Training Effectiveness comes down to whether the "trainee" can independently and routinely perform all of the standards of their job requiring the use of a forklift. Where they have written about it, the professional instructional designers call it "training transfer".

Training transfer is probably the single most important measure of whether a training effort was worth the cost in money, time, and any other resources used to complete the training. No transfer? Then, NO effectiveness. Some transfer? Then, some effectiveness. Complete transfer of all the job-required behavior taught during training? Then, you've captured the "brass ring"! Your reputation as a real forklift trainer probably precedes you. Congratulations on your effectiveness!

If you can accept that the authors who have written about training transfer nailed it as the most important measure of effectiveness, then you have to ask two questions, "To what extent does MY operator training transfer?", and, "How do I know?"

Since transfer (effectiveness) is defined as "independent and routine performance of all the standards of their job...", you can answer the above questions only after you define what is required of the operator's job. So, as an operator trainer, if the boss or client says you are to train ONLY to government safety standards, then, you can claim personal effectiveness AFTER the trainee is evaluated and found to act in accord with those government safety standards. (You will just have to forgive the boss or client for his/her ignorance...because YOU probably have little say in the matter.)

As most seasoned forklift trainers know, compliance with government safety standards ensures compliance with those standards covered in the training, but such compliance seldom transfers to routine on-job performance (government standards were made irrespective of any particular job.) If it did transfer, none of those people we trained in the past would have been hurt-by-forklift. So, as a professional trainer, claiming to have the slickest presentation slides, the best test questions, the most engaging classroom discussion and/or the most knowledge and skill as an operator trainer, in the end, doesn't mean squat. That is, unless the phrase "doesn't mean squat" is defined, in a language I do not speak, as 'training transfer".

Do you know any effective forklift operator trainers...NOT counting yourself, of course? :-)

Best wishes,

Joe
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