Forklifts and material handling equipment are vital to your operation—but without proper maintenance, even the best equipment can lead to costly downtime. That’s why Southeast Handling Systems offers two key service options: Planned Maintenance and Full Maintenance.

While both are important, they serve very different purposes. Here's what you need to know.

Planned Maintenance:

Planned Maintenance is a preventive approach that involves regular, scheduled service to keep equipment running reliably. This type of maintenance is performed before problems occur, helping avoid unplanned downtime and extending equipment life.

What’s Included in Planned Maintenance?

• Scheduled service intervals (monthly, quarterly, etc.)
• Multi-point inspections
• Fluid checks and top-offs
• Filter and oil changes
• Battery and tire checks
• Lubrication of key components

Benefits of Planned Maintenance:

• Reduces risk of breakdowns
• Improves equipment safety and efficiency
• Helps stay compliant with OSHA standards
• Supports long-term asset health

Full Maintenance:

Full Maintenance, on the other hand, is also known as corrective maintenance. It focuses on repairing or replacing components after failure. This type of maintenance is reactive and is usually performed when a forklift is no longer functioning properly or has already broken down due to wear, damage, or system malfunctions.

What’s Included in Full Maintenance?

• Troubleshooting equipment issues
• Diagnosing failed components
• Replacing or repairing malfunctioning parts
• Post-breakdown inspections and service
• Emergency response as needed

Benefits of Full Maintenance:

• Restores equipment quickly after failure
• Reduces unplanned downtime when combined with a fast response team
• Ideal for high-use equipment where wear and tear is more frequent

How They Work Together

For most operations, a combination of Planned Maintenance (to prevent) and Full Maintenance (to correct) provides the best protection. Planned Maintenance reduces the likelihood of breakdowns, but when unexpected issues arise, and full maintenance ensures you're back up and running fast.

Need Help Deciding?

At Southeast Handling Systems, we offer customizable service programs that combine preventive and corrective maintenance to match your fleet size, usage, and budget.

Call 866-254-1164 or email contacts@shslift.com to learn more about building a maintenance plan that fits your operation.