Toyota Material Handling Australia (TMHA) says it now supplies materials handling solutions for Mitre 10’s nationwide network of distribution centres, which services more than 450 Mitre 10 and True Value hardware stores.

TMHA claims it has been awarded a five-year lease to provide Mitre 10 with BT, Raymond and Toyota-branded forklift products.

Mitre 10 distribution centre management and staff are said to be impressed with the performance of BT’s range of reach trucks and low-level order pickers.

The hardware store’s southern region distribution centre manager, Brett Manning, says the company's deal with TMHA has brought an instant improvement in workplace efficiency and safety.

"The great thing with the switch to Toyota is the uniformity of the forklift product we use in the warehouse," Manning said.

Manning says Mitre 10 specifically chose BT's reach truck for its ability to reach the extremely high racks in its warehouse and because staff liked the unit's ergonomic controls and ease of operation.

Mitre 10's adoption of Toyota's integrated fleet management system has also enhanced OH&S levels.

"Our workplace is now safer because of Toyota's fleet management system, due to the system's features and how it interacts with those built into the equipment.”

Mitre 10's Toyota-supplied fleet consists of 38 BT second level man-up double-length order pickers, 21 BT reach trucks, 16 BT double-length pallet trucks and a range of Toyota LPG counterbalance forklifts, BT pallet trucks and Raymond man-up high-level order pickers.