Hiab searches for MOFFETT Operator of the Year

May 09, 2015 Warehousing Ireland Events, Materials Handling, Materials Handling, News, News Comments Off on Hiab searches for MOFFETT Operator of the Year

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As part of its 70th anniversary celebrations, MOFFETT, part of Cargotec’s Hiab business area, will host the inaugural MOFFETT World Championship.

The competition is the first such contest ever to be held in the world of truck-mounted forklift truck driving, and is open to all owners and operators of MOFFETT truck-mounted forklift trucks.

“As the market-leader in truck-mounted forklifts, this competition is the ideal way to challenge MOFFETT truck operators, who are our ambassadors worldwide, to hone and demonstrate the skill with which they use MOFFETT equipment in their everyday working lives, delivering goods to their customers,” says Keith Quigley, Senior Vice President, Truck- Mounted Forklifts, Hiab.

The challenge

Competitors will complete a grueling course, under time-trial conditions, that will test their ability to mount and dismount the MOFFETT, perform daily safety checks, negotiate obstacles, and pick and place various loads in designated areas, all in a confined space, safely, and with efficiency and precision.

Penalty points will be added for faults such as safety infringements, misuse of the equipment, and a lack of awareness of the surroundings, and the competitor with the best time on the day will be declared the winner.

The trial will be judged according to strict criteria laid down by the MOFFETT Training Academy, who will also set the course and the scoring mechanism. An independent expert, accredited by the Road Transport Industry Training Board (RTITB), and who wrote the LTG10 standard, the certification required to operate truck-mounted forklift trucks, will adjudicate in the Grand Final.

Only the best can win

Qualification rounds begin this April, with the final to be held in Dundalk, Ireland on 23-25 October 2015. Heats will be held in Australia, Germany, France, the UK, Ireland, the USA, South Africa, Sweden, Finland, and The Netherlands, with more MOFFETT markets currently signing up to participate too.

The winner and runners-up will each win a specially made trophy, and decals to put on their MOFFETT back home, declaring them Operators of the Year 2015. Plus, they will also win the chance to nominate a favourite local charity to receive a share of the money raised in the MOFFETT 70th anniversary charity auction.

And if anyone needs to see what a real expert is capable of, MOFFETT will have their very own professional, the Mystery MOFFETT Operator, on hand to demonstrate what the perfect round looks like. (In case you were wondering, it’s 5 minutes and 30 seconds, with zero penalties.) “Have you got the skills and nerve to challenge the Mystery MOFFETT Operator and be crowned Operator of the Year 2015?” he asks.

“This competition is not for the faint hearted,” says Quigley. “We invite our MOFFETT ambassadors to step up to the challenge, and show everyone just how good they are. But only the best will have the chance to challenge the Mystery MOFFETT Operator on his home turf.”

For further information on how MOFFETT will celebrate its 70th anniversary, plus details of how to participate in the MOFFETT World Championship, please go to moffettjubilee.com.

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