Scott Grushoff, vice president and general manager of AmeriQuest Material Handling Services, describes the new division as a membership-based organization of manufacturers and distributors operating both small and large lift truck fleets.
Launched late last year by Cherry Hill, N.J.-based AmeriQuest Transportation Services, the material handling division mainly sources lift truck parts and services for its members. Some of the replacement parts available include tires and polyurethane wheels, batteries and chargers and electric motors and components. Member companies don't pay dues, but they must meet certain qualifications to become part of the buying group.
Grushoff says AmeriQuest's direct contact with parts manufacturers and distributors allows members to purchase parts at discounted prices. By cutting out the middleman, Grushoff says, the division sidesteps price markups that typically occur as parts flow from OEMs to dealers and then to end users. AmeriQuest also uses the buying power of its membership base to cut prices further. According to the company, average savings range from 15% to 45%.
Members log on to a Web site where they search a database of more than three million parts from more than 100 OEMs. They can order online, over the phone or by fax, and most parts can be shipped to a customer location within 24 to 48 hours, according to Grushoff.
Grushoff stresses that AmeriQuest serves as a disinterested third party that strives to protect its members, not just sell them parts and equipment. This objectivity is reflected in the division's total fleet management program designed for companies that outsource lift truck maintenance.
“We have a team of lift truck experts — former service managers — who work with the location to ensure they are being charged fairly and that all repairs are necessary,” Grushoff notes. “Every repair is entered into a software program that tracks usage, warranty items, and more, so the member can see what is happening with its fleets across the country.” Additionally, the company's asset management program automatically schedules PMs based on lift truck usage and repair history.
For more information, visit www.ameriquestlift.com.
