JULY 2017 | VehicleServicePros.com 21
Lift gates can also increase productivity, particularly
with heavy cargo. Th is can help minimize product
damage since cargo delivered with the help of a
lift gate is less likely to be damaged from dropping or
mishandling.
Additionally, lift gates help to reduce the physical
demands on truck drivers when loading/unloading
cargo from a truck or trailer by reducing the amount
of times the loads must be handled physically. Lift gates
also make it safer for the driver when loading/unloading,
activities that are a regular and frequent source of
workplace injuries.
Why Routine Maintenance?
Routine maintenance is essential when it comes to
maximizing the useful years of a lift gate, and in providing
safe operation to those that rely on this equipment,
Th ieman Tailgates offi cials say. Besides ensuring that
the lift gate is operating as intended, periodic maintenance
is an opportunity for a technician to confi rm that
all critical components are lubricated, check that all
fl uid levels are correct, and address any minor issues
that are discovered before they become anything of
great signifi cance.
Fleets can do a number of things to maximize the
reliability and life of their lift gates. First and foremost,
advise offi cials at both Th ieman Tailgates and Maxon,
adopt the lift gate OEM’s guidelines/recommendations
that detail the required maintenance and inspection,
and the frequency of each.
Preventive maintenance (PM) intervals are based
on lift gate cycles or a prescribed time interval. In
a high-cycle application, PM intervals need to be
increased accordingly. Too oft en, offi cials point out, PM
intervals are not observed and a lift gate only receives
attention once a component has failed, causing the lift -
gate to become inoperable.
Th ieman Tailgates offi cials suggest that fl eets
construct a maintenance checklist for their maintenance
personnel to follow. Maintenance issues should
be recorded in such a way that they are traceable to
each individual lift gate, and there should be a consistent
recording method so that each fl eet maintenance
facility reports an issue in the exact same way, even
across diff erent lift gate brands. Th is allows the fl eet
to detect trends for a specifi c lift gate that may not be
getting used correctly by one operator, or is seeing higher
than normal cycles or loads and which may require
additional maintenance to keep up with the usage.
Seeing reoccurring issues with a particular lift gate
brand can assist with purchasing decisions in the
future. It also allows the fl eet to see repeating issues
that may only be happening at one maintenance facility.
A good program, offi cials say, will detect any such
trends, and they can be addressed so that maintenance
costs and repairs decrease over time.
The Operator’s Role
Fleets should educate users on the proper usage of the
lift gate, as improper usage or improper stowing of the
lift gate can shorten its life, say Th ieman Tailgates offi -
cials. Operators should be exposed to new lift gates and
have some coaching on properly maintained equipment
as part of their training.
Th e operator of the lift gate should be tasked with
performing a quick daily visual and operational inspection
of the lift gate, say offi cials at Maxon. Th is is no
diff erent than the walkaround that is performed on a
» Liftgates can increase productivity, particularly with
heavy cargo, because they can help minimize product
damage when loading/unloading since cargo is less
likely to be damaged from dropping or mishandling.
Photo from iStock
Adopt liftgate OEM
guidelines.
vehicle to ensure all lights and systems are operable
before hitting the road. Small items that are noted on a
daily inspection can be addressed before they become
more signifi cant.
Moreover, operators ought to be encouraged to report
equipment that is not operating properly. Problems
caught early through routine maintenance and inspection,
or through operator reports, can result in timely
repairs that can reduce further expense and downtime
if the same problems were to go ignored or without
detection.
Th e operators are the people that see the equipment
the most and are oft en the fi rst to know that something
is not operating correctly, offi cials with Th ieman
Tailgates point out. Encourage them to bring those
issues to the attention of maintenance personnel.
Different Liftgates
As noted previously, there are many diff erent models
of lift gates designed for use in specifi c applications for
particular cargo-handling needs and vehicles. Each has
its own unique and specifi c maintenance requirements,
based on the components that are used as part of the
design of the lift system, and this will vary from brand
to brand, note Maxon and Th ieman Tailgates offi cials.
Th erefore, they say fl eets should utilize the maintenance
guidelines and recommendations provided in
their lift gate manuals that detail the required maintenance
and inspection, and the frequency of each.
Anytime a fl eet is uncertain about the required
lift gate maintenance, inspection or frequency, as well
as operating instructions, they should contact the
lift gate manufacturer for guidance, offi cials advise.
Lift gate manufacturers want to stay involved because
proper maintenance and inspection of their product
will help improve the reliability, life and safety of
their lift gates.
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