What Tri-Lift does

Tri-Lift, Inc. is a privately held, third-generation family-owned material handling equipment dealer founded in 1968 and headquartered in New Haven, Connecticut. The company operates as an authorized dealer for nine OEMs — CAT, Jungheinrich, Kalmar, Linde, Mitsubishi, Big Joe, Genie, JLG, and Terex — across a defined Northeast territory (Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont) served from five company-owned facilities totaling 114,000+ square feet. Its core business is full-service equipment distribution: new and used forklift and aerial equipment sales, parts (with a $2M HQ inventory and a 24/7 online store), short- and long-term rentals (~900 units), planned maintenance and emergency repair services, OSHA-compliant operator training, warehouse design and products, and multi-option financing/leasing.

The company monetizes across hardware sales, recurring service contracts (PM, MPM, BMM, TM&R programs), rental subscriptions, parts consignment, and fleet management subscriptions backed by a telematics dashboard. Differentiated offerings include LiFePO4 lithium battery retrofits (3,500-cycle lifespan, 30% efficiency gain over lead-acid, bundled financing), warehouse automation/IoT integration, and a heavy-duty Kalmar line (11,000–158,500 lb capacity) addressing ports, steel, and lumber markets. The customer base is horizontally distributed across industrial/commercial warehouses, distribution centers, construction, and OSHA-regulated employers, with no named enterprise logos disclosed and pricing varying by brand and specification (used units $4.7K–$59K; new equipment priced per model). Go-to-market is enterprise field sales through the five locations, supplemented by a 24/7 phone sales line, digital parts e-commerce, and an email/blog content channel.

Strategically, Tri-Lift has grown primarily through OEM authorizations (MCFA in 1996, Jungheinrich in 2010, Kalmar in 2022), one material handling acquisition (Vantage Equipment LLC's MH group in 2021), and facility upgrades including a 20%-larger Hauppauge hub in July 2023. It has not raised external funding and remains wholly family-owned, reinvesting operating profits. Roughly 120 employees staff operations across sales, service, parts, and training functions.

Name

Tri-Lift

Legal name

Tri-Lift, Inc.

Website

https://triliftinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Tri-Lift, Inc. is a third-generation family-owned full-service material handling equipment dealer, authorized for nine OEMs (CAT, Mitsubishi, Jungheinrich, Kalmar, Linde, Big Joe, Genie, JLG, Terex), serving industrial, warehouse, and construction customers across the Northeastern US from five locations with sales, parts, rentals, service, and training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Material Handling Equipment Dealership

NAICS

Industrial Truck, Tractor, Trailer, and Stacker Machinery Manufacturing (333924), Conveyor and Conveying Equipment Manufacturing (333922)

SIC

Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537), Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084), Construction Machinery & Equip (3531), Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013)

akta.pro primary industry

Forklifts & Industrial Trucks (IC & Electric) (IMAHABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cranes, Hoists & Overhead Material Handling (Industrial) (IMAHABAE)

Keywords

• Material handling equipment
• Forklift dealership
• Warehouse solutions
• Aerial equipment sales
• Fleet management services

Headquarters

HQ city

New Haven

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales: Sales of new and used forklifts and material handling equipment from multiple brands including CAT, Jungheinrich, Kalmar, Linde, Mitsubishi, Big Joe, Genie, JLG, and Terex. Includes Class I-V forklifts, aerial equipment, and specialty vehicles.
2. Parts Sales: Replacement parts for all major OEM brands. Operates 24/7 online parts store and stocks parts for extensive list of equipment manufacturers.
3. Service and Maintenance: Planned maintenance programs, emergency repairs, emissions testing, tire replacement, battery maintenance, and fleet auditing. Multiple service program options including PM, MPM, BMM, and TM&R programs.
4. Equipment Rentals: Short-term and long-term rentals of forklifts and aerial equipment. Nearly 900 rental units available. Long-term rentals can be customized up to 7 years with flexible return policies.
5. Financing and Leasing: Multiple financing options including purchase plans, leasing plans, rent-to-own, long-term rentals, residual lease, lease options, and lease with full maintenance.
6. Safety Training: OSHA-compliant safety training programs for forklift and aerial equipment operators. Includes train-the-trainer programs and certification courses.
7. Warehouse Products and Design: Warehouse design, consulting, rack systems, modular offices, mezzanines, dock equipment, and conveyor systems.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Tri-Lift is a full-service material handling equipment dealership and warehouse solutions provider operating across the Northeast US. The company sells new and used forklifts, aerial equipment, and warehouse products from nine world-class OEM brands (CAT, Mitsubishi, Jungheinrich, Linde, Kalmar, Big Joe, Genie, JLG, Terex) and complements sales with parts distribution, planned maintenance programs, emergency repair services, equipment rentals (nearly 900 units), financing and leasing, OSHA-compliant safety training, warehouse design, and a fleet management dashboard with telematics.

