Truck drivers can look forward to reduced wait times at CHEP service centres as the pooled equipment provider looks to roll out triple-tine forklift trucks to its metro operations nationally in 2015.
CHEP’s Gillman Service Centre in South Australia introduced the triple-tine forklift trucks in January 2014, and according to Regional Operations Manager, Mike O’Flaherty, load times have reduced by an average of 10.5 minutes compared to loading with a double-tine forklift.
“It has certainly decreased the wait time customers trucks spend in the yard which delivers cost benefits. I’ve been here [at Gillman Service Centre] for 23 years and this is the least congested I’ve ever seen the yard in this normal busy lead up to Christmas,” Mr O’Flaherty says.
“By using a triple pallet handler attachment we are now able to carry three stacks of pallets in a movement compared to two stacks with the double pallet handlers.
“This means we achieve a 50 per cent improvement in productivity and a 50 per cent improvement in load/unload times.”
This is just the latest innovation in CHEP’s process of continuous improvement. Other improvements that have impacted the reduced wait times include fitting the forklift trucks with larger gas tanks, cutting filling time down to once per shift and saving up to 30 minutes per forklift. Another improvement is that CHEP Logistics trucks are now loaded overnight to reduce yard congestion during the day.
CHEP worked with the manufacturers on the forklift truck specs and on building an attachment that handles three stacks of pallets safely and is strong enough to cope with the 50 per cent increase in weight. The new five tonne fork truck is small enough to manoeuvre around a CHEP yard and has the flexibility to pick up one, two or three stacks of pallets/product at one time.
“The driver acceptance has been really good. Truck drivers have been commenting on the faster load times,” Mr OFlaherty says.
“Also, the forklift trucks are now air conditioned. In South Australia, it gets very hot in summer and air conditioning is a big plus for our staff.”
Victoria’s largest pallet service centre at Dandenong South adopted the new innovation in August, with Altona to follow in early 2015 followed by key metro sites nationally.
CHEP Operations Manager, Southern, Antony Hill says, “My expectation is that we see wait times reduced across the board with the flow on effect being improved efficiency for our customers and reduced transportation costs.”
