Why October Is the Perfect Time to Review Your Material Handling Fleet

As we step into the final quarter of the year, and everything begins to wind down while businesses prepare for the busy winter months, October is the ideal time to take a step back and review your material handling fleet.

Whether you manage a few forklifts or a large, mixed fleet of indoor and outdoor trucks, now is a great opportunity to assess their performance, plan ahead, and make sure your equipment is ready for the months to come!

At Acclaim Handling, we’ve been supporting businesses across the UK since 1982 – and we know that taking initiative and planning in autumn can make all the difference for when peak season arrives.

Prepare for the End of Year Demand

For a lot of industries, November and December are the busiest months of the year. It’s when warehouses and distribution centres will often experience higher workloads in line with the seasonal demand (such as Christmas and Black Friday).

Reviewing your fleet in October will give you time to:

If you act early, you can avoid any last-minute breakdowns or expensive hire decisions which you make in a rush.

Schedule in Maintenance Before Winter Hits

The cold weather can be really tough on forklifts. Especially diesel and electric models. The batteries take longer to charge, hydraulic oil thickens and the tyres lose traction in the icier conditions.

A pre-winter inspection can ensure your trucks are ready for the colder months. This includes:

By servicing some, or all of your equipment now, you will keep your operations running smoothly and extend the lifespan of your fleet!

If your fleet is due for maintenance, our forklift servicing and maintenance plans make it easy to stay compliant, safe, and productive all year round.

Maximise Budget Planning for the New Year

binders labeled planning and budget

October is actually a very strategic point in the financial calendar. A lot of businesses will be finalising their budgets for the next year, which makes it the perfect time to:

Having an accurate and up to date picture of your current fleet will help you make smarter, money-based decisions, rather than reactive ones made in a rush.

Trade In or Upgrade Older Equipment

If some of your forklifts are beginning to show their age, autumn would be a great time to explore part-exhanging your fleet, or upgrading.

At Acclaim Handling, we offer a wide range of new and used forklifts from leading brands, just like STILL, Hyundai and Lonking, alongside flexible hire and purchase solutions.

If you’re planning on upgrading your material handling fleet, now is the perfect time to explore the future of electric forklifts and find sustainable solutions that enhance performance while lowering emissions.

Upgrade before the year-end rush and your new equipment will be delivered, set up, and ready to perform right before the peak season begins – ensuring minimal disruption to your workflow.

Review Operator Training & Safety Compliance

Your fleet isn’t just about trucks. It is also about the people who operate them.

You should use October to review:

A well-trained team reduces accidents, and keeps your business fully compliant in line with the UK safety regulations.

At Acclaim Handling, we provide 24/7 fleet reviews, servicing, and maintenance plans to help businesses stay productive all year round.

Whether you’re in need of short-term forklift hire, a new electric truck, or advice on optimising your fleets performance, our knowledgeable team is here to help.

Get in touch today to book your October fleet review and ensure your material handling operation is ready to go for whatever the next season is going to bring.

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