Product overview

Tri-Lift is a full-service material handling equipment dealer and warehouse solutions provider operating as a dealer for multiple world-class equipment brands. The core product portfolio centers on forklifts (CAT, Mitsubishi, Jungheinrich, Linde, Big Joe) and aerial/construction equipment (Genie, JLG, Terex), complemented by heavy-duty equipment (Kalmar). Supporting services include warehouse products (rack systems, conveyors, dock equipment, modular offices), warehouse automation and robotics with IoT integration, fleet management with telematics, parts distribution with 24/7 online store, safety training (OSHA-compliant forklift and aerial operator programs), equipment rentals (nearly 900 units), planned maintenance programs, emergency repair services, and financing options. Additional offerings include LiFePO4 lithium batteries with 3,500 cycle lifespan and various lease/financing programs. The company operates 5 locations across Connecticut and New York with 114,000+ square feet of facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CAT Lift Trucks Full line of CAT forklifts ranging from 2,200 lbs to 33,000 lb capacity, available in cushion or pneumatic tires, electric, gasoline, liquid propane gas, diesel, and narrow aisle configurations for industrial and warehouse operators.
• Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks Mitsubishi electric counterbalanced forklifts, order pickers, reach trucks, electric riders, IC cushion forklifts, and IC pneumatic forklifts for warehousing, manufacturing, and distribution operators.
• Jungheinrich Lift Trucks Jungheinrich total warehouse solutions including Automated Guided Vehicles, counterbalanced forklifts, turret trucks, walkies, and pallet trucks for warehouse operators.
• Linde Forklift Trucks Linde combustion engine forklifts, electric motor forklifts, sideloaders, order pickers, reach trucks, pallet trucks, and high-level stackers with low energy requirements for industrial operators.
• Kalmar Heavy Duty Forklifts Kalmar heavy-duty forklifts, reach stackers, and container handlers built for ports, concrete, lumber, steel mills, and marinas, with capacities from 11,000 to 158,500 lbs.
• Big Joe Electric Forklifts Big Joe electric and manual lift trucks including manual and electric pallet jacks, walkie reach stackers, walkie tuggers, straddle stackers, order pickers, 3 and 4-wheel forklifts, and task support vehicles for retail, manufacturing, and warehousing environments.
• Genie Aerial Lift Systems Genie aerial work platforms, articulating boom lifts, material lifts, scissor lifts, telehandlers, and vertical mast lifts for construction, facility maintenance, and warehouse operators.
• JLG Aerial Lift Equipment JLG scissor lifts, telehandlers, articulating booms, personnel lifts, and towable equipment for light and heavy construction, facility maintenance, and warehousing applications.
• Terex Light Towers Terex diesel and LED gas-powered light towers with 10-hour runtime on battery charge for construction, infrastructure, quarry, mining, and oil and gas applications.
• Equipment Rentals Nearly 900 late model aerial and forklift units available for short-term and long-term rentals, with capacities from 1,000 to 40,000 lbs for forklifts and 6 to 120-foot lifts for aerial booms. Includes 8 company-owned delivery trucks for 24-hour delivery.
• Financing Programs Multiple financing options including purchase plans, leasing plans, rent-to-own, long-term rentals, residual lease, lease options, and lease with full maintenance. Interest rates as low as 2.5% APR on Cat, Jungheinrich, and Mitsubishi forklifts.
• Planned Maintenance Programs Customizable PM programs including PM Maintenance Program with flat rate labor under annual agreement, and Managed PM Maintenance Program with monthly payment covering parts and labor to prolong equipment life and improve uptime.
• Emergency Repair Service 24/7 emergency repair service with 4-hour response time on emergency calls, on-site troubleshooting using state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and fully stocked service vehicles.
• Parts Distribution Replacement parts for all major OEM brands including Cat, Mitsubishi, Jungheinrich, Linde, Big Joe, Genie, JLG, and Terex. Features 24/7 online parts store, Promatch system for locating parts, and parts consignment program for larger fleets with $2M parts inventory at New Haven HQ.
• Safety Training Programs OSHA-compliant safety training and certification for forklift and aerial lift operators, including on-site training, train-the-trainer courses, and recertification every three years. Trainers average 15-20 years of industry experience.
• Lithium Batteries LiFePO4 lithium batteries for forklifts with 3,500 cycle lifespan, opportunity charging capability, 30% energy efficiency improvement over lead acid, built-in thermal and chemical stability, and multiple safety protections. Financing available with new truck purchase or existing truck upgrade.
• Warehouse Products and Design Full line of warehousing products including rack systems (cantilever, push back, drive in, selective), in-plant modular offices, mezzanines, dock equipment (ramps, seals, shelters), and conveyor systems (chain driven, live roller, gravity, belt, vibratory), plus warehouse design and consulting services.
• Warehouse Automation and Robotics Warehouse automation solutions incorporating Internet of Things (IoT) into traditional forklifts, including robotics integration and automation technologies for material handling operations.
• Fleet Management Services Comprehensive fleet management with online portal providing real-time fleet tracking, asset lists, budget forecasting, maintenance schedules, equipment utilization analytics, and fleet safety monitoring. Includes telematics solution.

