Tag Archives: Forklifts

Employee Spotlight: Treanaka Darensburg

Meet Treanaka Darensburg! 

Treanaka Darensburg is a Field Service Coordinator in our New Orleans/Destrehan service department and we love having her on our team. We enjoyed asking Treanaka a few questions and learning about what she likes to do away from work. 

Where were you born and raised? Where do you live now?

I was born in what is called the Westbank- Avondale, Marrero, Harvey and Gretna, Louisiana. I currently live in Reserve, LA, outside of New Orleans.

How long have you been with Hugg & Hall? 

I have been with Hugg & Hall since October 2019. I started in Accounts Payable/Receivable with Scott Equipment 15 years ago. When an Office Manager position became available on the Toyota Material Handling side I jumped at the opportunity. Once Hugg & Hall and Scott Equipment traded product lines, I became a Field Service Coordinator for Hugg & Hall. I have been in this position for the last two years.

What does a day in the life of a Field Service Coordinator look like?

I start the morning off dispatching our technicians. Then I work on opening and preparing work orders for closing and sending out to customers. I also work on Parts Cart Requests and Recommended Repair forms. My day also involves sending out quotes and handling customer calls and emails. Oh, and lets not forget about doing invoices and receivers for Bill Pay. Just to name a few!  

The best part, or your favorite thing, about working for Hugg & Hall?

The people I work with.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I like to relax and travel in my free time.

What is an interesting or random fact people may not know about you?

I used to sing in the church choir. I can’t sing at all but I loved it!

Tell us your favorite quote and what it means to you.

“No One Owes You Anything”. People tend to think that others owe you something. I feel that anything you do should be done from your heart. Everything you get, you should work for and earn. So instead of feeling owed, you would feel satisfied and content knowing what you accomplished.

To get to know some of our other coworkers, visit our past employee spotlights!

2023 Update: Treanaka has been promoted to Parts Operation Manager! We can’t wait to see what her future with Hugg & Hall holds!

Employee Spotlight: Rental Sales Manager, Conner Tujague

 

As the Hugg & Hall Broussard Rental Sales Manager, Conner Tujague helps his team with everything from making the sale to finding the equipment the customer needs. We got in touch with him to learn a little bit more about his role and his favorite things about working for Hugg & Hall. 

Where is your hometown?

I grew up in the small town of Eunice, LA where rice and crawfish farming is the way of life for most citizens.  

How long have you been at Hugg & Hall?

I have been with Hugg & Hall for a little over two years.

What is your favorite thing about working for Hugg & Hall?

My favorite thing about working at Hugg & Hall is the culture. You have the freedom to choose your work style, which brings out the best in you.

Do you have a favorite memory of your time here at Hugg & Hall?

One of my favorite memories here at Hugg & Hall is when I took a trip to Miami for The Natural Disasters Expo. I learned a lot about natural disaster needs. Free time allowed me to go site seeing as this was the first time I traveled to Miami.

Tell us a little bit about what a day in the life of a Rental Sales Manager looks like.

As a Rental Sales Manager, I receive a lot of calls needing assistance from my sales team. I don’t mind though because I truly like helping people out. A lot of this involves helping my team close on deals and find new opportunities.

What is something that people you work with may not know about you?

I like to play competitive sports. Tennis is my favorite and I played it throughout my childhood and into high school. It’s hard to have time to play now with family and work taking up most of my free time but I plan on teaching my kids when they are older. I tried introducing them to the game, but they end up playing on the playground.

Tell us your favorite quote and what it means to you.

My favorite quote is “No Pain, No Gain”. I believe nothing great in life comes easy. You must work hard and go through trials and tribulations to achieve greatness. Nobody has ever said the journey to the top of the mountain was easy, but there is a lot of lessons to learn on the way up and you will appreciate the top that much more. 

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

First and foremost, I don’t consider Hugg & Hall being work. I was always told to find something you love to do, and you will never work a day in your life. I truly enjoy my time at Hugg & Hall. Besides my time at Hugg & Hall, I spend it with my family. I am married to my high school sweetheart who which we have three daughters and a baby on the way (Praying for BOY). My daughters love to spend their time outside. Whether it be swinging and riding bikes or swimming at our neighborhood pool.

