Sixty Toyota forklifts are helping Premier Fruits Group, a leading Australian fresh produce company to move products at central markets and its warehouses in all five mainland capitals.
An industry leader within the fresh produce sector both in Australia and internationally, Premier Fruits Group relies on a fleet of 1.8-tonne payload Toyota 8FG18 forklifts as well as Toyota BT powered pallet movers for its operations.

Toyota Material Handling Australia (TMHA) uses the resources of its national branch network to supply and service the company’s fleet of Toyota rental forklifts at the central markets in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.

One of the most favoured forklifts in produce markets nationally, the 8FG18 combines Toyota’s industry-leading safety features with ease of operation, high reliability, productivity, durability and efficiency.

Premier Fruits Group co-founder and director Joe Petroro praised the reliability of their forklifts and the service and support received from Toyota in the central markets as well as at their warehouses. He explains that speed is imperative in the fresh produce industry and breakdowns have to be sorted as quickly and efficiently as possible to ensure maximum availability of the forklifts.

According to Melbourne area sales manager Scott Bocksette, TMHA has had a relationship with Premier Fruits Group for more than 15 years. Toyota’s rental forklifts provide flexibility to the fresh produce company, allowing them to focus on their business strengths.

TMHA’s on-site technicians service all the forklifts in the central markets while mobile service vans from their branches service the forklifts at the company’s warehouses.

Mr Bocksette comments that the gas-powered Toyota 8FG18 forklifts, which make up nearly all of the Premier Fruits Group’s fleet, are highly popular among customers and operators in produce markets, with the model also being the number one forklift in Australia according to the latest sales statistics.

Toyota’s award-winning 8-Series range includes internal combustion forklifts and battery electric forklifts, with payloads of up to eight tonnes for IC models.

Key features of Toyota’s 8-Series forklifts include fully-adjustable Operator Restraint Suspension seat with lumbar support for superior operator comfort; spacious operator compartment providing excellent forward visibility; Toyota’s exclusive System of Active Stability (SAS) comprising of the advanced Active Swing Lock Cylinder to improve forklift stability and reduce potential for tip-overs; and the exclusive Operator Presence System (OPS) preventing the forklift from being used if the operator is not seated correctly.