Quantifiable outcome

• Preventive maintenance reduces equipment downtime 30-50% and prolongs equipment life by 20-40%
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KalmarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2022Tri-Lift became the authorized dealer for Kalmar equipment in the Northeast in 2022. Kalmar provides heavy-duty forklifts, reach stackers, and container handlers for demanding environments including ports, concrete, lumber, and steel mills.
• JungheinrichcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2010Tri-Lift has represented the Jungheinrich product line since 2010. Jungheinrich offers total warehouse solutions with innovative narrow aisle equipment and automated guided vehicles.
• Linde Material HandlingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2003Tri-Lift became an authorized dealer for Linde forklifts in 2003. Linde is recognized as one of the world's leading forklift manufacturers known for innovative technologies and low energy requirements.
• Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1996Tri-Lift became an authorized MCFA dealer in 1996, representing Cat lift trucks, Mitsubishi forklift trucks, and Jungheinrich brands. MCFA has recognized Tri-Lift with Dealer of Excellence and Five Star Customer Service awards.
• GeniecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized dealer for Genie aerial work platforms, scissor lifts, articulating booms, telehandlers, and material lifts.
• JLG IndustriescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized dealer for JLG scissor lifts, boom lifts, telehandlers, and towable equipment for construction and industrial applications.
• Big JoecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized dealer for Big Joe electric and manual lift trucks including pallet jacks, walkie reach stackers, walkie tuggers, straddle stackers, order pickers, and task support vehicles.
• TerexminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized dealer for Terex light towers ideal for construction, infrastructure, quarry, mining, oil and gas applications. Available for rent or purchase.
• Vantage Equipment LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcquired Vantage Equipment LLC's material handling group in 2021, expanding Tri-Lift's CAT Lift Trucks and Jungheinrich service territory and adding Mitsubishi forklift dealership for 18 counties in Central New York.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves18 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Eastern Lift Truck Co. Full-service material handling equipment dealer operating across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast US, offering forklifts, aerial equipment, parts, service, and rentals. Highly comparable to Tri-Lift in business model, customer base, and product offerings.
• Abel Womack: Massachusetts-based full-service material handling and warehouse solutions dealer offering forklifts, racking systems, automation, and integrated warehouse design. Closely comparable given shared Northeast geography and full-service dealer model.
• MH Equipment: Large multi-state full-line material handling dealer representing multiple OEM brands across the Midwest and South. Comparable in scale, multi-brand strategy, and integrated sales-service-rental model.
• Equipment Depot: One of the largest independent material handling equipment dealers in the US, operating across multiple states with multi-brand OEM authorization. Directly comparable in service breadth, fleet management offerings, and parts distribution.
• ProLift Industrial Equipment: Multi-brand material handling dealer serving the Midwest and Southeast with sales, service, parts, rentals, and operator training. Comparable in dealer strategy, training programs, and aftermarket service focus.
• H&K Equipment: Pennsylvania-based full-service material handling dealer with multi-line OEM representation and broad service offerings. Geographically adjacent and structurally similar in scale and product mix to Tri-Lift.
• Atlas Companies: Multi-brand material handling and aerial equipment dealer operating across several US states. Comparable in full-service model, multi-OEM portfolio, and integrated training and fleet management capabilities.
• LiftOne: Large Southeastern US material handling dealer offering forklifts, aerial equipment, parts, service, and fleet management. Comparable as a regional full-service dealer with multi-brand OEM relationships.

Broad incumbents

• Toyota Material Handling: Largest US forklift OEM with a substantial direct dealer network. Comparable as the dominant OEM whose dealer economics shape the broader material handling distribution industry in which Tri-Lift operates.
• Hyster-Yale Group: Global forklift OEM (Hyster, Yale) with an extensive North American dealer network. Comparable as a competing OEM whose dealer authorization decisions directly influence Tri-Lift's competitive landscape.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/triliftncinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/TriliftInc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tri-Lift