Competitors confirmed for Forklift Operator of the Year

Taking place at IMHX, the next stage of the competition is a series of live heats where the 40 forklift drivers with the highest scores from the initial online test will compete for a place in the Grand Final. To test drivers on the specific knowledge needed for skilled and safe forklift operation, the live heats include specially designed assessments which operators are required to complete in front of industry experts and professionals.  

The 2016 live heats will welcome the youngest ever finalists to qualify for the competition – Thomas Birkbeck and Craig Dawson from KP Snacks - who are both just 18 years old. Female operators will also be better represented than ever before in the contest, with Emily White, Madalina Ciobota and Samantha Tyson all qualifying to compete in the next round. 

Several of the competitors in the heats this year are employees of well-known companies, such as Travis Perkins, Wincanton, TNT UK, Hasbro, CEVA logistics, Nutricia, PPG and Clarke International. Wilko Retail UK Ltd has been particularly successful with seven employees qualifying to compete in the next round, one of which is Kris Scarborough, a former winner of the Linde Ultimate Operator Challenge. 

A truly international award, Chuck Long of US company Boise Cascade, winner of the Blue Mountain Forklift Round-Up, has also qualified for the heats alongside the winner of the RTITB Indian Forklift Driver of the Year 2015, Srinivasa N D. Competition zone (9A40)