How a busy port cargo handler found speed in a new forklift fleet

The terminal operation handles bulk, breakbulk and project cargo, with special expertise in handling paper and pulp imports, such as paper rolls, bales and palletized paper in containers.

The operation’s parent company, Enstructure, owns and operates an integrated network of marine terminals and logistics assets across the eastern half of the United States and is in expansion mode.

Seaonus began modernizing its forklift fleet about two years ago. The company needed newer equipment that could improve efficiency, boost operator comfort over long shifts, and offer the versatility demanded by their product variety and unique applications. The trucks also had to accommodate the tight warehouse aisles, which had been configured long ago for existing forklifts.

Those recommendations included replacing the company’s current fleet of high-capacity warehouse trucks with Big Trucks and a variety of paper-handling attachments. The supplier also recommended special engineering customizations, including a short wheelbase chassis to enhance maneuverability, a unique lift height mast to maximize facility storage through high stacking, and hydraulic refinements to support smooth paper clamp movement.

The trucks allow the Seaonus terminal to move loads within the warehouse more efficiently, improving operator comfort and throughput, without the significant cost and disruption of renovating the entire facility.