To contact our rental department or find out more about what equipment we have available for rent, go to our RENTAL PAGE.

 

 

Average Lifespan of a Forklift

Forklifts, like any heavy machinery, are a pricey investment. You want to make sure you’ve chosen the right one and that you’re maintaining it correctly. Determine the age of your forklift, average lifespan of a forklift, and how to make your forklift last longer by reading this article.

 

How old is my forklift?

A forklift’s lifespan is measured by hours of use, not years, because every business utilizes their machines at different rates.

A five-year-old forklift that was utilized 15 hours a month will usually be in better shape than a one-year-old forklift that was used 8 hours every day.

The stress on a forklift’s mast from raising and lowering of equipment is what causes most machines to break down over time.

Buying a used forklift? Always inspect it for wear, even if it has low hours. Heavy loads can cause damage to a forklift, which won’t be reflected in the running hours.

 

How long should I expect my forklift to last?

The average lifespan of a forklift is 10,000 hours, but it varies based on the manufacturer, type of forklift, and average running conditions. It’s possible to have two forklifts, manufactured the same year, that have different life expectances.

Manufacturer

Brands like Doosan and Toyota typically have longer lifespans up to 15,000–20,000 hours.

Internal Combustion Engines vs Electric Forklifts

On average, you can expect an electric forklift to last longer. Electric forklifts’ batteries typically need to be replaced every five years, or approximately 1,500 charging cycles. However, since they have fewer moving parts, they are less likely to break over time.

Average Running Conditions

Regular heavy loads will shorten your forklift’s total run time, and exposure to extreme temperatures, uneven surfaces, and hazardous substances will cause significant wear. A truck used indoors in clean conditions will last a lot longer than one exposed to extreme conditions. If you have a fleet of forklifts, it’s a good idea to rotate them every few months so they wear at the same rate.

 

How can I extend my forklift’s lifespan?

Regular Maintenance

Preventative and regular maintenance are the key to a forklift’s survival. Always perform daily, routine checks, schedule preventative bi-annual maintenance, and get any issues checked up on immediately.

Most forklifts should be serviced every 200 hours and have extensive maintenance performed every 2,000 hours. Always check the manufacturer’s recommendations to find out exactly when your forklift should be serviced.

Being proactive could help your forklift survive up to five years longer (based on daily use) than expected!

Yard and Warehouse Maintenance

Potholes, sharp turns, and other safety hazards can cause damage and uneven wear to your fleet. A safe environment can lead to less expensive repairs over time.

Staff Training

Several people are standing around a forklift learning how to use it.

Your operators have a huge effect on your forklift’s lifespan. Collisions and tip-overs are obvious causes of damage, but heavy braking, excessive speed, and skipping inspections will also cause your forklift to wear down quicker.

Need staff training? Contact us.

 

 

How do I know when my forklift needs to be replaced?

If a forklift is slowing down productivity by requiring downtime for repairs, it may become too expensive to maintain. Consider the lifespan of the forklift and how much it costs per hour to run.

 

Forklifts are an important part of your warehouse operations. Ensuring your forklifts are running at top efficiency can help them last for years.

Prefer to rent a forklift instead of purchasing? Contact us!

 

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in October 2021. It was updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness in January 2023. 

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The Electric Push | Transforming the Construction Industry

With the never-ending push to improve our carbon footprint, more and more companies are beginning to offer electric equipment options into their fleets. Electric equipment reserves the same power diesel-powered machines provide with the added benefits of zero emissions, less noise, and cleaner job sites. Companies such as Toyota, JCB, Genie, and more are coming into this new-age era. Below are just a few of the electric machines Hugg & Hall has to offer.

Toyota

Toyota has recently launched a new line of electric forklifts. These forklifts provide clean, emission-free workspaces and are ideally used for indoor projects and warehouses. With five models on their product line, you are sure to find what works best for you.

  • 3-wheel Electric Forklift
    • Ideal for narrow aisles and tight spaces.
  • Core Electric Forklift
    • Compact four-wheel electric lift capable of moving any standard size load while still being able to operate in spaces as small as 11 feet wide.
  • Large Electric Forklift 
    • Capable of lifting 12,000 lbs.
  • Stand-Up Rider Forklift
    • Dock-to-Stock capabilities and ideal for navigating narrow aisles.
  • Electric Pneumatic Forklift
    • Designed for indoor and outdoor applications.

