Toyota Material Handling reinforces the importance of operator training and safety culture with the ‘Every Move Matters’ campaign.
COLUMBUS, Ind., June 3, 2025 – Toyota Material Handling, the leading North American material handling manufacturer and solutions provider, is reinforcing its commitment to operational safety by supporting the 12th annual National Forklift Safety Day, which will take place on Tuesday, June 10, in Washington, D.C.
Hosted annually by the Industrial Truck Association (ITA), National Forklift Safety Day highlights the critical importance of operator training and responsible forklift use. With approximately 4.5 million forklift operators in the U.S. workforce, Toyota continues to emphasize the need to foster a culture of safety as a cornerstone of operational success.
“At Toyota, we understand that a lasting culture of safety is built on sharing knowledge and best practices, which we call yokoten,” said Bret Bruin, Vice President of Toyota Sales for Toyota Material Handling North America (TMHNA). “Operator training supports our shared responsibility to protect lives and prevent incidents.”
Toyota has supported National Forklift Safety since its inception in 2014, when Brett Wood, TMHNA President & CEO and the current ITA Chairman, served on the founding committee. Only the second person in the ITA’s 70-year history to be elected twice as Chairman of the Board of Directors, Wood has led pioneering advancements in the industry, emphasizing sustainability, safety, and technological innovation during his more than 35 years in the material handling industry. Wood will speak during the 12th annual event at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday morning.
This year, Toyota is championing the theme “Every Move Matters,” which emphasizes how everyday decisions such as checking blind spots, buckling seatbelts and maintaining safe speeds lay the foundation for a safer work environment.
Toyota’s commitment to innovation is evident through nearly 30 years of its patented System of Active Stability™ (SAS), a technology that reduces the risk of forklift tip-overs and transformed industry safety standards. Building on that foundation is the Smart Environment Sensor Plus™ (SEnS+), which enhances situational awareness by helping operators detect pedestrians and obstacles in certain environments. SEnS+ features include dynamic zoning, adjustable truck slowdown, and backward movement prevention. Both technologies are integral components of Toyota Assist, a comprehensive suite designed to enhance operability, productivity, and operator awareness.
During Wood’s first term as ITA Chairman, he helped develop the association’s inaugural Lifting America: The Economic Impact of Industrial Truck Manufacturers, Distributors and Dealers report. The 2025 edition reveals that the industrial truck sector directly supports 257,500 U.S. jobs. For each of those, 2.8 jobs are created across the broader economy, emphasizing the industry’s widespread influence and its responsibility to lead with a safety-first mindset.
Toyota’s customer-first approach reflects its foundational principle of kaizen, or continuous improvement. Through its network of more than 230 dealer locations across North America, Toyota offers free site surveys, expert consultations, and training programs. This focus on education supports the industry’s mission to provide consistent and effective safety training across all sectors.
Toyota’s continued support of National Forklift Safety Day reflects its dedication to corporate social responsibility and to helping others carry the load.
Learn more about Toyota Material Handling’s safety initiatives at ToyotaForklift.com.
About Toyota Material Handling
Toyota Material Handling offers material handling products and solutions, including forklifts, reach trucks, order pickers, pallet jacks, container handlers, automated guided vehicles, and tow tractors, along with aerial work platforms, fleet management services, and advanced automation engineering and design. Toyota’s commitment to quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction, the hallmark of the Toyota Production System, extends throughout more than 230 locations across North America. With access to an industry-leading lineup of material handling products, Toyota dealers are uniquely positioned to help solve wide-ranging challenges in warehousing and distribution. Built for every application, Toyota can provide the most complete set of solutions for material handling, automation, energy, advanced logistics, and warehouse optimization. For more information or to learn more, visit ToyotaForklift.com.
