the successful mission rate.

2. Defined travel paths –  pathways should be clear of obstructions and wide enough to provide the right amount of clearance for the vehicle and the loads it’ll carry or pull. Also, ensure that paths don’t interfere with other manual material handling solutions.

3. Navigation selection –  determine guidance and navigation system to be used. Vehicles that use vision or natural features navigation require little to no infrastructure because they operate by referencing existing features so carefully analyze if your environment is right for this technology. Navigation selection can be compared to “choosing the right tool for the job” so consider which technology fits best in your operations.

3. SOFTWARE INTEGRATION

Leverage fleet or traffic management software to monitor your operations. Tight integration with the warehouse operation host system and WES (warehouse execution system) will help bring together your material handling solutions and operation needs to better drive productivity, facilitate coordination and promote safer work environments. This will specifically help with task scheduling triggering vehicles to move throughout the warehouse to complete tasks. It can also help with route planning to determine movements, avoid traffic, and better utilize warehouse space.

4. WAREHOUSE TRAFFIC

In addition to considering the facility’s defined pathways and updating safety training, consider traffic pattern changes as a whole. Where will automated, human, and manual vehicle traffic overlap? Is it required to overlap, or can pathways be adjusted? Confirm each vehicle’s speed, automated and manual. Should additional safety sensors be added to avoid collisions? Work through these questions to make necessary adjustments.

Sometimes an AV system is considered after a process is already in place. With this being the case, it’s important to carefully consider when the changeover or addition of an AV could take place at your facility. Carefully plan the timing and season of operations to reduce backlogs during implementation.

Versatile Automation that Scales

The applications of AGVs and AMRs are expanding as customers become more accustomed to the capabilities and benefits that these autonomous vehicles can bring to operations. The flexibility and easy scalability to quickly add in a vehicle with little to no facility modifications and familiarity with a standard forklift style and design make these an attractive solution option. Keeping in mind and balancing for dual equipment types – manual and automated – will only help to ensure that both bring the most benefits to your operation on your timeframe. Avoid disrupting operations and make integration seamless with the above steps.

Ready to explore solutions for improved efficiency? Let us guide you on your automation journey. By combining data-driven designs, scalable material handling systems, and innovative software, our experts are ready to help you plan and execute.

Columbia’s Industrial lineup meets the requirements of numerous tasks for distribution centers and warehouses. Models like the Payloader, Expediter, and Stockchaser serve key purposes for material handlers. Not only are they built for specific tasks, but the versatility offered will streamline your fleet to maximize efficiency in your warehouse. Combine these adaptive and intuitive models with Columbia’s resources for innovation and customization and you’ve got a fleet-building ability you’ve only dreamed of!

Versatile Forklift Alternatives

Columbia’s industrial vehicles are engineered to close the gap between your forklifts or larger vehicles and a simple dolly or cart. While forklifts embody the performance needed for many jobs, their bulky profile can prove dangerous in congested, narrow spaces, especially with the compromised visibility of a forklift operator. Additionally, you may find limitations in maneuverability with traditional forklifts. That’s where Columbia comes in. Our lineup is designed to fulfill the tasks that forklifts may not complete. Whether you are adding maneuverable compliments to your forklift fleets or replacing them entirely, Columbia has you covered!

Stockchaser

The Stockchaser’s DNA is built on maneuverability through small aisles while providing maximum cargo space and capacity. The large deck can be utilized for your heavy loads or for stacking/sorting products efficiently. If the Stockchaser fills your needs for a narrow vehicle, you can also utilize it for your towing needs with a towing capacity of up to 6,000 pounds! 

Expediter

The Expediter punches above its’ weight class, and is capable of much more than you might think! Though space is limited, versatility and productivity are maximized with the optional flip-down passenger seat, rated capacity up to 750 pounds, and towing capacity up to 1,000 pounds!

Payloader

The robust Payloader offers maximum power in Columbia’s lineup and seamlessly bridges the gap between your forklift fleet and your smaller machinery or manual handling equipment. When you’re moving goods horizontally, the Payloader is the ideal, safe vehicle with more visibility offered than bulkier material handlers. The Payloader is offered in several configurations to address your specific requirements, but with maximum rated load capacities of up 4,000 pounds and up to 18,000 pounds towing capacity, you’ll be hauling your largest loads, all while maintaining greater maneuverability than your traditional material handling equipment. 

