Adam Smith and Tim Waples mark their associations' alliance

The Association of Industrial Truck Trainers and the Fork Lift Truck Association have announced a strategic alliance aimed at maximising the flow of information, guidance and resources to those working within the forklift industry, as well as those owning and operating equipment on site.

Adam Smith, managing director of AITT, described the alliance as "a perfect fit". "Both organisations have a wealth of knowledge and experience and are firmly rooted in the real world, delivering innovative and practical initiatives to benefit members and customers alike."

As a result of the new relationship, AITT will be granted Partnership Member status by the FLTA. This will allow members access to a variety of online information and resources, including
FLTA member news and technical bulletins, along with discounts for the FLTA's online shop and to its National Forklift Safety Convention, as well as other events.

In return, FLTA members will have access to the AITT website through a new membership category which will allow FLTA members to download HSE documentation and safety-focused information with a particular emphasis on training in the workplace.

Tim Waples, chief executive of the FLTA, says: "Both organisations focus on raising standards and offering the highest quality of support, ... constantly evolving to meet the needs of a changing landscape.

"We've been impressed by AITT's willingness to think differently. Recently, AITT became the first accrediting body to launch a scheme designed to ensure instructors are operating as effectively as possible. Believing that five years is too long to go without monitoring, AITT has introduced a voluntary scheme of annual internal audits to measure and maintain performance standards among accredited trainers.

"Those of our members who carry out their own operator training will, I believe, be very interested in the game-changing new portable electronic testing system - PEFT - that will make the procedure faster and easier for both instructors and operators."