Terex AWP launches online operator training in North America

Terex Aerial Work Platforms (AWP) is launching an online operator training scheme called Genie Lift Pro that will be offered by authorised training centres in North America.

The online training, undertaken before hands-on training with a qualified trainer, will be offered initially in North America and will meet ANSI and OSHA standards in the US and those of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). A future launch in other markets is a possibility, said Terex AWP.

The training, which will cost around US$299 per trainee, will be offered by Genie customers and dealers who meet specified criteria, and it will also be possible for independent companies to establish Lift Pro training operations.

The online training takes around three hours to complete and can be undertaken when the trainee chooses, at work or at home. The online sessions are followed by a practical, hands-on training.

Mike Samora, senior director, global marketing, Terex AWP, said the Lift Pro training “gives end users the ability to train at their own pace and on their own schedule. This is completely unprecedented in the industry, and we anticipate the programme will potentially increase both productivity and safety on the job site.”

The course covers self-propelled booms and scissors and trailer mounted products, and Terex said it will cover most brands of equipment.

The Lift Pro programme will compete against other private and industry-led training scemes, including that of IPAF, whose training is provided by a global network of authorised training centres that offer complete classroom/practical courses. IPAF is expanding its training globally and has a North American subsidiary, AWPT Inc.

Asked at the Rental Show if its online scheme would place it in conflict with IPAF, Matt Fearon, Terex AWP president, said he had respect for IPAF’s training scheme; “We don’t see it as a conflict. We see it as supplementing it, getting to a wider audience. We see a need out there that is driven by safety.”

Terex said that by making the training available online to end users, employers could potentially increase jobsite efficiency by replacing traditional class-room training qualification programs.

A 30-question exam is administered upon completion of the online training modules, and end users are required to answer all questions correctly. If an incorrect answer is given, participants are required to return to the module and seek the correct answer.