WELCOME
Vehicle Lifting Done Right
The indispensable guidebook to getting the most
productive and safest service life of any lift.
T
he name of the game for any
vehicle maintenance, repair or
collision shop is maximum effi -
ciency, productivity and safety. An
investment in the appropriate vehicle
lift s, along with regular routine lift
inspection and preventive maintenance,
can help with achieving these objectives.
Also vital is training technicians on
how to properly use vehicle lift s. Th ese
can be one of the most dangerous pieces
of equipment they use, if not operated –
and maintained – properly.
Th is special Vehicle Lift Guide is intended
to be a resource of knowledge on
vehicle lift s, covering a range of topics.
Th ese include an overview of the various
lift designs, inspection and maintenance
requirements to ensure safety, and operator
training.
Purchase Considerations
When looking to acquire a vehicle lift ,
there are a number of chief factors to
think about. Among them:
• Shop environment – Floor surface,
ceiling height, height of the tallest
vehicle that will be serviced, power
availability, access to the designated
work area, space availability, position
in the shop, etc.
• Tasks – Will the lift best suit the application?
Can it properly handle the
vehicles to be serviced? Lift ing capacity,
method of engagement, service job
to be performed, etc.
• Type of lift – Fixed, mobile, plugged
in or battery powered.
• Budget – Are you getting the best ROI?
Along with purchase price and quality,
lift maintenance and operational costs
need to be taken into consideration
as well.
Lift Certification
Lift certifi cation is a must for safety’s
sake. State and local building codes in
every U.S. state, plus Washington, D.C.,
now require that all installed vehicle
4 | Vehicle Lift Guide | SEPTEMBER 2017
lift s be certifi ed to meet ANSI (American
National Standards Institute) safety
standards. Th ese standards are the recognized
standard governing the design,
construction, testing and validation of
automotive lift s.
A lift that meets these standards has
a gold label from the Automotive Lift Institute
(ALI). ALI is an accredited independent
certifi cation organization with
a primary focus on service bay safety
for the auto lift industry in the U.S. and
North America.
Be advised: Th ere are no legal requirements
that lift s sold in the U.S. be certifi
ed to meet the standards, regardless of
where the lift s are manufactured. Certifi
cation is voluntary. Th erefore, responsibility
for buying and installing certifi ed
vehicle lift s rests with the customer.
Operator Training
Training those who will be operating vehicle
lift s is essential because regardless of
how advanced the lift is, its operation is
defi ned by a user. While every lift comes
with an operator’s manual and additional
lift ing safety handbooks, there are shops
that tend to disregard this information
and start using the equipment without
being aware of proper safety procedures.
Lift accidents happen. Industry data
reveals that some 90 percent of accidents
are caused by operator error. Proper
training helps ensure safe and effi cient
operation. Plus, it prepares the user for
an emergency situation.
Technicians should be trained to inspect
the lift daily for cracks, damage or
wear. If defects are noted during the inspection,
the technician should stop using
the equipment and notify a supervisor.
Remind technicians to always maintain
a constant awareness of the many
hazards involved with lift ing vehicles.
Inspect and Maintain
Proper routine inspection and maintenance
is essential to maximize the safe
operation, reliability and life of a lift . A
best practice is to adopt the OEM guidelines/
recommendations. Th e lift manufacturer
or their fi eld representatives can
be contacted for additional information
and guidance.
A record of each periodic inspection
needs to be prepared and maintained,
noting the observations and fi ndings of
all points of inspection recommended
by the lift OEM, as well as subsequent
repairs or replacements accomplished.
At a minimum, lift s must have an annual
inspection by a qualifi ed lift inspector.
ALI has a third-party vehicle lift inspector
certifi cation program wherein these
inspectors are proven qualifi ed to inspect
every lift , from light to heavy duty models.
Only qualifi ed contractors should be
used to make all repairs. Replacement lift
parts must meet OEM specifi cations to
maintain ALI certifi cation.
Accessories
Th ere are a wide range of accessories
that can make a good lift even better by
helping to maximize performance and
minimize downtime. Examples of some
accessories include lighting for runway
lift s, rolling jacks, truck adapters and
special lift ing pads.
Lift accessories must be certifi ed to
maintain ALI lift certifi cation. Using an
uncertifi ed option or accessory on a certifi
ed lift will void the lift ’s certifi cation
and could put the user’s safety and lift
performance at risk.
David A. Kolman is editor of
Fleet Maintenance, the only
publication that provides a
wide-ranging curriculum
and best practices to enable
readers to keep vehicles
operating with greatest
efficiency and minimal
downtime, and improve their
personal performance. An award-winning
journalist, he has been actively involved in the
North American transportation industry for
more than 30 years.
by David A. Kolman, Editor, Fleet Maintenance magazine