Across the U.S., approximately 60% of material handling operations use electric forklifts. But in California, it could soon be 100%.

Proposed regulations from The California Air Resources Board (CARB) will eventually phase out internal combustion (IC) forklifts. Operations will gradually retire any IC forklifts in their fleet, and the sale and purchase of used Spark-Ignited forklifts in California would be prohibited starting January 1, 2026.

Read on to learn about:

• Pending regulations from CARB
• Incentives for using electric equipment
• When to choose a gas or propane forklift vs. electric

A question we hear fairly often is, “should I buy a 3-wheel or a stand-up forklift?” The price range for these two products is similar, $30,000- $40,000. Both forklifts are:

• An excellent value for the money
• Have a low-maintenance AC motors 
• and have a max lift height of 23 feet. 

So how do you choose the best lift truck for your operation?

In this article, we’ll compare Toyota's Stand-up Rider Forklift (8BNCU15 8BNCU18 and 8BNCU20) to Toyota's 3-Wheel Electric Forklift (8FBE15U-20U, 8FBES15U and 8FBEH18U) so you can make an informed buying decision.

Downtime is something every material handling operation wants to avoid, but for food processing operations downtime is a dirty word. In today’s article, we’ll look at some of the best material handling equipment available for:
- commercial food processing
- cold storage warehouses
- food and beverage material handling

The alternate title of this post could be, “how to avoid paying double for your forklift battery.” When uninformed buyers choose a cheap battery with no warranty, they inevitably end up buying a second battery - the right battery - a short while later.

Before you spend a few thousand dollars on a battery, take a few moments to learn how to choose the right battery for your forklift and important questions to ask.

- Some applications, like food, pharmaceutical or underground facilities are required to use electric forklifts. Electric forklifts also have a lower cost of ownership in the long term.
- On the other hand, propane forklifts can be used indoors or outdoors, and changing tanks is easier than changing a forklift battery.

Read on to read a complete list of the major pros and cons of electric vs. propane forklifts.

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Product Name:  Electric Pneumatic Forklift (EPF)
Manufacturer: Toyota
Lift Capacity:  4000-11,000 lbs.
Notable feature(s):  (SAS) System of Active Stability, available in 36, 48, 80-volt variants
Price Range: $20k - $80K
Value for the money: Excellent

Best for: Toyota's rugged Electric Pneumatic Forklift is made for outdoor applications such as agriculture, brick, block, concrete, lumber, pipe and many more. Because it runs on clean power, the truck can also be used indoors and is adaptable for a variety of different operation sizes. 

Not recommended for:  In a large yard where the forklift operates remotely, valuable time can be lost bringing the truck in to swap batteries. 

Built with a heavy steel cross supports, impact resistant side thrusters and a heavy duty planetary drive axel, the THDC Line doesn’t flinch. Load-sensing hydraulics and engine management systems ensure your forklift can rise to meet any challenge.

• Both are clean and quiet compared to gas or diesel
• Electric forklifts cost more upfront but have a lower cost of ownership overall
• Changing a propane tank is easier than changing a battery, but electric battery tech has come along way. Many two-shift operations only need one battery

So which one is better? It all depends on your operation...

Temperature variations can cause unwanted discoloration, microbial growth, and spoiled product. But goods can’t stay in climate-controlled cold storage indefinitely. At some point, the product must be transferred quickly to or from a refrigerated vehicle for transport. Finding tough, reliable material handling equipment that can withstand constant temperature changes is a common problem in cold storage applications.

Success in the perishable goods industry requires both expertise and an eye for innovation. Businesses need to gain a competitive edge, but choosing the wrong cold storage warehouse equipment can be a million dollar mistake.

Most forklifts come with a standard flat plate battery. You may be wondering if a waterless battery or tubular plate battery would service your operational needs better. In this post, we’ll review the pros and cons of different types of forklift batteries. We’ll also go over a few ways multi-shift operations can save time (and therefore money) changing out batteries between shifts.