What Is a Full Maintenance Contract?

A Question that gets asked a lot !!

A full maintenance contract is designed to take the stress out of forklift ownership.

For a fixed monthly fee, most breakdowns and repairs are covered. That means if your truck fails unexpectedly, you won’t be hit with a large, unplanned repair bill — it’s already taken care of.

What’s Typically Included:

• Breakdown repairs

• Labour costs

• Most replacement parts

• Priority response from engineers

What’s Not Included:

Even “full” maintenance has its limits. Most contracts exclude:

• Accidental damage (e.g. collisions)

• Tyres

• Wear-and-tear components like forks and chains

In short, consumables and operator-related damage remain your responsibility.

What Is a Preventative Maintenance Contract?

A preventative maintenance contract is a more stripped-back, cost-conscious option.

Instead of covering repairs, this plan focuses on routine servicing to keep your equipment in good working order and catch issues early.

What’s Typically Included:

• Scheduled servicing based on usage

• Oil and filter changes

• Fluid checks and top-ups

• Safety inspections

The goal is simple: prevent problems before they turn into expensive breakdowns.

Full Maintenance Contracts: Pros and Cons

✅ Pros

Predictable Costs With a fixed monthly fee, budgeting becomes simple — no unexpected repair bills.

Reduced Downtime Breakdowns are prioritised and resolved quickly, helping keep your operations moving.

Priority Support You’ll have access to experienced technicians who know your equipment inside out.

❌ Cons

Higher Monthly Cost This level of cover comes at a premium.

Exclusions Still Apply Wear parts and accidental damage are not included.

Less Flexibility You’re typically tied into a fixed-term agreement.

Preventative Maintenance Contracts: Pros and Cons

✅ Pros

Lower Ongoing Costs You’re only paying for scheduled servicing, which keeps monthly expenses down.

Simple and Transparent No complex terms — just routine maintenance.

Ideal for Newer Equipment If your forklifts are relatively new, major repairs are less likely.

❌ Cons

Unexpected Repair Bills If something goes wrong outside a service, you cover the full cost.

Potential Downtime Repairs may take longer without priority callouts.

Reactive Approach Problems are fixed after they occur, which can sometimes lead to higher costs.

Which Option Is Right for You?

The best choice depends on how your forklifts are used — and how much risk you're willing to carry.

Choose Full Maintenance If:

• Your forklifts are critical to daily operations

• You run high hours or intensive workloads

• Downtime would significantly impact your business

• You prefer predictable, fixed costs

Choose Preventative Maintenance If:

• You operate a smaller fleet

• Your equipment is newer or lightly used

• You’re comfortable handling occasional repair costs

• You want to keep monthly spending low

Final Thoughts

Both contract types serve a purpose — there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

A full maintenance contract offers peace of mind and cost certainty, while a preventative maintenance plan provides lower upfront costs with more flexibility.

Ultimately, the right decision comes down to your operational demands, budget, and tolerance for risk.

Whatever you choose, the goal is the same:

keeping your forklifts safe, reliable, and ready to perform when you need them most.