In an impressive display of strategic collaboration, Maintainco and Forklifts of St. Louis recently secured an 18-truck deal, ousting Yale from Reckitt Benckiser’s site in Hillsborough, NJ.
The partnership began with Eric Whittingham of Forklifts of St. Louis, who leveraged his relationship with a Reckitt Benckiser site in Saint Peters, Missouri. During a discussion, Eric learned of the opportunity to replace the fleet in New Jersey. “When I heard about the need in Hillsborough, I immediately thought of Maintainco,” Eric said. “I assured my contact that they’d receive excellent support. I’ve told him before that we might not be the least expensive, but we ensure you receive the highest value possible. It’s been nice seeing Derek make that happen in New Jersey.”
With Eric’s endorsement, Derek Picarillo, of Maintainco, engaged swiftly, overcoming challenges to displace a 20-year stronghold by Yale. Derek’s strategy involved a power study and a shift to a lithium-ion battery (LiB) solution. He utilized Toyota’s ‘Trade-up to Toyota’ program and promoted ‘My Insights’ capabilities, enhancing the overall value proposition.
“Transitioning them to a LiB solution wasn’t just about upgrading their equipment—it was about recommending the most efficient and reliable solution,” Derek explained. “They also were surprised that telemetry data was available to them at no charge.”
The deal was secured not only because of competitive Toyota products but also due to the exemplary teamwork and best-in-class lead times.
This victory not only demonstrates the power of partnership but also reinforces Toyota’s competitive edge in a challenging market. “Winning new business is always rewarding, and doing so through the collaboration with Maintainco was really satisfying,” Eric concluded.
This achievement was bolstered by Reckitt Benckiser’s status as a National Purchasing Program (NPP) account with Toyota Material Handling, which brings additional benefits that underscore the dedication of both the dealer network and TMH to the partnership with Reckitt Benckiser.
Congratulations to Maintainco and Forklifts of St. Louis!