Build Your Perfect Fleet

With decades of experience providing flexible material handling solutions, Columbia’s lineup has evolved to be intuitive to the general needs of warehouses; however, if you find additional demands for your team's fleet, Columbia’s Custom-Engineered Solutions program is ready to cater a fleet to your exact work! From minor options or features, to completely customized equipment storage

New here? Let us introduce you to one of the best kept secrets in the industry. Not so new or maybe a part of the Columbia Vehicle Group fan club? Let's touch base on what's so special about this transportation workhorse.

Created with versatility in mind, Columbia’s Journeyman is truly Built For Work. Out performing all of its competitors and holding the longest run time in the industry, the Journeyman has the curb appeal for every application, whether it be for a luxury resort or for large scale manufacturing. With an incredibly smooth ride, the Journeyman’s  suspension provides the ergonomics necessary to keep you moving comfortably all day long across various tasks.

Why do we know you’ll love the Journeyman? Because it comes loaded with so many standard features! From the 4-wheel hydraulic braking system and automatic parking brake to the integrated rear bumper, radial tires, and 3-point safety seatbelt, the Journeyman is packed with features straight off the line, making you feel like you're driving a full sized vehicle. 

To help light your way, the Journeyman comes equipped with high/low beam headlights, tail and brake lights,  emergency flashers, and dome light. Self canceling turn signals allow you to safely indicate your direction. Charge your Journeyman with ease using the on board charger. Simply plug in to any available standard outlet between stops.

Do you need a street legal LSV vehicle? Equipped with a rear-view camera, the Journeyman’s got your back. Add on a drop-side cargo box or our ever-popular rear-facing back seat option and watch how easily your guest transportation vehicle turns into the most important grounds and maintenance support vehicle in your fleet. And with 8 different seating configurations, the Journeyman allows you the ability to customize your vehicle to accommodate whatever your passenger seating needs may be. Carrying just two passengers or 8, Journeyman’s AC drive allows you to do so without loss of power while getting you where you need to go. Even uphill! Both ways. In the snow. 

Columbia’s Journeyman is more than your everyday golf cart. With its mixture of standard features, vast capabilities, and competitive pricing, the Journeyman represents something unlike anything else on the market - a tremendous value! Visit Columbia’s Journeyman Page to set up a vehicle demonstration and learn even more about what the Journeyman can do to increase your productivity today!

A Toyota Reach Truck for Indoor and Outdoor Applications

Do you spend most of your day outside in a lumberyard or inside a rugged warehouse? Maybe you are required to work inside and outside? Many material handling trucks are not equipped to work indoors and outdoors or durable enough to work in a rugged indoor facility. You may think that a quick trip outside is harmless but repeat use of indoor trucks outside is not only harmful to your operators, but also your trucks. The buildup of dirt and debris and exposure to elements like rain and snow can wreak havoc on forklifts and their components, which leads to more downtime for repairs. Submitting your operators to the outdoors without proper protection can lead to reduced productivity or bad operating habits. It is vital to protect your trucks and operators for whatever environment they will be in. This is where Toyota’s Reach Truck products can assist with its indoor and outdoor capabilities.

Toyota’s Moving Mast Reach Truck products maximize productivity, performance, and efficiency. With an indoor model as well as an indoor/outdoor model, there is a truck to fit your needs. Each model features a right-hand control unit and an optional air-ride suspension seat to maximize productivity and comfort. Operators can customize performance and operating characteristics to meet their needs while also getting continuous updates on lift height, load weight, and fork alignment on a touchscreen display. Both indoor and indoor/outdoor models promote operator comfort and functionality to support productivity shift after shift.

MOVING MAST REACH TRUCK

The Moving Mast Reach Truck has lift heights up to 42.5 feet and a 5,500 lb. lifting capacity. Innovative ergonomics and technology offer clear and precise control for fast, smooth handling shift after shift. With an innovative mast design, a tilting cab, and an optional transparent roof, operators can maintain visibility at high lift heights. The Moving Mast Reach Truck features the tilting cab to reduce the risk of operator strain in repetitive high-level applications. It improves the visibility of the load so the operator can see the fork tips when elevated without moving their head.

INDOOR/OUTDOOR MOVING MAST REACH TRUCK

The Indoor/Outdoor Moving Mast Reach Truck excels with lift heights up to 24.5 feet and 3,500 lb. lifting capacity. The Indoor/Outdoor Moving Mast Reach Truck features weather protection options such as overhead and mast-direction windows, additional side windows, fan heater, and a fully enclosed cab with a door to support operator comfort in outdoor environments. This Reach Truck offers unmatched versatility due to the diameter of its large rubber pneumatic tires, high ground clearance, and multiple weather protection options. While reaching high and heavy loads can be challenging, the Indoor/Outdoor Moving Mast Reach Truck maintains a clear view with an optional panoramic roof and unique mast design, maintaining upward visibility and minimal load view obstruction.

