Yard Spotters in Houston

Lonestar Forklift provides quality yard spotters in Houston for all types of applications and production schedules. Whether you’re working in production, intermodal, or port operations, we can provide the perfect yard spotter solution. Yard spotters are a great method for transporting containers and various cargo on flatbed trailers. Their ease of operation and range of performance features make them an instantly productive addition to your operation. Every unit in our lineup is designed to optimize productivity, safety, reliability, and operator comfort. In addition to quality new yard spotters, we offer complete after-sales support for your equipment. We’ll work with you to provide a tailored equipment solution that adheres to your site requirements, schedule, and budget. Contact our team today to learn more about our selection of yard spotters in Houston!

What to Consider When Buying A Yard Spotter

What does a yard spotter cost?
This is a difficult question to answer as there are many factors that affect the price. For example, a new yard spotter will cost more than used yard spotter. Units with higher specifications will also cost more than units with lower capabilities. As a result, there is no fixed answer that applies to every yard spotter. For pricing on a specific new or used yard spotter, contact our team! We’ll work with you to deliver the perfect solution for your operating budget.

Where can I get parts and service for my yard spotter?
It’s important to find a parts and service provider that understands your site requirements. That’s why our team at Lonestar Forklift works with you to deliver tailored parts and service solutions for every unit in your fleet. Whether you’re looking for a seal kit, brake parts, or steer axles, we can help. We’ll work hard to keep your equipment up, running, and on the job. This optimizes productivity, safety, and usable machine life.

Do I need to be trained to operate a yard spotter?
Yes. Aspiring yard spotter operators must complete a certified training course. Training standards may vary from region to region. Contact our team today to learn more!

Can I drive a yard spotter on the road?
This depends on whether your unit is DOT (Department of Transportation) Certified or not. If it is certified, operators can drive the unit on the road. If not, the unit must stay within the confines of your operation. Please note that operators must possess a valid driver’s license to drive a yard spotter on the road.

New Yard Spotters in Houston

Looking for new yard spotters in Houston? Lonestar Forklift has you covered. With a selection of quality and innovative units from brands like TICO, we provide leading performance, safety, and value for any application. Our new yard spotters feature industry-leading performance and operator comfort, making them ideal for the most demanding applications. Whether you’re working at a port, a train yard, or even an industrial facility, we can help you find the perfect unit. Our team will work with you to understand your exact site requirements, daily operating schedule, and budget. This ensures that you’re getting a solution that checks every box, not just a few of them. When you choose one of our new yard spotters, you’re choosing units that offer the following benefits:

Hydraulic 5th Wheel
This defining feature allows operators to load and unload trailers without exiting the cab, enhancing safety, productivity, and comfort.

Reliable Durability
Each of our new yard spotters features a heavy-duty Cummins diesel engine, Meritor axles, and an Alison transmission. In addition to quality core systems, our shunt trucks feature the strongest steel frame in the industry. This ensures lasting and reliable durability that can endure the demands of shunting.

Simplified Service
Routine service and maintenance checks should never be complicated or overly time-consuming. That’s why every yard spotter in our lineup is designed to simplify inspection and service procedures. All servicing checks can be performed from ground level without tilting the cab, while all maintenance can be completed with standard hand tools. This eliminates the requirement of carrying specialized equipment within the cab.

Air-Operated Doors
Instead of manual bus-style doors operated by a lever, our doors are air-operated and open/close with the push of a button. This makes them safer, more stable, and easier to use.

Exceptional Comfort
A comfortable operator is a productive operator. That’s why our cabs are soundproof, spacious, and ergonomic. Each cab also features windshields that are up to 30% larger than the industry average, enhancing visibility and safety.

DOT-Certified Options
We offer DOT-Certified models that can be driven on the road up to a maximum of 40 MPH. This is ideal for operations that need to transport containers or cargo from one facility to another. 65L fuel tanks ensure long run times, optimizing productivity and reducing downtime.

Contact our team today to learn more about our new yard spotters in Houston and our other locations.

Used Shunt Trucks in Houston

If you need to add a quality yard spotter to your operation as soon as possible, look no further than our used yard spotters. By choosing a used yard goat, you get a quality unit at a lower price and without the lead times of a new unit. This allows you to cut down on costs without compromising quality. Our used equipment experts will work with you to determine the perfect used yard spotter for your needs. To accomplish this, we ask the following questions:

1. How many hours will you be operating your yard spotter per day?
2. What work environment will you be using your yard spotter in?
3. Do you require a DOT-Certified unit?
4. What is your daily production pace/schedule?
5. What budget are you working with?

By answering these questions, our team can provide you with a tailored solution that optimizes productivity, safety, and value. Browse our selection of used shunt trucks in Houston today or contact our team for more information. We’re proud to support every used yard spotter we sell with quality after-sales services and solutions. Whether you’re looking for parts, service, or training courses, we can help. Our team will partner with you to ensure that you always have what you need to keep your equipment on the job.

Yard Spotter Rentals in Houston

For some operations, purchasing a new or used yard spotter isn’t the most optimal solution. That’s why we’re proud to offer a selection of quality rental yard spotters in Houston and the surrounding areas. Our shunt truck rentals are ideal for any work environment and the most demanding tasks. Whether you’re transporting steel shipping containers or other cargo, we’ll help you find the perfect unit for your needs and budget. Our yard goat rentals offer the following benefits for every application:

Optimal Uptime
Each of our rental yard spotters in Houston are thoroughly inspected and maintained to the highest standards. All units are also less than 3 years old or have less than 3,000 operating hours. As a result, you’re getting modern safety and performance features with every rental. This ensures that our yard spotter rentals arrive on your site ready to get the job done right.

