A national distribution client called us mid-afternoon needing three counterbalance forklifts on site within two working days: replacements for trucks that had failed routine LOLER inspections that morning. We had the right specification in our Bridgend stock and the new trucks were operational on site before the next shift began.
The Challenge
The client runs a regional fulfilment centre handling around 1,400 pallets a day across two shifts. Three of their existing hire trucks failed safety inspection during a Tuesday morning audit, and the temporary hire fleet they normally fall back on couldn’t cover the gap before Thursday. Missing the Wednesday morning shift would have pushed picking targets back by close to a third and put the lunchtime HGV departures at risk.
What We Did
Within two hours of the call our sales team confirmed three suitable Toyota 8-Series counterbalance trucks held in our Bridgend stock: 2.5-tonne diesel with side-shift fitted, and fork positioners on two of the three. All were already LOLER certificated. We arranged a same-evening PDI and pre-delivery service, booked an overnight curtain-sider transport, and ran a 30-minute familiarisation handover with the on-site supervisor at the start of the Wednesday morning shift.
- 3 × Toyota 8FBN 2.5-tonne counterbalance forklifts
- Side-shift fitted on all units, fork positioners on two
- Full PDI + LOLER certification before dispatch
- Overnight transport from Bridgend to the client’s West London site
- On-site driver familiarisation at the start of the next shift
The Outcome
Three fully operational Toyota counterbalance trucks on site inside 48 hours, certificated and with a 12-month service plan attached. Picking continued without disruption that week. The client has since converted two of those trucks to their permanent fleet on a five-year contract.