JCB

19C-1E is the first fully electric mini excavator and the first E-TECH machine JCB offers in North America. These machines are ideally suited for construction and excavation operations within enclosed or urban job sites, noise and emission sensitive areas such as hospitals or schools. These machines produce zero exhaust and one-fifth the noise. An on-board charger with standard domestic 110V input for 12-hour recharging. Three lithium-ion batteries create enough power to get through a typical workday on a single charge.

GENIE

Genie has recently released the Z-60 FE fuel-electric, and the Z-60 All Electric articulating boom lift. These machines are ideal for outdoor and indoor operations that require low noise and clean performance. These areas include construction sites, sports arenas, facilities, and challenging pedestrian areas. The Genie boom lifts feature a 135-degree range of motion, allowing workers to quickly and accurately position themselves while the 4WD and full-time active oscillating axles provide traction for gradeability up to 45%. 

 

WACKER NEUSON 

These are cordless, battery powered rammers that are ideal for indoor construction and renovation projects, for use in poorly ventilated areas and sound sensitive areas. Easy to operate with a quick push-button start, the battery is separate from the rammers and can be replaced without any special tools. Wacker Neuson offers two electric models of their Wacker Packer, the AS50e and AS60e. 

 

NIFTY LIFT

The award-winning self-propelled SP50N boom lift can lift two people plus their tools to a platform height of 49ft 6in or a working outreach of 32ft. A 180-degree rotating cage and jib-boom paired with fully proportional multi0function controls deliver remarkable precision when positioning. The SP50N offers two power options, super-efficient battery power or second-generation hybrid power system. These lifts are ideal for indoor use, or a clean, quite operation.

SKYJACK

The Skyjack scissor lift is known for being an industry leader for over a decade. Skyjack lifts are ideal for indoor work. With Skyjack’s color coded and numbered wiring system, these machines are easy to trouble shoot and repair.

 

Material Handling Attachments

Material Handling Attachments

Push Pulls 

Push pull attachments offer shippers/warehouses an alternative to pallets. Push pulls are able to slip under and hold loads on slip sheets (cheaper than pallets). These attachments are ideal for specific loading operations that don’t require pallets yet still have significant loading needs. If you have sufficient loading demands but are searching for a way to ax pallets from operations, you might want to consider whether a push pallet attachment could be right for your work site. 

Rotators

Another material handling attachment that can greatly affect productivity is the rotator attachment. Rotators are attachments that can be added to uprights which enable your machine to invert or dump materials. Rotators are often used on job sites to dump scrap, waste, liquids, minerals, boxes with loads like fruit/grains/vegetables and other materials. There are both mechanical and hydraulic options available. 

Sideshifters

The sideshifter attachment allows machines to move their carriages in a side-to-side motion. The expanded ability to move is ideal for many functionalities. It’s particularly suitable for stacking and job site functions that require precise carriage positioning. Sideshifter attachments are typically available in models that fit most forklift carriages. 

Clamps

One material handling attachment that can be used for a variety of purposes are clamps. Clamps are durable, user-friendly, multi-faceted and effective attachments that are frequently used to pick up and move products. Clamps have the potential to help companies decrease unsafe work environments, increase efficiency and decrease damages to products, while eliminating the need for multiple workers to accomplish the handling task.

Fork Positioners

Another attachment that is frequently chosen for material handling functionalities are fork positioners. Fork positioners improve the accuracy of forklift operations, reduce damage to pallets/products and improves overall safety. Fork positioners are a hydraulic alternative to repositioning forklift forks, allowing equipment operators to adjust positioning from where they sit. This is especially ideal for those moving a variety of types/shapes of pallets. 

Load Handlers

A useful material handling attachment are multiple load handlers. Multiple load handlers enable users to lift multiple pallets at once. Perfect for warehousing and plant operations requiring a lot of load handling involving pallets, multiple load handlers can create a more productive and effective operation. Multiple load handlers feature double sideshifters, single-double pallet handlers and are capable of loading and unloading up to six loads.