More detailed answers from our local experts -

Choosing a forklift dealer requires a rigorous evaluation, starting with parts availability—Toyota’s 300 U.S. locations deliver 95% within 24-48 hours, versus generic dealers’ 80% in 72 hours, saving $1,000 in downtime. Service radius, spanning 100-200 miles, ensures 48-hour response for 5,000-15,000-pound units, with certified technicians—OSHA 10-hour trained—covering 90% of $2,000 hydraulic repairs. Warranty support, offering 3-5 years or 6,000 hours (e.g., Crown’s $1,500 coverage), beats 1-year generics, requiring $200 annual maintenance logs. Customer ratings, averaging 4.5/5 on Google from 500 reviews, reflect Hyster’s 96% uptime versus 85% for smaller firms. Pricing scrutiny reveals $500-$1,200 service calls, with bulk orders ($20,000-$50,000) unlocking 5-15% discounts, reducing TCO by $2,000-$5,000 over 5 years. Dealer training programs, costing $300/operator, ensure 98% certification rates, while mobile service fleets—50 trucks for Caterpillar—cut 20% repair times. Financial stability, with $10M+ revenue, and 10-year tenure filter 200+ options, aligning $5,000-$15,000 annual budgets with 90% utilization and 12-18 month ROI.