HOW LOW LEVEL ORDER PICKERS HELP INCREASE WAREHOUSE EFFICIENCY

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.

ENCLOSED END RIDER PALLET JACK MAXIMIZES WAREHOUSE PRODUCTIVITY

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.

KNOWING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CLOSED-END LEASE AND AN OPEN-END LEASE

When leasing a forklift, there are often two options available for you to choose from: Closed-End Lease or Open-End Lease. It?s important when doing your initial research of these various leasing programs to understand the pros and cons of both and how they will impact your finances. When choosing to lease a forklift through Toyota Industries Commercial Finance (TICF) you will find a Closed-End Lease to be your only option. The reasoning? Closed-End Leases are the most beneficial to the end customer for liability and Return on Investment (ROI). Explore the differences between both leasing options below to learn why. Understanding Forklift Lease Options CLOSED-END LEASE: A basic understanding of Closed-End Leases means that it is closed to the lessee at the maturity of the lease. More simply put, when in a Closed-End Lease, the lessee will make their scheduled monthly payments throughout the agreed-upon term of the lease. At the end of the lease, the lessee has no contingent liability of the lease-end residual. Additionally, the leasing company is under no obligation to sell it to the customer. However, the customer may be provided with an option to purchase the equipment. A Closed-End Lease allows the lessees to simply return the equipment and move on to their next new lease, which means they will receive the latest equipment technology. On a Closed-End Lease, a customer is required to maintain the equipment in a safe operating condition with no liability for the residuals. When leasing a forklift through TICF , lessees are offered cash management flexibility in the structuring of lease payments along with the possibility of the lease payments being tax-deductible. Toyota Commercial Finance Looking for a partner with finance packages for all your material handling needs? Toyota Commercial Finance has the tools available to help. LEARN MORE CLOSED-END VS. OPEN-ENDED LEASE: When comparing a Closed-End Lease with an Open-End Lease, an Open-End Lease typically has more flexible terms. However, a downfall is that the lessee takes on the depreciation risk of the asset. This means when a customer enters into an Open-End Lease, they will use the forklift for the entire length of the lease term, and after the lease expires, the customer is liable for the remaining residual balance of the equipment. Since the lessee has no obligation to purchase the leased asset upon lease expiration and does not have to worry about whether the asset will depreciate more than expected throughout the course of the lease, it is often noted that Closed-End Leases are better for the average person. EXAMPLE OF A CLOSED-END FORKLIFT LEASE Typically, a Closed-End Lease comes with a fixed rate and a term that will run for a certain amount of time (example: 60 months). The lessee might want to terminate the agreement early, a move that often incurs additional fees for the early exit. For forklifts procured through such an agreement, there are often annual operating hour limits that tend to stay around 2,000 hours. If the use of the forklift exceeds those limits, the lessee is then responsible for paying additional fees. Furthermore, the lessee is responsible for any excess wear and tear that occurs with the asset. At the conclusion of a Closed-End Lease, the lessor might look to sell the asset at its depreciated value. It is possible that the lessee might still seek to purchase the asset at this new rate, and there may even be incentives offered to complete such a deal at a reduced price. When financing a forklift or forklift fleet, always remember to ask a lot of questions and obtain as much information as possible. Your local authorized Toyota Dealer and Toyota Industries Commercial Finance are happy to provide you with any additional information you need as you begin your forklift leasing process.

BENEFITS OF MYFLEET

Managing multiple forklifts in one or various facilities is a challenge even for the most organized fleet managers. Managing a forklift fleet comes with unique challenges that requires tools for the best oversight. Toyota?s MyFleet is a one-stop, free-to-use, platform designed to help you manage your fleet easily and quickly at the touch of a button. Still don?t think it can be that simple? See the benefits of having a MyFleet account with Toyota. Manage Fleet Size Whether you?re operating across a few locations in one city or region or are operating across North America, MyFleet gives you the ability to add, move, and remove equipment from your fleet depending on your business? needs. You can easily view equipment specs and various options at the touch of a button, making it easier for you to focus on the productivity of your operation. Easily Order and Re-Order Parts Service and maintenance repairs can be costly, especially in terms of productivity. That?s why we want to make it easy for you to find the parts you need quickly and efficiently. Our MyFleet platform includes a parts finder for our online catalog that allows you to find parts for any Toyota Forklift by model and serial number, so you can shop an array of parts quickly. Then, buy those parts with a convenient checkout process, and a dealer will deliver them to your doorstep. Additionally, you are able to view your past parts purchases for fast reference and repurchasing. Manage Equipment Locations In addition to order capabilities, MyFleet allows you to manage and view the location of your forklifts as well as add new addresses if your forklifts frequently move to new locations. This increases your order visibility across all locations, making it easier for you to make accurate forecasting and bookkeeping calculation. To begin managing your forklift fleet using MyFleet, login or register on the MyToyota Store .

