JULY 2026 American Journal of Transportation American Journal of Transportation 15 ZH-360L Battery Electric Vehicle 36,000-lbs Capacity Zero-Emissions Forklift Terberg YT193/YT223 Port Operations Yard/Terminal Tractors You Can DEPEND On FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA www.taylorforklifts.com Design, Engineer, Build & Service ...It’s What We Do! WE ARE Technology transforms forklifts with new functions, added value By Debra Phillips, AJOT (TRANSFORMS – continued on page 16) Forklifts are essential across the supply chain, from port terminals to warehouses. Once seen mainly as lifting equipment, they are now evolving into intelligent, connected tools that help supply chain managers shape procurement strategies, streamline opera- tions, and strengthen companies’ compet- itive position. Technology and regulations are major drivers of this change, while rising consumer demand for eCommerce is also influencing warehouse design and the types of forklifts needed for warehouse operations. Technology To Improve Efficiency and Safety Is Readily Available Autonomous forklifts are no longer exper- imental. They have become an operational necessity. About 18% of new forklifts now include autonomous navigation systems. According to industry analysts, automated warehouse forklifts have improved efficiency by 44% and safety by 36%. Outsourcing forklift fleet management can improve performance and reduce costs By Debra Phillips, AJOT Facing regulatory changes and a wide range of forklift options, some supply chain managers are outsourcing part or all of their forklift fleet operations, including vehicle acquisition, mainte- nance, compliance, and oper- ator management. Outsourcing forklift fleet management allows managers to focus on revenue-generat- ing work. Leasing rather than owning vehicles frees up cap- ital that a company can invest in its core business functions. Outsourcing also expands a company’s capabilities with- out adding employees. It also gives companies access to the latest fleet management tech- nology without the significant investment required to pur- chase software. Maintenance is an import- ant aspect of fleet management. Outsourced providers typically use fleet analytics, real-time monitoring, and predictive maintenance systems to ensure that downtime is minimized. In addition, outsourcing mainte- nance changes variable costs to fixed monthly rates. Without a dedicated fork- lift fleet management resource, companies may struggle to complete all required tasks. Employees with limited time must balance fleet responsibil- ities with core business priori- ties. When fleet management is only a small part of someone’s role, they may lack the special- ized expertise an outsourced provider offers. Once a company decides to outsource fleet management, there are multiple options for structuring the arrangement. End-to-end fleet management requires the provider to handle everything, from vehicle pro- curement, financing, licensing, maintenance, fuel manage- ment, and compliance. Some companies choose to outsource only certain func- tions related to fleet manage- ment. A company may choose to outsource maintenance, fuel, and compliance, while (IMPROVE – continued on page 16) Port Equipment & Technology 2026 The EKS 215a mobile robots by material handling specialist Jungheinrich take over heavy and repetitive transport tasks. The mobile robots are operated through a custom-configured, web-based user interface on tablets.
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