Two forklift truck operators from Travis Perkins are celebrating success after qualifying as finalists in RTITBS’s 2016 Forklift Operator of the Year competition.

Adam Hayes and Kristian Sherratt battled it out against forklift operators from across the UK, US and India to be crowned as finalists in an intense four-day competition, held at the International Materials Handling Exhibition at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre.

The complicated tests included a theory knowledge assessment and a number of practical challenges, including moving an open case of 4,000 balls out of a high level rack with a rotator attachment. They then needed to tip all the balls into a new case without dropping a single one – Mr Hayes and Mr Sherratt were the only two competitors to do this successfully.

Mike Seddon, instructor and trainer at Travis Perkins, said: “The competition celebrates the skills, safety and professionalism of forklift operators globally and as a business that puts safety first, we are very proud that our two employees were able to demonstrate this in practice. They both impressed the judges with their knowledge and outstanding manoeuvring skills – we wish them the best of luck in the rest of the competition.”

Adam Hayes and Kristian Sherratt will be taking part at the 2016 Forklift Operator of the Year Grand Final at RTITB’s headquarters in early 2017.