DRIVE AND LOAD WHEEL SOLUTIONS FOR WAREHOUSE PRODUCTS

he three common enemies of drive and load wheels for warehouse products like Reach Trucks , Order Pickers , and Pallet Jacks are: heat, debris, and poor floor conditions. Here?s what you need to know about these enemies in order to decide on the best solution and overcome them in your unique operation. HEAT Compression in these types of wheels creates heat. As the wheel rotates, the portion contacting the floor is compressed, and then when that part is no longer touching the floor, it expands back to its original shape. You can see an example of this by looking at the tires on your car. This expansion and contraction create heat. If this heat builds up enough, it creates cracks in the load wheel compound or causes the bond between the wheel compound and the wheel hub to release. As surprising as it may seem, this heat buildup even occurs in freezer applications. Higher durometer compounds are the most common way to battle the heat. A higher durometer number means the wheel is ?harder,? so it resists compression. Less compression equates to less heat. Trucks that move constantly generate more heat in the wheels, so they benefit from higher durometer wheels. The trade-off is that harder wheels have a rougher ride and usually cost more to purchase. The diameter of the wheel also plays a part in this heat equation. Larger diameter wheels do not have to spin as fast as smaller diameter wheels, so the compression cycle is not happening as often in a given distance. This is why drive tires can outlast load wheels on a given truck, even if they are the same compound. DEBRIS AND POOR FLOOR CONDITIONS Debris exists in many customer operations as a by-product of the work environment. It may be due to poor housekeeping or due to a process that generates a lot of debris in the area where operators drive; but it is a load wheel killer. While debris can shorten the life of any forklift tire, load wheels tend to suffer the most. Good housekeeping practices are the best form of eliminating load wheel damage from debris. Debris such as a piece of pallet stringer, or a rock from the outdoor yard, can keep the load wheel from turning. In the case of a forklift or pallet jack, though, there is a drive motor strong enough to keep the equipment moving while that load wheel slides along the floor. This creates a flat spot on the load wheel. If the debris is small enough for the load wheel to roll over, the heavy load on the forks often presses the debris into the load wheel material. Eventually, there isn?t enough space for both the debris and the load wheel compound, forcing the load wheel to come apart. Good housekeeping is essential because even the smallest debris can seriously damage your wheels ? regardless of its brand name or durometer. LOAD WHEELS Load wheels are one of the most often overlooked aspects of warehousing products that can cause headaches when not configured correctly. The standard load wheel is frequently selected, assuming that it is a ?one size fits all? solution. Understanding and using the correct load wheel for the application can significantly reduce your downtime and increase your productivity. Reach Trucks: As mentioned before, heat and debris are enemies of drive and load wheels. Reach trucks have the unique opportunity to increase the diameter of the load wheel. This reduces heat by reducing the number of rotations the wheel has to make over a given distance. The increased diameter also allows the wheel to roll over debris easier, reducing or eliminating the cause of flat spots. On the Toyota Reach Truck , there is an option for a 10-inch tall load wheel to accomplish this solution. Keep in mind that with such tall load wheels, you will need either wider baselegs to straddle the load or lift the loads up and over the load wheels to keep the pallets from coming in contact with them. Pallet Trucks: One type of wear unique to pallet trucks is ?coning.? This is when the load wheels wear into a cone shape, usually with the edge closest to the outsides of the forks being the most worn. Frequent, tight turns can cause coning. This is especially noticeable when the floor surface is more abrasive. The best way to combat coning is to use load wheels that have been split into sections. This allows the outer portion of the load wheel to spin faster than the inner portion during a turn. This reduces the scuffing that causes cone-shaped wear. This is available as a triple load wheel on the Toyota Center-Controlled Rider , End-Controlled Rider , and Large Electric Walkie Pallet Jack. The Toyota Electric Walkie Pallet Jack is available as a dual load wheel. Stand-Up Counterbalance Trucks: These trucks do not have load wheels. They are included in this list because the steer wheels on these models can suffer from the same heat effects as load wheels do. On a Stand-Up Rider Forklift , the steer wheels carry the heavy counterweight when there is not a load on the forks to counterbalance. Customers who have light loads or frequent trips across the warehouse with empty forks can experience the same type of heat-related failures as a reach truck customer with load wheels. For this reason, the Stand-Up Counterbalance has steer wheel compounds ranging from a soft rubber to a hard polyurethane. The hard polyurethane tire will have a rougher ride but will not heat up as easily in applications that do a lot of driving with little to no weight on the forks. DRIVE WHEELS Drive wheels (aka Drive Tires) deal with similar heat and debris issues as load wheels, with the addition of needing to provide traction for acceleration, braking, and steering. When needing to find the best fit for an application, this makes the trade-off into a three-way consideration, instead of the two-way consideration of the load wheel. Generally speaking, traction takes priority of the three factors. Floor conditions will play a big role in determining how much of a priority traction takes. Drive wheels may have to function on smooth floors with moisture or dust making traction difficult. The floor may be abrasive, providing high traction, but also increasing wear on the tire. There may be ice on the floor, but in a food environment where a metal-studded tire would not be acceptable. In order to provide the best possible solution for the customer, a variety of drive tires are offered. The below list describes a few of the available options, but there are more types available through factory installation and aftermarket sales. DRIVE WHEEL TYPE Rubber Wheels Pros : Smooth ride, good traction on a variety of floors. Cons : Soft compound means easier heat buildup in applications that are always moving. Smooth Polyurethane Wheels (Varying durometers and compounds) Pros : Non-marking, various compounds allow for a customized balance of ride quality vs heat resistance. Cons : Requires better floor conditions for traction. Smooth, dry floors or mildly abrasive floors are best. Siped-Polyurethane Wheels (Smooth polyurethane tire that has diagonal razor cuts in the traction surface) Pros : Provides better traction in slippery conditions than a smooth poly tire, while retaining heat resistance benefits. Cons : Razor cuts in the poly material reduce the tire?s life if driven on a dry or abrasive floor. Potential reduction in traction on smooth, dry floors due to reduced surface area.

