Toyota Forklifts: Material Handling with a Heart

Is the material handling industry all about logistics and profits or is there a heart attached to its cerebral balance sheet? While it doesn’t always make the business news, there’s plenty of evidence to show that there is.

Toyota Forklifts: Material Handling with a Heart

Toyota forklifts are the world’s most popular because of the company’s unflinching commitment to unparalleled quality, value, and customer service. While these definitely make their customers feel good, it can be argued that this commitment is purely a cold-hearted business decision. However, Toyota Material Handling shows there is a beating heart connected to its business brain in many other ways.

Toyota ended another successful business year in 2012 by giving back to local communities in Indiana, where Toyota has a manufacturing plant in Columbus:

• One forklift was donated to the City of Columbus for use at City Garage, which is a vital hub for a number of community services. The forklift is being put to good use loading and unloading supplies and equipment needed to help the City Garage operate smoothly and efficiently.

• A forklift donated to United Way of Bartholomew County will be used at their Doug Otto Center in Columbus for a variety of charitable projects. According to United Way Bartholomew County President Mark Stewart, donations “will benefit the 39 nonprofits and 47 programs in the Doug Otto Center.”

Toyota didn’t stop to rest on its 2012 laurels and go back to business as usual, but started 2013 with a charitable bang as well, donating a lift truck to The Midwest Food Bank of Indianapolis. Appreciative Food Bank director John Whitaker commented: “This gift will allow us to continue delivering food to those in need both here in Indiana and to other states recovering from natural disasters”.

Toyota Forklifts Initiative for Vets

Thousands of veterans returning from duties in Iraq and Afghanistan have faced an uphill battle finding employment upon returning stateside. Hire Heroes USA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a solution to this problem. Hire Heroes points out that former military personnel often make ideal employees in the material handling industry, having been trained in many of the essential skills needed by the industry.

Here again, Toyota is stepping in, offering assistance to veterans by:

• Offering a discount to veterans on its forklift operator safety training program.
• Toyota Materials Handling U.S.A. Inc. (TMHU) works with their dealer network and Hire Heroes giving vets training to become forklift service technicians.

According to an article quoting TMHU President Jeff Rufener, veterans have all the skills the material handling industry looks for, including “good team leadership, a strong work ethic, adaptability, and the ability to solve a problem on the spot, often under time pressure or duress.”

The example set by Toyota and charitable organizations like those Toyota donates to is one all of us can take to heart. While a single forklift is a relatively small donation from materials handling giant like Toyota, it makes a giant difference to the charity the forklift is donated to. Hiring and training a veteran is a small contribution any materials handling company, large or small, can make but can make a huge difference in a deserving vet’s future.

For more information about how you can make a difference, reconditionedforklifts.com recommends contacting Hire Heroes USA or Employer Partnership of the Armed Forces.