Guide
Forklift servicing cost: what drives the price of a service contract
Updated
Forklift service quotes are comparable only once you know what is inside them. Two prices for the same fleet usually differ on parts, tyres and response time.
Why we publish no price per truck
Because the same truck costs very different amounts to keep running. A per-truck average would be right for nobody. What is useful is knowing what the engineer is pricing against, so you can make three quotes describe the same thing. The cost turns on:
- how hard the truck is worked, and what it is worked on;
- how fast you need an engineer when it stops;
- whether the contract covers the parts it will inevitably need.
The drivers
| Factor | Why it moves the price | What to ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Fleet size and how close together the trucks are | One visit covering eight trucks on one site is far cheaper per truck than eight visits to eight sites | A price per truck at your actual fleet size and site spread |
| Truck type | A gas counterbalance, a reach truck and a telehandler need different parts, different time and sometimes different qualifications | A line per truck type rather than a fleet average |
| Hours run | Manufacturer schedules are usually hours-based, so a double-shift truck simply needs more visits per year than a light-use one | How many visits a year the quote assumes, and what happens if hours run higher |
| Response time on a breakdown | Same-day response has to be staffed and stocked. It is a real cost, and it is worth paying only where downtime hurts | The guaranteed response time in writing, and what happens when it is missed |
| Whether the thorough examination is bundled | It is separate work by a competent person, and HSE says that person should not be the one doing routine maintenance | The examination priced as its own line, and who carries it out |
| Parts and consumables | Filters, oils, seals, forks and hydraulic hoses are the difference between a labour-only price and a full-maintenance price | Whether parts are included, at cost, or at a marked-up rate |
| Tyres | Tyres are frequently excluded and are one of the largest running costs on a busy truck, especially on rough surfaces | Whether tyres are in or out, and the price per set if out |
| Battery and charger, on electric fleets | Battery care, watering and charger checks are sometimes separate, and a failing battery looks like a truck fault | Whether battery maintenance is included |
| Attachments | Clamps, rotators and jibs need their own attention, and lifting accessories carry the 6-month thorough examination interval | Each attachment listed by name in the schedule |
Labour-only, contract, or full maintenance
- Ad hoc, pay as you go
- You call when something breaks and pay a call-out and hourly rate. Lowest committed spend, least predictable, and you are at the back of the queue on a busy day.
- Planned maintenance contract
- Fixed price for a set number of planned visits, with repairs charged on top. Predictable servicing, unpredictable repairs. The most common shape.
- Full maintenance
- Servicing, repairs and usually parts for a fixed monthly figure per truck. Highest headline price, no surprises, and the provider carries the risk of an unreliable machine. Read the exclusions carefully: tyres, damage and battery are the usual ones.
Whichever shape you take, ask what happens on the thorough examination report when a defect is found. A truck taken out of service on a Thursday afternoon is a cost. Knowing in advance who fixes it and how fast is worth more than a few pounds on the contract rate.
The comparison that actually helps
- Put every quote on the same number of planned visits a year.
- Add the thorough examination as its own line so you can see who has included it.
- Ask for the hourly rate, call-out charge and travel policy for work outside the contract.
- Ask what the parts markup is, in writing.
- Get tyres in or out, explicitly, and priced.
- Ask about the notice period and whether the price is fixed for the term.