IS TOYOTA 360 SUPPORT PLUS RIGHT FOR YOU?

The cost of a forklift is always more than the dollar amount you pay for it. Service and maintenance ? repairs ? downtime to complete maintenance and repairs ? replacement parts. It all adds up. At Toyota, we get it. And we?re committed to being your complete material handling partner throughout the entire life of your ownership ? that?s the Toyota 360 Support Promise that comes standard on every Toyota Forklift you buy and allows you to take advantage of: Toyota Certified Technicians Toyota Genuine Parts Toyota?s industry-leading standard warranty program The Toyota Mobile Service app But even with all of that, many customers find that they want even more peace of mind ? a way to reduce the risk of maintenance emergencies and lower the cost of potential repairs even further. Enter Toyota 360 Support Plus: an upgrade option that provides you a year of planned maintenance and an extended product assurance guarantee with the Toyota Extra Care Warranty program. Toyota Genuine Parts Keeping your Toyota a real Toyota with Toyota Genuine Parts. And you can only get them through your Toyota dealer or online at the MyToyota Store. LEARN MORE Both are fantastic plans that provide the most comprehensive support in the industry. But maybe you?re wondering: Is upgrading to Toyota 360 Support Plus right for you? To get a recommendation specific to your operation ? taking into account all of the variables and considerations of your usage and application. But here is a good general guideline. Upgrading to Toyota 360 Support Plus May Be Right for You If ? You have a large fleet to manage with a lot of moving pieces to keep on task and productive. You would have a productivity disaster on your hands if even one of your forklifts needed repairs unexpectedly ? and you want to minimize every possible risk. You want extended product support assurance. You don?t mind spending a little more up front in order to save a lot of time and money later. You use telematics on your forklifts and want the added option of support for that technology. You prefer to have things done on your timetable as much as possible. You?d rather be proactive in preventing unexpected downtime emergencies than reactive in dealing with them when they arise.

TOYOTA'S MOVING MAST REACH TRUCKS: A VERSATILE WAREHOUSE SOLUTION

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. To learn more about Toyota?s Moving Mast Reach Trucks and optimizing indoor and outdoor capabilities

ELECTRIC POWER FORKLIFT FOR OUTDOOR USE

Pneumatic Electric Forklifts When thinking of forklifts capable of working outdoors, many will be quick to mention an IC Pneumatic forklift . However, what is often mentioned less is an outdoor electric forklift . These forklifts are just as efficient and environmentally friendly. The Toyota Electric Pneumatic Forklift is an excellent alternative to IC Pneumatic products and has many incredible benefits that can take one?s fleet to new heights. Benefits of Pneumatic Electric Forklifts REDUCED EMISSIONS WITHOUT SACRIFICING POWER Choosing to go with an outdoor electric forklift over an IC product has multiple advantages. One of the most significant being reduced emissions. Electric forklifts are just as powerful as their IC counterparts due to new technology. The Toyota Electric Pneumatic Forklift has the ability to lift up to 11,000 lbs. and can be utilized for both indoor and outdoor spaces. EASIER ON YOUR OPERATORS Going electric for your outdoor forklift also means that it can be less noisy and produce fewer vibrations. It can take a toll on your operator if the truck is too loud, increasing fatigue and possibly reducing worker productivity. If you find that your associates are experiencing this, switching to an Electric Pneumatic truck may be a solution. LOWER MAINTENANCE COSTS Electric forklifts, in general, are cheaper to run from an energy standpoint and can help save on fuel costs. Electric forklifts also have fewer moving parts, which can help save on maintenance and service in the long run. While IC Pneumatic forklifts are still a great choice, having an electric option to choose from can be beneficial for many operations.