dan m
This is my experience also.
I am an Registered Training Organisation and an accredited assessor for forklift trucks.
Without exception my people who have been given a copy of the Assessment Questions & Answers when asked to describe "load centre Distance" can not!
They do not have a clear understanding!

The Queensland Government is changing the Assessment process so that all new operators MUST be trained.
My opinion is that they are moving in the right direction an that they should be applauded for their efforts.
However they have not shut the door to newbies being trained by ill-informed operators in the field, that is operators without the required knowledge or skill as a trainer.
I have been informed that the department is considering Renewal of Licences in Queensland.
If it was made a mandatory requirement for all operators to posses a proof of training certificate (which has a life of five years) issued by an approved trainer, I am sure that the ignorance level that exists would diminish dramatically within five years.
Some people say that their proposal / consideration is simply a revenue raising exercise.
I say that it is an opportunity to scrub away the ignorance & complacency that surely exists at the present time.
Some might say that I am trying to line my pockets by making such suggestions and they would be wrong!
My only motive in submitting comments here is to try to improve the safety level for operators & those who work around forklifts.
The opportunity is here to achieve a lot, I urge the legislators to be bold in their dealings with the subject.
Congratulations to the legislators for the consultative approach & a big thanks to "Forklift Action.com" for making this column possible.