Predictive Maintenance: The Future of Forklift Fleet Management

November 24, 2025

Did you know that reactive forklift repairs cost more and cause costly downtime?

Predictive maintenance, powered by telematics and MHS Lift’s customer portal/mobile app My Fleet 365, helps warehouse managers anticipate issues before breakdowns occur – reducing maintenance costs, extending equipment life and maximizing uptime.

What Is Predictive Maintenance in Forklift Fleet Management?

Predictive maintenance combines telematics, data analytics and real-time monitoring to detect signs of wear or failure before they cause downtime. Instead of waiting for a part to break, telematics sensors collect live data on forklift usage, impacts, battery health and performance patterns. Reactive maintenance often means surprise breakdowns, emergency technician visits and lost productivity. Benefits of predictive maintenance include:

  • Identifying faults early to avoid major component failures.
  • Reducing unplanned downtime by scheduling maintenance proactively.
  • Extending asset lifespan through consistent monitoring and proper care.
  • Lowering total cost of ownership (TCO) by optimizing parts and labor usage.

How Do Telematics Power Predictive Maintenance?

Many Crown and UniCarriers forklifts are equipped with built-in telematics modules that continuously stream data. MHS Lift integrates these systems through its free My Fleet 365 customer portal, giving managers real-time visibility across their entire fleet.

Key telematics insights include:

  • Usage patterns: Track hours of operation and idle time.
  • Impact alerts: Detect collisions or unsafe driving behaviors.
  • Battery monitoring: Identify charging habits that shorten battery life.
  • Maintenance alerts: Automatically flag upcoming service needs based on data trends.

My Fleet 365 is not just a monitoring tool – it’s a decision-making platform that connects fleet data to actionable maintenance strategies.

With these insights, warehouses can optimize fleet rotation, reduce misuse and plan maintenance with precision.

How Does Predictive Maintenance Improve Safety and Compliance?

By tracking operator impacts, performance metrics and maintenance schedules, predictive systems help maintain OSHA compliance and reduce workplace accidents. Consistent monitoring ensures that forklifts remain safe, properly serviced and less likely to cause injuries or equipment damage.

Ready to boost uptime and cut maintenance costs? Call MHS Lift today at (877) 647-9320.