Importance of safe vehicle lift operation
Reliable after-sales
service aids in keeping
your capital equipment
operating more effi ciently.
By Jamie Pedrick, SLEC, Inc.
To keep your shop running
most efficiently, the ultimate
goal is to purchase lifts that
will be safe, dependable
and durable for your facility.
These important factors
should play a role in your
decision-making process.
FACTORS TO CONSIDER
When choosing a lift for your fleet
maintenance facility, what key factors
are most important? Many may
consider cost as one of the key factors
when making a lift purchasing
decision. It is important to consider
cost beyond the initial purchase of
the equipment. Some additional
factors to consider include:
• Is the lift you’re purchasing
ALI certified?
• Does it come with a warranty?
• Is there a service plan available?
• Does the manufacturer
offer tech support?
• Are parts readily available?
• How long will it take to complete
service/repair work on your lift?
“There is nothing worse than
spending money on a piece of
equipment to make your maintenance
shop run profitably
and efficiently, and then having
it break down with no aftersales
support,” says Allister
Collings, President, SLEC, Inc.
Many lift manufacturers provide
after-sale service options such
as extensive product warranties,
free technical phone support
and customized service plans.
14 Fleet Maintenance | March 2018
Collings says SLEC provides service
plans tailored to the shop’s needs,
from annual inspections to fixedcost
all-in plans which cover all
parts and costs associated with
non-scheduled breakdowns.
When making a decision on a lift
purchase, also consider safety certification.
Look for the Automotive
Lift Institute’s (ALI) Gold Label to
verify third-party certification.
The governing standard of vehicle
lifts, ALI provides an independent,
third-party certification
program that promotes the safe
design, construction, installation,
inspection and use of vehicle lift
products. With seven different
types of lifts commonly used in
today’s fleet maintenance facilities,
it is important to check the ALI
website to see if the lift you plan
to purchase is ALI certified first.
READ THE MANUAL
It is important for safe lifting practices
to receive proper training
on how to use your specific lift.
You should always follow the manufacturer’s
instructions and policies
on how to correctly operate your
lift. The manual should include
important procedures regarding:
• Weight capacity
• Transportation and unloading
• Safety
• Installation
• Operation
• Troubleshooting
• Maintenance
Most importantly, the manual
should include contact information
for the manufacturer.
ROUTINE SAFETY CHECKS
Making sure your staff goes
home safely at the end of each
work day should be a priority
for your fleet maintenance facility.
That’s why it’s important to
complete daily safety checks
on your lift before operating.
“Each lift manufacturer will have
different safety checks for their
lifts,” Collings says. “The safety
check is quick, but essential. Daily
safety checks for SLEC mobile
column lifts include cables, plug,
limit switch and the protection
band. These items should be
inspected daily for damage as
they are components to the safe
operation and longevity of the lift.”
If there are any items on your daily
safety checklist that are damaged,
it is recommended that the item
is replaced immediately to ensure
your lift continues to run safely.
ANNUAL INSPECTIONS
Current OSHA requirements and
the latest ALI/ANSI standards
state that all vehicle lifts should
be inspected on an annual
basis. Having your lift inspected
annually ensures the essential
components of your lifts are
operating safely and correctly.
Ultimately, this reduces possible
downtime of your lift due to
malfunctions, and supports the
continued safety of your staff.
A lift technician completing an
annual inspection should check
all key lift components for signs of
wear or damage. When the inspection
is complete, you will receive an
OEM Inspection Report confirming
the safe operation and working
conditions of your lift. If required,
an outline of recommended corrective
action can also be provided.
» A lift technician completing an annual inspection should check all key
lift components for signs of wear or damage. Experts from SLEC note their
technicians complete a comprehensive 15-point maintenance and safety
inspection for this process.
Photo courtesy of SLEC, Inc.
JAMIE PEDRICK
MARKETING
DIRECTOR, SLEC, INC.
SLEC, Inc. is a heavy
duty mobile lift and lift
accessories manufacturer
headquartered
in Baltimore. SLEC
provides parts and
service for SLEC and SEFAC mobile
lifts. Their mobile lifts are ALI-certified
and Buy America compliant. Pedrick
has been with SLEC, Inc. for the nine
years, and is also currently pursuing
her Marketing and Visual Productions
degree at Cecil College.
Where analysis can aid in uptime
Real-world example with fleets who have
faced issues that have been improved by a
shop analysis to improve efficiency.
Taki Darakos, Vice President of Maintenance,
Transervice, uses equipment uptime as an example
of how fleets have benefitted from a shop analysis to
improve efficiency.
Issue: Continuous and
knowledge gap
numerous unplanned
breakdowns of equipment
Resolution: An analysis
found a specification
problem and a possible
at the shop level.
Issue: Every “check
engine” light due to latest
emissions standards
sent to dealer for repair
Resolution: “Dealers are
extremely busy today. By
having the right diagnostic
software and training
the techs on how to use it,
there are opportunities to
avoid this,” says Darakos.
Issue: DPF issue – drivers
bypassing regen
Resolution: “In some
instances we have used
ELD data and diagnostic
codes to change behavior,”
says Darakos. “Working
with their provider and
our IT group we were
able to create a weekly
report that showed which
drivers were bypassing
the regen. It had a date
and time stamp, driver
name. After a few weeks
the incidents stopped
and the fleet benefitted
from fewer over-the-road
issues and less maintenance
expense (derates,
tows into a shop). It also
helped improve their
on-time percentage.”
Darakos confirms once
the issue was found, the
company worked with
the fleet to get information
out to drivers
educating them on the
emission systems and
importance of regens.
“By trying to understand
and get ahead of problems
it allows the shops
to focus on campaigns
and preventative maintenance
to keep the fleet
rolling,” Darakos says.