What should I look at in a holiday lighting company’s bucket truck and ladder fleet?

Walk the yard with a list. For each bucket truck, ask for the maintenance file, the record of required inspections, notes on past repairs and the name of whoever services it. Look for hydraulic leaks, worn controls and cracked or patched parts. Equipment that sits through the off-season can fail when the busy weeks start, so ask how it is stored and checked before use.

Ladders and safety gear need the same attention. Check for damage, make sure each ladder is rated for its use and ask how crews are trained to work at height. Ask whether any incidents or near misses have happened and how they were handled. A company that tracks these shows care, and one that shrugs may be carrying risk you cannot see.

Then work out what the fleet means for your costs. Ask which units are owned, financed or rented, how old they are and what a replacement would involve. A mechanic or appraiser can give a second opinion on condition, and your lawyer and insurance adviser can tell you what coverage and paperwork a buyer would need to take over.

Key takeaways

• Inspect every truck and ladder yourself and ask for its service file.
• Ask how equipment is stored, checked and repaired before each busy season.
• Find out about incidents, near misses and training for working at height.
• Get an independent opinion from a mechanic or appraiser.