If this is your first time around the block you probably don’t realise it, but there are actually two different classes of forklift ticket.
The first kind of ticket is the LF. An LF forklift licence allows you to operate any and every kind of forklift with the exception of an Order Picker / Stock Picker Forklift.
The second type of forklift ticket is the LO. The LO licence this is specifically for the Order Picker / Stock Picker type of forklifts. What makes this type of forklift different is the ability for the driver to be raised with the load.
Australia has a National Standard (the National Load Shifting Standard) for operating forklifts and it covers both classes of liccence. According to the standard the difference between the two forklift tickets is:
Forklift truck - covers the operation of a powered industrial truck equipped with a mast and an elevating load carriage to which is attached a pair of forkarms or other attachment. This type of forklift is generally referred to as a counter-balance forklift.
Order picking forklift truck - covers the operation of a powered industrial truck of a type where the operator’s control arrangement is incorporated with the load carriage/lifting media, and elevates with it.
As you can see the National Standard’s version is somewhat more specific in their terms, but first explanation is probably easier to remember.
Make sure that when you get your forklift training and assessment done that the training organisation, is registered to perform the training for one … and secondly that the cover the material necessary by and to the National Standard. Choose your registered forklift training orgnisation well.
The upside is that once you do have your forklift ticket you are permitted to operate a forklift anywhere in Australia from Queensland to Western Australia to Tasmania. The National Standard also maintains consistency across all the states for weight restrictions - and once you will be able to carry loads up to 80,000 kilos.