Blog; Loading & Securing Training for Safe Operations

In the hire sector, equipment is constantly on the move. Forklifts load customer orders onto flatbeds, small plant hire vehicles are manoeuvred onto trailers, all of which are secured for delivery and transported around the country, with customers expecting a fast turnaround. Each part of the process carries risk, with workplace transport and loading operations all potentially dangerous activities if the relevant measures aren’t in place.

Businesses must take action to reduce risk by ensuring those involved recognise the dangers and how to minimise them by working safely. They need the relevant skills and knowledge to carry out these tasks in the correct way, and regular reinforcement to ensure best practice is continually followed day to day.

Competent teams not only protect people and equipment but also support efficiency and business reputation. When vehicles are loaded correctly, damage and delays are reduced. Likewise, when goods are safely secured, the risk of accidents (and resulting legal and financial repercussions) is minimised, and deliveries remain reliable. Training becomes more than a regulatory obligation, but instead a key driver of safe and compliant operations.

With training playing such a vital role in smooth running operations, in 2025 HAE partnered with established provider Mentor Training to help member companies keep loading and securing safely on track.

Mentor is the UK’s leading provider of material handling training, with more than 35 years of experience supporting businesses to operate safely and efficiently. With many businesses facing challenges around load security, they provide specialist training to target the risks in line with the Driver Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) code of practice and all relevant legislation.

Introduced to HAE members to help address any safety issues in this area, Mentor has worked with businesses across the hire industry and the wider builders merchant sector, helping to improve operational safety and maintain compliance.

To continue to advocate the importance of training, Mentor recently worked with HAE to host their latest Technical Health & Safety Committee Meeting, during which they were invited to deliver dedicated demonstration sessions. Attendees were invited to engage in load security and plant moving exercises led by Mentor’s experienced team, allowing them to see the processes first-hand and gain insight into the risks involved when preparing hire equipment for delivery.

Deliveries in the hire sector are rarely uniform, often involving large non palletised items or varied products for multi drop routes, all of which must be loaded, secured and transported safely.

To help hire businesses manage these unique risks, Mentor and HAE have focussed on training which equips teams to confidently complete the various stages of the process.

Forklift trucks, commonly used to move goods onto delivery vehicles, can be very dangerous when used incorrectly, so operators must understand how to keep themselves and others safe at all times.

Mentor specialise in workplace transport training that delivers assured standards for safety and compliance. Their AITT accredited training helps operators carry out essential pre use checks, manoeuvre in busy or confined spaces, handle and load goods safely, and understand stability, weight limits and attachments, among other essential skills. These crucial competencies help to prevent incidents such as overturned trucks, damaged loads, and pedestrian impacts.

To ensure that best practice taught in training is continually maintained, Mentor also provide supervisory training through their Managing Forklift Operations course, enabling leaders to identify and correct unsafe practice as it occurs, before it escalates.

Beyond forklift operations, Mentor offers training for plant moving, specifically limited to basic operations and suitable for those needing to manoeuvre small mobile plant for loading onto hire vehicles or trailers. This ensures that those carrying this out are competent and confident, which is vital, particularly in shared yard environments where pedestrian safety is critical.

There are also specialist courses for loading and securing small plant onto trailers or vehicles with tail lifts or beavertails, to ensure this crucial part of the process can be carried out safely.

Indeed, whatever goods or equipment the customer has ordered, once loaded they must be secured correctly to prevent damage, shifting, or loss during transit.

Mentor’s half-day load security training ensures that all those involved in the process understand best practice techniques for securing mixed loads, correct use of restraints, tie-downs and anchor points, methods to prevent movement in transit, as well as their legal responsibilities for safe transport.

What’s more, for drivers, it offers 3.5 hours towards the Driver CPC periodic training quota required to retain a Certificate of Professional Competence.
Effective load security not only protects people, equipment and goods but also prevents legal and financial consequences, supporting a smooth, reliable delivery service from start to finish.

By prioritising training for a seamless loading and securing process, hire businesses benefit from:

And with Mentor’s nationwide instructor network, companies can train on their own sites, using their own equipment and suitable loads, maximising relevance while making sure crucial training standards are met, every time.

Act now to protect your team and your business with industry leading training that ensures safety and compliance, throughout your hire operation.

For expert guidance on your training needs and to see how Mentor can support the safety of your operations, call HAE EHA Training Services on 0121 380 4617, or email them on training@hae.org.uk.