SOUTH AFRICA · 2026 EDITION
Forklift Operator: Counterbalanced F1–F4
Unit Standard 242974 / QCTO Skills Programmes SP-220303 to
SP-220306
Theory Study Guide, Practice Q&A and Practical Assessment Guide
Plain-English notes, worked examples and exam-style questions for the forklift theory test and practical
✓ 150 practice questions with step-by-step answers and sources
✓ 40-question mock exam (70% pass) with memo
✓ Our own diagrams: stability triangle, load centre, capacity plate, ramps
✓ Printable pre-start checklist and practical assessment guide
✓ 20 free video lessons, links checked October 2026
✓ Covers the 2024 Code of Practice and the QCTO transition
Independent study aid. Not affiliated with, endorsed by or issued by the Department of Employment and Labour, the
QCTO, TETA or any training provider. It does not replace accredited training, a practical assessment or a licence.
Version 1.0 · Last updated October 2026
,Important notice
Please read before you start
• This is an independent study guide written by Latest Exam Packs. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or
issued by the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), the QCTO, TETA, any licensing body or any
training provider.
• It does not replace accredited training, a practical assessment or a valid licence. You may only operate a
forklift at work once you are trained, assessed and licensed as the law requires.
• The questions are our own, written to match the topics of the theory test. They are not copied from any
provider's test and are not the questions you will get.
• Always follow your training provider, your site rules and the operator manual of your machine where they
differ from this guide.
• Laws and codes change. This edition reflects the Driven Machinery Regulations 2015 and the National Code
of Practice 2024 (as corrected in January 2026), checked in October 2026.
How we checked the answers
Every answer was checked against the Driven Machinery Regulations 2015, the National Code of Practice
for Training Providers of Lifting Machine Operators (2024), the OHS Act, the SAQA record for unit
standard 242974, and widely used manufacturer and safety-authority guidance. Where providers or sites
may differ (for example exact travel height or test format), the notes say so and the item is listed in
'Things to confirm'.
© 2026 Latest Exam Packs. Licensed for the buyer's personal study. Please don't copy, resell or share the file.
Latest Exam Packs | Forklift F1–F4 | Independent study aid, not affiliated with DEL, QCTO or TETA | Page 2
,Contents
• Part 1: How the forklift licence works (start here)
• Topic 1: Law, licensing and the QCTO transition
• Topic 2: Forklift types, parts and controls
• Topic 3: Pre-start checks, pre-operational tests and defects
• Topic 4: Stability, load centre and the capacity plate
• Topic 5: Load handling, stacking and destacking
• Topic 6: Safe driving: pedestrians, ramps, docks and site rules
• Topic 7: Refuelling, LPG, battery charging and parking
• Topic 8: Emergencies, tip-overs and incident reporting
• Part 3: Mock exam (40 questions) and memo
• Printable pre-start checklist
• Practical assessment guide
• One-page revision sheet and glossary
• Things to confirm, and sources
Question counts in this pack
Topic Questions
Law, licensing and the QCTO transition 20
Forklift types, parts and controls 20
Pre-start checks, pre-operational tests and defects 20
Stability, load centre and the capacity plate 25
Load handling, stacking and destacking 20
Safe driving: pedestrians, ramps, docks and site rules 25
Refuelling, LPG, battery charging and parking 12
Emergencies, tip-overs and incident reporting 8
Practice questions total 150
Mock exam 40
Latest Exam Packs | Forklift F1–F4 | Independent study aid, not affiliated with DEL, QCTO or TETA | Page 3
, PART 1
How the forklift licence works
This pack prepares you for the theory test and the practical assessment for a counterbalanced forklift
licence (codes F1 to F4) in South Africa. It works for both training routes: the older unit standard 242974
'Operate counter-balanced lift truck' (TETA) and the newer QCTO skills programmes SP-220303 to
SP-220306. The skills and safety rules are the same.
How the assessment usually works
Part What happens How to prepare
Theory test Written test set by your training provider. A Work through every topic, then do the 40-
common format is about 40 multiple-choice question mock in Part 3 under time
questions with a pass mark of about 70%. pressure.
Formats vary between providers.
Pre-start and pre- You inspect the truck and test its functions Learn the printable checklist in this pack in
operational checks while the assessor watches. Missing an item a fixed order.
counts against you.
Practical driving and You drive a course, pick up, stack and destack Read the Practical Assessment Guide and
stacking loads and park. Penalty points are scored. practise the stacking sequence.
Oral / group questions The example mark sheet includes five theory Know the exam traps in every topic.
questions.
How to use this pack
Read the study notes for a topic, then the exam traps box.
Do the practice questions without looking at the answers. Mark yourself with the answers explained
section. Each answer has steps that show the reasoning and a source.
Watch the free videos for anything you find hard to picture. Some are from the UK, USA or Canada;
where their rules differ from SA, follow the notes in this pack and your training provider.
When you score 80%+ on every topic, sit the mock exam in one go (45 minutes).
Before your practical, print the pre-start checklist and read the Practical Assessment Guide.
