Sigurd Clemeur has been driving forklifts for almost 30 years. His favourite forklift brand is Svetruck, mainly for its cabin comfort.

"I have driven all types and brands of forklifts, from an electric 1.5 tonner to a 45 tonne reach stacker.

"I also operated a straddle carrier for many years. We call them 'elephant'."

To operate straddle carriers, Clemeur had to go for several weeks of training and pass an exam to obtain his operator's licence, called DAK (Dok Autovoerder-Kraanman) in Belgium.

With the DAK licence, Clemeur was allowed to operate all mechanical vehicles in the port.

He says a major aspect of the training focused on safety.

"Everyone who does the training has to master all aspects of safety really well as lives depend on it."

DAK licence-holders have to go for an annual medical check-up.

Clemeur started driving forklifts in 1978. He started with a Clark, then moved to Hyster, Svetruck and Kalmar models.

He and his colleagues see the Svetruck as the Rolls Royce of forklifts because it has a very comfortable cab for the driver.

"The biggest change in forklifts is their cabin comfort. The unions have made the port employers become more humane towards the workers by adding heating in the cabins.

"Before that, everything was open and at times very cold. The result was frozen toes, fingers and in my case, ice on the moustache," Clemeur says.