From Bottlenecks to Breakthrough: How Used Forklifts Rewired Yard Efficiency in the Philippines

Before June 2025, DelPort Logistics’ Subic Bay terminal had a forklift problem. Old diesel units were consuming fuel at unsustainable rates, and delays in pallet movement were affecting client SLAs. “We weren’t just losing time,” said their operations manager. “We were losing credibility.”

Diagnostics First

After a two-week internal audit, the company found:

• Fleet average downtime: 18%
• Fuel spend vs. payload moved: 28% above target
• Operator fatigue rates rising due to aging suspensions & controls

They needed a solution that didn’t break their capital budget — but moved like a system upgrade.

The Retrofit Approach

Instead of buying new, DelPort opted for used Toyota 8-series forklifts (2.5-ton LPG). We delivered three units from our Japan yard, each rebuilt with soft-touch controls, LED safety kits, and reinforced tires. The full lot arrived within 9 working days — integrated into their night shift within 48 hours.

The Data After Deployment

• Loading cycle times dropped by 17%
• Fuel cost per pallet dropped by 26%
• Forklift-related delays dropped to zero in the first 6 weeks

Operator Buy-In Matters

“They’re easier to steer, and the turning radius saves us real time,” said Leonel, a shift lead. Maintenance logs show only 1 minor repair reported across all 3 forklifts after 3 months of use.

“Replacing forklifts doesn’t have to mean full overhaul. Sometimes you just need the right used machines — and the right data to back it up.”
— Facilities Supervisor, DelPort Logistics

The Bigger Picture

At scale, even small changes in yard workflow add up. For port, factory, and warehouse managers, pre-owned heavy equipment can be a fast-track to performance — with no learning curve, no surprises, and no capital bottleneck.