In the UK, we believe that there are sufficient operating differences between a counterbalanced lift truck and a reach truck to justify a separate certificate of basic training. In a similar manner, there is a sufficient difference between a counterbalanced truck and, say, a pivot-steer truck. In each case there is a separate training course supporting specific certificates of basic training. There are recommended routes to convert from one to the other that allows for existing skills to be varied to encompass the new requirements. This has worked well for some 30-odd years.

There is no lift truck licence in the UK and, according to my sources in HSE, there never will be. This is due to the fact that there would need to be a change to the Health and Safety at Work Act to encomapass this as provision for licencing is not included withoin its scope.