Industries
Dealer management software for forklift and material handling dealers
Forklift, EWP and material handling dealers operate a business model that blends short-term hire, long-term maintenance contracts, and outright sales — often across the same fleet simultaneously. Tracking fleet availability, billing recurring contracts accurately, and managing IPAF operator certification records requires a system purpose-built for the material handling industry, not a generic DMS that treats every asset the same.
Challenges we solve
Rental fleet availability and double-booking prevention
With units cycling rapidly through short-term hire, knowing exactly which units are available for a new booking — and preventing accidental double-bookings — requires a live fleet calendar, not a spreadsheet that's always one step behind.
Recurring billing on maintenance contracts
Planned maintenance contracts bill monthly or quarterly over multi-year terms. Manual invoicing is error-prone and misses billing periods. Automated billing period generation ensures revenue is never left on the table.
IPAF operator licensing and certification tracking
Customers operating EWPs must have current IPAF or equivalent operator licences. Dealers who issue units to operators without checking currency expose their customers and themselves to liability.
Battery and charger asset tracking
Electric forklifts come with chargers that are tracked and serviced separately from the machine. Tracking charger serial numbers, battery health readings and service intervals alongside the forklift itself requires linked asset records.
Return condition and damage cost recovery
Hire returns often involve damage claims. Without a structured inspection workflow with photos and itemised damage costs, dealers routinely absorb repair costs that should be charged to the customer or their damage waiver insurer.
How MDMS helps
Fleet availability Gantt calendar with conflict detection
MDMS shows every unit's hire commitments on a Gantt timeline. Creating a new contract automatically checks for clashes with existing bookings and suggests available alternatives when a conflict is detected.
Auto-billing for recurring hire contracts
Set a billing interval on any rental contract. MDMS generates billing periods automatically and creates invoices at the configured frequency. Overdue contracts trigger automated email reminders to customers.
Five-step return inspection wizard
The return wizard walks staff through a structured inspection: condition assessment, fuel level, damage identification with photos, deposit reconciliation, and confirmation. Damage charges generate an invoice automatically.
Linked asset records for machines, batteries and chargers
Equipment units can be linked to ancillary assets (batteries, chargers, attachments). Each linked asset has its own service schedule and hour meter tracking, ensuring nothing is missed at planned maintenance intervals.
Service contract management with PM scheduling
Create preventive maintenance schedules triggered by calendar interval or hour meter reading. MDMS alerts when each unit is due for its scheduled service and pre-populates the work order with the correct checklist.
Frequently asked questions
- What software do forklift dealers use in Australia?
- MDMS is purpose-built for Australian forklift and material handling dealers, covering the full operation: short-term and long-term hire fleet management, planned maintenance contracts, battery and charger tracking, return inspections, and recurring billing. It includes native Australian GST compliance and Xero/MYOB integration.
- How does MDMS handle rental fleet management for forklift dealers?
- MDMS includes a fleet availability Gantt calendar, conflict detection on new bookings, auto-billing for recurring contracts, and a structured five-step return inspection wizard with photo capture and damage cost invoicing.
Ready to see MDMS in your dealership?
Start a 14-day free trial — no credit card, no implementation fee, no sales call required. Or book a personalised demo with our team to see your workflow in MDMS.
Related features
Rental Contracts
Manage rental fleet availability, contracts, recurring billing and return condition assessments.
Service & Work Orders
Schedule workshop jobs, capture parts and labour, invoice from the work order and feed the unit's full service history.
Equipment & Inventory
Manage new, used and demo equipment with full status, location, configuration and service history per serial number.