What does forklift access control cost?
A code-only keypad is about $126.42CA$180.31 a truck. A unit that also makes the operator complete the daily safety check is $865.00CA$1,233.75, with no monthly fee. Most fleet systems only give a price when you ask for a quote.
The prices, side by side
Published pricesForklift access control means the truck only starts for someone who is allowed to drive it. There are four ways to get it, or part of it, and they are priced very differently. These are the prices each one publishes.
Pricing is in US dollars.Prices in Canadian dollars are estimates; orders are charged in US dollars. Does not include freight, taxes, duty or installation. Full price includes cost of hardware, licensing fees, full use of US based web portal (smPortal) & tools (smConsole, smHealth, etc.)
You pay once for the unit. The portal has no monthly fee.
2 pre-programmed key fobs in the box
1 year replacement warranty
Built-in 12 to 48 volt converter
With the SM301: full use of the web portal, smConsole and smHealth
The web portal, the setup app and remote troubleshooting come with the SM301. There is no licence to renew and no charge for each operator or supervisor.
One SM301, the mounting bracket, four key fobs and a year of unlimited report storage. It is for companies fitting their own equipment and is offered for a limited time.
See the Introductory OfferThat is the website price. For a fleet, ask first: sales prepares a quote for larger orders.
Request a QuoteOptional extras
Buy only what you needWhat the price does not include
Installation
Start-Manager does not install units. A dealer technician or your own maintenance department does it, and what that costs depends on who does the work. The simplest way is to wire into the key switch harness in place of the key, with 8 wires at most.
Freight and the border
Freight is worked out in the cart before you pay. Orders going to the US also show customs brokerage and any tariff there, so the total is known before the card is charged.
Tax
Canadian orders are charged GST/HST. Prices on this page are before tax.
Trucks over 48 volts
Both units take 12 to 48 volts as they come. Above that, add the voltage converter at $92.50CA$131.93 a truck.
A keypad decides who drives. It cannot tell you the truck was checked.
OSHA requires every forklift to be examined before it is placed in service, at least daily, and after each shift where trucks run around the clock. That rule is 29 CFR 1910.178(q)(7). A code-only keypad does nothing about it, and paper or an app only works if the operator chooses to do the check.
The SM301 asks the questions on its own screen and will not let the truck start until they are answered. If a question fails, the truck can stay locked until a supervisor releases it. Every check lands in the web portal with the operator’s name on it.
An app that charges for each user is paid for again every month: $24.00CA$34.23 a user a month is $288.00CA$410.77 for each person each year. The SM301 is paid for once, for each truck, however many operators use it.
A daily safety check that has to be completed before the truck starts
A lockout after a failed check, until a supervisor releases the truck
A code or a 125 kHz card or fob for each operator
Wi-Fi, so codes, cards and questions are managed from the web portal
Reports and alerts sent by email on a schedule
Last operator search, for finding who was on a truck after an accident
Questions about the price
Is there a monthly fee?
No. smPortal, smConsole and smHealth have no fees with the purchase of an SM301. Report data is kept for 3 months; unlimited storage for the life of the unit is a one-time $125.00CA$178.29. The one thing with a monthly fee is smIntegration, the optional link to your own software, and sales quotes that.
What does installation cost?
Start-Manager does not install units, so there is no installation charge from us and none in these prices. A dealer technician or your own maintenance department fits them, usually by wiring into the key switch harness in place of the key, with 8 wires at most. We send installation and setup documents after the order and give technical support for the installation.
Is there a price for a whole fleet?
Sales prepares a quote on request for fleets and larger orders, and businesses can buy on a purchase order or an invoice. Tell us how many vehicles you run through the quote form on the Contact page.
Do the prices include shipping and tax?
No. Freight, US customs brokerage and any tariff are shown in the cart before you pay, and Canadian orders are charged GST/HST. Orders of 20 units or fewer usually ship in 2 to 3 days.
Can I pay in Canadian dollars?
Orders are charged in US dollars. Visitors in Canada see each price as an estimate in Canadian dollars at the Bank of Canada rate, and the card issuer does the actual conversion.
Does it work on my trucks?
The SM301 and SM101 work with all makes and models of forklifts, powered pallet trucks, scissor lifts, utility vehicles, stationary machinery and overhead cranes. Both are usually wired into the key switch harness, replacing the key.
What about warranty and returns?
Both units have a 1 year replacement warranty for factory defects and failures. It does not cover the labour to install or remove a unit, or freight. Returns are accepted in brand-new condition and in the original packaging, with a 10% restocking fee.
Want a number for your fleet?
Call us 1-800-674-9320, ask for a quote, or see the system in an online demo.
Start-Manager’s prices are the ones on this website. The other prices were read from the sellers’ own pages on 15 October 2026 and will change; treat them as a guide and check before you decide.
- Code-only keypad: a 99-code keypad listed at $126.42CA$180.31 by Forklift America .
- Checklist app: the free and Premium plans on SafetyCulture’s pricing page , billed yearly and monthly.
- Fleet telematics: the truck makers and telematics companies we looked at ask you to contact a dealer or request a quote, and show no price.