Toyota’s Moving Mast Reach Truck products are capable of handling your most demanding challenges in warehousing, manufacturing, distribution, factory, retail, food storage/processing, and even cold storage applications. Its unmatched versatility, performance capabilities, and operator comfort contribute to keeping you going shift after shift. Whatever your needs may be, indoor or outside, these Reach Trucks are built for you. 

Let’s meet Columbia’s Chariot! The Chariot is Columbia’s smallest transport, designed to transform time wasted by foot into time well-spent on your crucial tasks. 

The Chariot is packed with the features you need on the job, starting with its best-in-class sturdy frame of 14-gauge smooth steel. It’s also equipped with an efficient 12-volt DC motor, extremely short turning radius, and narrow width of 29 inches, allowing you to glide through a standard doorway! 

Do you ever wish you could easily access products on the second level of your warehouse racks? Well, now you can. Toyota’s new Low Level Order Picker comes equipped with an elevated hydraulic operator platform that gives the operator quick and effortless access to the second and, in some cases, third level of racking for countless productivity. Learn more about how Toyota’s Low Level Order Picker can help increase your warehouse efficiency.

Benefits of Toyota’s Low Level Order Picker

PRODUCTIVITY, REIMAGINED

Toyota’s new Low Level Order Picker can travel while elevated and simultaneously travels and lifts/lowers, allowing the operator to get from pick to pick quickly and efficiently. Optional hands-free lowering further enhances productivity by providing a foot-operated pedal to lower the platform. With the added load tray feature, operators are provided additional assistance when picking multiple cases at an elevated height. In addition, this lift is designed with single, double, and triple fork lengths that deliver flexibility to handle up to three pallets simultaneously.

SMOOTH TRAVEL, SHIFT AFTER SHIFT

Additionally, this warehouse warrior comes equipped with a powerful AC drive motor that provides a smooth, efficient operation while minimizing downtime. It also comes with fewer wearable parts, high energy efficiency, and less periodic maintenance to reduce downtime and operational costs so you can stay on the move.

COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT

At Toyota, we focus on delivering comfortable and intuitively designed equipment to help you carry the load. The Low Level Order Picker comes equipped with a new platform lift to help reduce the vibrations transferred to the load and operator. Additionally, there is a 21” spacious operating compartment with plenty of room for picking, entering, and exiting the forklift.

Deciding which warehouse solution is best for your operation can be difficult, but we’re here to help. 

Have you ever heard the saying, “good things come in small packages?” As you probably know, the size of something does not always properly indicate its value. The same is true for warehouse equipment. You don’t necessarily have to have the largest, most powerful lift truck to have a productive and efficient operation.

In fact, Toyota’s new Enclosed End Rider Pallet Jack is a petite powerhouse designed to take your warehouse productivity to the next level. Not convinced? Discover the key features of Toyota’s Enclosed End Rider and how it can help maximize your warehouse productivity.

Advantages of the Enclosed End Rider

POWER STEERING

Toyota’s Enclosed End Rider Pallet Jack is designed with power steering, which helps to lessen the amount of operational effort, leading to improved output and comfort shift after shift.

STEEL ENFORCED DUCTILE IRON UNDERCARRIAGE

Designed with a steel-enforced undercarriage and stainless pins for reinforced strength to handle the heaviest of loads, the Enclosed End Rider is the perfect lift truck for delivering an impeccable performance so you can get the job done. Additionally, this lift truck comes equipped with a lift height travel interlock option that helps to reinforce proper operator training to keep the forks raised when traveling over docks and uneven surfaces by limiting travel speeds when the forks are lowered.

PROGRAMMABLE PERFORMANCE SETTINGS

This powerful lift truck also comes equipped with programmable performance settings to allow you to program various levels based on your operator’s experience level. This way, your operators can feel comfortable and confident operating the forklift through your warehouse.

AC DRIVE MOTOR

In addition to power steering, the Toyota’s Enclosed End Rider Pallet Jack also comes equipped with AC Drive Motors. The AC Drive Motor delivers precise and controlled travel for better acceleration, quiet operation, and overall smoothness of travel, so you can experience increased uptime and productivity shift after shift.