This Month in Modern: Managing economic uncertainty in the lift truck industry

As Modern marks its 80th anniversary, it’s clear why we hold traditions in such high regard. In fact, August kicks off what we like to call the “season of traditions” across our Supply Chain Group of publications at Peerless Media.

In the coming months, our editorial team along with our Peerless Research Group (PRG) will dive into a series of surveys, reports and themed issues.

One tradition I particularly look forward to each year is Modern’s August spotlight on the most crucial piece of materials handling equipment: the lift truck.

This marks the 15th consecutive year we’ve dedicated a major portion of this issue to exploring the latest technological advancements, user trends and innovations surrounding the dependable workhorse—still the backbone of warehouse and distribution center operations, especially now as its being integrated into broader automation solutions.

To kick off our Lift Truck Issue senior editor Roberto Michel looks inside Prism Logistics’ DC in Lathrop, Calif., to show how the 3PL automated repetitive pallet movements with a semi-automated shuttle system—along with the help of a few AGV lift trucks.

“It’s a snapshot of automation supporting the workforce,” Michel explains. “Now, there’s no need for lift truck operators to navigate long aisles to place or stack products—sometimes multiple levels high.”

As Michel reports, now operators simply induct loads into the front of the pallet storage system and the shuttle takes care of the rest. “In the process, Prism expands capacity for growth, contains costs and can refocus more of its lift truck fleet and operators on tasks that call for human interaction,” he adds.

In another annual event, editor at large Gary Forger puts context around our 2025 Lift Truck User Survey, the most comprehensive study of current lift truck usage and acquisition available in the market. So, what did we find this year?

“I wish I had more exciting news,” Forger admits. “However, the survey shows steady fleet management—no big swings, but several key shifts.”

Overall, the survey reveals that while fleet sizes and lift truck expenditures are on the rise, fleet managers remain level-headed, with a growing reliance on leasing, electric-powered trucks and fleet management software—all reasonable measures influenced by economic conditions. Forger does see a notable decline in the number of companies holding onto lift trucks for over 10 years—down to 27% from 39% last year.

“We’re also seeing greater interest in fleet management software,” says Forger. “In fact, 47% of respondents say they now use it to track maintenance, safety and costs, with 96% of them reporting ‘extremely,’ ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ successful outcomes—a positive step forward.”

However, despite labor challenges, there remains minimal interest in autonomous lift trucks, with 81% of respondents saying they’re uninterested. “Any way you slice it, the unsettled economy continues to play a crucial role in purchasing decisions. Let’s hope the fog lifts soon and we see more interest being put in some cutting-edge innovation,” he adds.