It’s 5am on a rainy Tuesday. A delivery driver pulls up outside a supermarket, lorry packed with stock that needs to be on the shelves before doors open. He lowers the tail lift, but instead of gliding smoothly, it jolts, shudders, and grinds to a halt. Pallets of fresh goods are stuck on the back of the lorry, time is ticking, and the manager inside is already watching the clock.
Breakdowns rarely happen at convenient times. They happen when the schedule is tight, the goods are perishable, and the pressure is high. That’s why having a trusted emergency support team on hand is vital. A fast callout can mean the difference between a costly delay and business as usual.
Tail lifts are hardworking pieces of kit, but when they go down, the impact is immediate. Here are some typical issues you might run into:
- Hydraulic failure that stops the platform from lifting or lowering.
- Electrical faults causing dead controls or erratic movement.
- Damaged or worn parts such as hinges, cylinders, or safety locks.
- Platform alignment issues that make loading and unloading unsafe.
Why Fast Response Matters
The domino effect caused by a tail lift fault should never be underestimated. What may look like a one- or two-hour delay to a customer — which in itself is bad enough — can quickly turn into a major chain reaction that affects the entire supply network.
It’s easy to see why. That first delay pushes back the rest of the day’s schedule. The driver misses the next drop, which means the customer at the following site is also left waiting. Warehouses waiting for returned pallets or empty cages may be unable to reload other vehicles on time. Retail sites without fresh stock are left with empty shelves. For goods with strict delivery windows, such as chilled food, medical supplies, or just-in-time manufacturing parts, a missed slot can even mean the load is refused altogether.
One broken tail lift can tear through the supply chain, leading to lost hours, higher costs, and frustrated customers at every stage.
How Our Emergency Callout Works
From the first call to getting you moving again, the process is built for speed and reliability.
- 24/7 availability: Engineers are on standby round the clock.
- Europe-wide coverage: Support teams can reach you quickly, wherever you’re stranded.
- Skilled engineers: Every callout is handled by specialists trained to get tail lifts back in service safely.
- On-the-spot repairs: Most issues can be resolved roadside, reducing downtime.
- Replacement parts: Common genuine components are carried in stock vans to avoid delays.
- Mobile-first approach: P. Airey is built around mobile service. Our engineers come to you, which means in most cases there’s no need to take your vehicle to a garage.
Fast, Reliable, Always Ready
Stuck at a loading bay in the middle of the night? Broken down on the roadside? Emergency tail lift support is only a call away. Ring 0800 612 3164 for immediate assistance. With expert engineers, rapid response, and a clear focus on keeping your business moving, help arrives when you need it most.