Codes covered
Code Machine
F1 Counterbalanced lift truck up to 3 000 kg rated capacity
F2 Counterbalanced lift truck up to 7 000 kg
F3 Counterbalanced lift truck up to 15 000 kg
F4 Counterbalanced lift truck above 15 000 kg
Latest Exam Packs | Forklift F1–F4 | Independent study aid, not affiliated with DEL, QCTO or TETA | Page 4
Forklift Operator: Counterbalanced F1–F4
Unit Standard 242974 / QCTO Skills Programmes SP-220303 to
SP-220306
Theory Study Guide, Practice Q&A and Practical Assessment Guide
Plain-English notes, worked examples and exam-style questions for the forklift theory test and practical
✓ 150 practice questions with step-by-step answers and sources
✓ 40-question mock exam (70% pass) with memo
✓ Our own diagrams: stability triangle, load centre, capacity plate, ramps
✓ Printable pre-start checklist and practical assessment guide
✓ 20 free video lessons, links checked October 2026
✓ Covers the 2024 Code of Practice and the QCTO transition
Independent study aid. Not affiliated with, endorsed by or issued by the Department of Employment and Labour, the
QCTO, TETA or any training provider. It does not replace accredited training, a practical assessment or a licence.
Version 1.0 · Last updated October 2026
,Important notice
Please read before you start
• This is an independent study guide written by Latest Exam Packs. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or
issued by the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), the QCTO, TETA, any licensing body or any
training provider.
• It does not replace accredited training, a practical assessment or a valid licence. You may only operate a
forklift at work once you are trained, assessed and licensed as the law requires.
• The questions are our own, written to match the topics of the theory test. They are not copied from any
provider's test and are not the questions you will get.
• Always follow your training provider, your site rules and the operator manual of your machine where they
differ from this guide.
• Laws and codes change. This edition reflects the Driven Machinery Regulations 2015 and the National Code
of Practice 2024 (as corrected in January 2026), checked in October 2026.
How we checked the answers
Every answer was checked against the Driven Machinery Regulations 2015, the National Code of Practice
for Training Providers of Lifting Machine Operators (2024), the OHS Act, the SAQA record for unit
standard 242974, and widely used manufacturer and safety-authority guidance. Where providers or sites
may differ (for example exact travel height or test format), the notes say so and the item is listed in
'Things to confirm'.
© 2026 Latest Exam Packs. Licensed for the buyer's personal study. Please don't copy, resell or share the file.
Latest Exam Packs | Forklift F1–F4 | Independent study aid, not affiliated with DEL, QCTO or TETA | Page 2
,Contents
• Part 1: How the forklift licence works (start here)
• Topic 1: Law, licensing and the QCTO transition
• Topic 2: Forklift types, parts and controls
• Topic 3: Pre-start checks, pre-operational tests and defects
• Topic 4: Stability, load centre and the capacity plate
• Topic 5: Load handling, stacking and destacking
• Topic 6: Safe driving: pedestrians, ramps, docks and site rules
• Topic 7: Refuelling, LPG, battery charging and parking
• Topic 8: Emergencies, tip-overs and incident reporting
• Part 3: Mock exam (40 questions) and memo
• Printable pre-start checklist
• Practical assessment guide
• One-page revision sheet and glossary
• Things to confirm, and sources
Question counts in this pack
Topic Questions
Law, licensing and the QCTO transition 20
Forklift types, parts and controls 20
Pre-start checks, pre-operational tests and defects 20
Stability, load centre and the capacity plate 25
Load handling, stacking and destacking 20
Safe driving: pedestrians, ramps, docks and site rules 25
Refuelling, LPG, battery charging and parking 12
Emergencies, tip-overs and incident reporting 8
Practice questions total 150
Mock exam 40
Latest Exam Packs | Forklift F1–F4 | Independent study aid, not affiliated with DEL, QCTO or TETA | Page 3
, PART 1
How the forklift licence works
This pack prepares you for the theory test and the practical assessment for a counterbalanced forklift
licence (codes F1 to F4) in South Africa. It works for both training routes: the older unit standard 242974
'Operate counter-balanced lift truck' (TETA) and the newer QCTO skills programmes SP-220303 to
SP-220306. The skills and safety rules are the same.
How the assessment usually works
Part What happens How to prepare
Theory test Written test set by your training provider. A Work through every topic, then do the 40-
common format is about 40 multiple-choice question mock in Part 3 under time
questions with a pass mark of about 70%. pressure.
Formats vary between providers.
Pre-start and pre- You inspect the truck and test its functions Learn the printable checklist in this pack in
operational checks while the assessor watches. Missing an item a fixed order.
counts against you.
Practical driving and You drive a course, pick up, stack and destack Read the Practical Assessment Guide and
stacking loads and park. Penalty points are scored. practise the stacking sequence.
Oral / group questions The example mark sheet includes five theory Know the exam traps in every topic.
questions.
How to use this pack
Read the study notes for a topic, then the exam traps box.
Do the practice questions without looking at the answers. Mark yourself with the answers explained
section. Each answer has steps that show the reasoning and a source.
Watch the free videos for anything you find hard to picture. Some are from the UK, USA or Canada;
where their rules differ from SA, follow the notes in this pack and your training provider.
When you score 80%+ on every topic, sit the mock exam in one go (45 minutes).
Before your practical, print the pre-start checklist and read the Practical Assessment Guide.
Codes covered
Code Machine
F1 Counterbalanced lift truck up to 3 000 kg rated capacity
F2 Counterbalanced lift truck up to 7 000 kg
F3 Counterbalanced lift truck up to 15 000 kg
F4 Counterbalanced lift truck above 15 000 kg
Latest Exam Packs | Forklift F1–F4 | Independent study aid, not affiliated with DEL, QCTO or TETA | Page 4