Leading Value
Our terminal tractor rentals are available at a fixed monthly cost. This makes it easy to track your operating expenses and ensure that you’re staying on budget. By choosing a rental, you’re eliminating the element of surprise for your equipment costs. In addition to simplified tracking and budgeting, this monthly cost can be written off as an operating expense. This allows you to maximize performance value without cutting down on equipment quality or reliability.

Little to No Lead Times
By choosing one of our yard spotter rentals, you get the equipment you need as soon as possible. This allows you to bypass the conventional lead times associated with new equipment. Our rentals can also be directly delivered to your site and retrieved when you no longer need them. This saves you the hassle of coordinating logistics.

To learn more about our selection of rental yard spotters in Houston and our other locations, reach out to our team!

Yard Goat Parts in Houston

Lonestar Forklift is proud to offer high-quality replacement yard goat parts. We provide a complete lineup of parts ranging from brakes and axles to seal kits and cab components. Our parts experts can determine the perfect parts for your equipment even if you don’t have a part number on hand. All we need is your make, model, and serial number. From here, we’ll determine the correct parts, pick them, and ship them to you. This ensures that you’re getting the correct parts solution every time you need it. In addition to support from parts experts, we provide the following benefits with our yard spotter parts:

A Leading Selection
We’re proud to stock thousands of high-demand yard spotter parts and components for many other types of equipment. Whether you’re looking for a PM kit or core components, we can help. If we don’t currently have the parts you need in stock, we’ll work hard to source them. This allows us to serve as your one-stop equipment parts shop, eliminating the hassle of dealing with multiple vendors.

Trusted Quality for Less
Every yard spotter part we offer is designed to offer lasting high-performance quality. This is ensured through extensive testing and inspection procedures during manufacturing. Our yard spotter parts are also backed by a leading warranty that allows you to operate with confidence. In addition to quality, we’re proud to offer our parts for less. By purchasing yard spotter parts in large quantities, we receive a bulk purchase discount that we pass on to you. This allows you to reduce costs without reducing quality.

Fast Shipping
When you need parts, you need them as soon as possible. That’s why we offer fast next-day shipping for most orders. This reduces your downtime by reducing the time spent waiting for parts to arrive. In addition to direct shipping, we offer in-location pickup at any of our facilities. This allows you to save on shipping costs while still receiving the parts you need as soon as possible. Want to learn more about our selection of parts for yard spotters in Houston? Contact our team today for a quote.

Yard Spotter Service in Houston

If you’re running your equipment for long hours every day, you need a team of technicians to keep your operation running smoothly. That’s why we offer comprehensive service solutions for yard spotters in Houston. Whether you’re bringing your equipment in for scheduled service or need emergency on-site mobile repairs, we can help. Our factory-trained technicians will deliver efficient, high-quality repairs every time you need them. We’ll also keep you informed of any future repairs that may need to be made or other areas of concern. This ensures that you’re aware of any potential service costs in the future.

In addition to scheduled and emergency service solutions, we offer planned and total maintenance programs. These can be tailored to your specific site requirements and budget, optimizing performance and value. By enrolling in one of our maintenance programs, we take care of your service, tracking and performing it as needed. This allows you to focus on your day-to-day tasks while we keep your equipment on the job.

If you want to have complete information on every unit in your fleet, look no further than our Fleet Track program. This innovative technology allows you to track maintenance requirements, machine conditions, and total operating costs for every unit in your fleet. By using this information, you can make informed equipment decisions and determine optimal turnover times.

For more information on our selection of yard spotters in Houston and our supporting services, reach out to our team! We’ll work with you to provide the perfect solution for your site requirements, operating schedule, and budget.

What is A Yard Spotter?

Yard spotters were invented in 1958 by Ottawa. Known as the terminal tractor, it was widely regarded as a new and innovative way of moving trailers without the need for a full-sized truck. In the following years, other manufacturers developed their own yard spotters to meet the demands of intermodal and port applications. Today, yard spotters are known by many names. These include shunt trucks, terminal tractors, yard goats, and yard jockeys. Regardless of the title, yard spotters have become a trusted addition to any operation.

Defining features of a yard spotter include:

• A hydraulic fifth wheel that allows operators to load or unload a trailer without exiting the cab.
• Easy access to core components and electric systems to simplify inspections and routine maintenance.
• Bus-like doors located at the back of the operator cab. Many modern models now feature air-powered doors for added convenience and safety.
• Ergonomic high-visibility cabs for enhanced operator comfort, visibility, and safety.

In addition to the core features above, many manufacturers have incorporated their own unique additions. Examples of these features can be seen in cab configurations, DOT-Certified models for road travel, and rear sensor systems. By offering all these features, yard spotters optimize safety, productivity, and overall equipment value. All yard spotters are also built to endure long working hours, heavy loads, and demanding work environments such as extreme heat or cold. This makes them a perfect choice for intermodal, port, and industrial applications that require contact transportation of containers and other goods. To discover the advantages of a yard spotter, contact our team today!

Quality Shunt Truck Solutions Since 1991

Lonestar Forklift has provided reliable yard spotters in Houston for more than 25 years. Our facility is conveniently located at 5420 North Freeway in North Houston, TX 77022. We’re proud to offer seven full-service facilities across Texas, allowing us to serve operations in any location.

Houston is the largest city in Texas, making it home to many large and unique operations. Our Houston location is proud to provide high-quality equipment solutions for the following areas:

• Liberty
• Chambers
• Galveston
• Brazoria
• Fort Bend
• Grimes
• Montgomery
• Jacinto
• Waller County
• Harris County

Lonestar Forklift has proudly supported the following industries in Houston since 1991:

• Construction
• Energy
• Aerospace
• Oil & Gas
• Intermodal
• Industrial and Manufacturing
• Transportation and Logistics

Contact our Houston branch today to learn more about our selection of equipment and supporting services!