February 2020

36 | Plant & Works Engineering>> www.pwemag.co.uk February 2020 Handling, Storage & Logistics AISLE-MASTER.COM +353 47 80500 models with the most appropriate fuel type and lifting capacity. The good thing about short-term rental is that if circumstances change and fewer trucks are required, then they can be de-hired at short notice at minimum cost. Of course, analysis of truck usage over time should give you an indication as to whether or not you need to expand the fleet on a longer contract basis, but a well-considered deployment of short-term rental vehicles should give you the flexibility to ensure performance and responsiveness throughout the year – off-setting risk and uncertainty. It’s worth remembering that short-term rental may be more costly than longer-term contract hire over twelve months, but the long-term costs of committing to a lengthy contract purchase arrangement, when the future is uncertain, could prove to be a far greater expense. It really depends on how flexible you need to be, and for how long. Smaller businesses in particular may benefit from the flexibility short-term rental brings, as they are often more susceptible to fluctuations in demand and exposure to risk. 3. What type of truck? Matching the truck model, capacity and fuel type to the application is critical and should be discussed with an expert. Having the correct lifting capacity has important safety implications, but there are performance issues to consider too. Having the correct rating of truck is of course critical, however, in addition to the weight of the goods being lifted, it’s essential to consider their dimensions and the height to which they are to be lifted. Standard fork tines are a metre long, but depending on the load’s dimensions and weight you may need 1200mm or 1800mm long tines to provide the correct load-centre. The majority of trucks supplied to the market for short-term rental are 2.0 to 3.0 tonnes capacity, although at Doosan we offer an extensive range of counterbalance trucks from 1.5 tonnes right up to 25 tonnes – a far broader range than most suppliers. Although the majority of trucks hired on a short-term rental contract tend to be diesel, both gas and electric models are popular too, with electric trucks used widely in the food sector. 4. Safety, reliability and performance. Importantly, with a short-term rental contract the responsibility for ensuring the safety of the vehicle is on the rental company. That’s not the case with a long-term contract or leasing arrangement. So when selecting a short-term rental supplier it is important to look for a reputable company with a well-maintained, safe and reliable fleet. Having confidence in a supplier’s ability to provide the right model of truck quickly – within 24 hours and with open de-hire arrangements – gives the responsiveness and flexibility needed for an agile operation. Fleet size and network coverage are important too. Within the last twelve months Doosan has invested over £1m in its short-term rental fleet and by 2022 its will have over 550 trucks available across its national network of six depots. And giving reassurance on reliability, 47% of Doosan’s fleet is less than three years old. 5. Be confident. Then there is the strength of the maker’s brand to consider. Having a robust, well-engineered truck on site, from a world- leading manufacturer, gives confidence in a trucks ability to perform under the toughest conditions. Doosan Industrial Vehicles is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of forklift trucks. As an important part of the $21 billion global Doosan Group – a conglomerate with a 120-year history – the forklift truck division has the extensive resources necessary to dedicate to product design, performance, ergonomics, energy and importantly, safety. Short-term forklift truck rental offers a business the flexibility to respond to the many varied and unexpected challenges that hamper supply chain performance.