Hactl’s 15th Forklift and Pallet Competition: Safety, Skill and Logistics Insights

This piece reveals the key outcomes and logistics implications from the fifteenth Hactl International Forklift and Pallet Building Competition held at Hong Kong’s SuperTerminal 1.

Event overview: what happened at SuperTerminal 1

The annual contest brought together teams from ten international airlines to test precision, speed and adherence to aviation standards in a busy terminal setting. Contestants faced two core challenges: a timed forklift manoeuvring course and a one-hour pallet building contest that enforced IATA and industry best practices. Roughly 300 spectators watched the skills on show, and senior officials from Hong Kong’s transport, labour and aviation authorities attended to underline the competition’s focus on operational safety.

Participants and atmosphere

Teams represented a cross-section of global cargo carriers including Air Canada, Cargolux, China Southern Airlines, Emirates SkyCargo, EVA Air, Finnair, IAG Cargo, Japan Airlines, Nippon Cargo Airlinesy SF Airlines, alongside host Hactl. The crowd included both industry peers and curious onlookers, creating a friendly but intense competitive vibe — exactly the sort of real-world pressure that keeps operational teams sharp.

Results snapshot

Japan Airlines dominated the leaderboard, taking home multiple honours including Overall Champion, the Forklift Competition, Forklift Driving Safety Award, Pallet Building Competition and Best Cheering Team. Recognition went beyond speed: judges rewarded teams that combined efficiency with secure, compliant handling.

A quick list of participants

• Air Canada
• Cargolux
• China Southern Airlines
• Emirates SkyCargo
• EVA Air
• Finnair
• IAG Cargo
• Japan Airlines
• Nippon Cargo Airlines
• SF Airlines
• Host: Hactl

Safety and best-practice highlights

Beyond trophies and applause, the competition served as a live demonstration of standards that matter most in air cargo operations. Judges scored teams on criteria like load stability, correct use of straps and corners, centre-of-gravity awareness, and safe forklift operation under simulated terminal constraints. These are not just contest rules — they are operational lifelines.

Key operational takeaways

• Pallet integrity matters: Proper contours and secure stacking prevent in-transit damage and speed up handling at the next touchpoint.
• Forklift precision saves time: Tight manoeuvring skills reduce aisle blockages and lower the risk of accidental damage to pallets or equipment.
• Safety culture wins: Awards for safe driving highlight that consistent, cautious behaviour is rewarded as much as raw speed.
• Standardisation reduces friction: Applying IATA standards consistently improves interchangeability across carriers and handlers.

Why this matters to logistics professionals

If you work in freight or cargo operations, you’ll recognise how small improvements in palletising and vehicle handling cascade into better throughput. A well-packed pallet reduces repalletisation at the destination, fewer damaged items mean lower claims, and safer forklift operation reduces downtime from incidents. In short: good habits in the warehouse translate to fewer headaches across the supply chain.

Anyone who’s been on the warehouse floor knows the feeling — the clock ticks and the pressure is real. I’ve seen teams trained in quiet practice rooms become sharks in a live environment; competitions like this make good practice public, and the rest of the industry benefits from those lessons.

Practical implications for carriers and handlers

1. Invest in regular hands-on training and timed drills to keep skill levels high.
2. Audit pallet-building processes against IATA or equivalent standards.
3. Encourage a safety-first mindset by rewarding careful operation as well as productivity.
4. Document winning techniques and share them across depots and partner networks.

Voices and official support

The event attracted high-level support, with guests of honour including Liu Chun San, Under Secretary for Transport and Logistics; Cissy Chan, Executive Director, Commercial, Airport Authority Hong Kong; Wan Chi Ping, Assistant Commissioner for Labour (Occupational Safety), Labour Department; and Bonnie Yau, Executive Director, Occupational Safety and Health Council. Their presence sent a clear message: governments and regulators view operational safety in cargo handling as a public priority.

Industry collaboration

Competitions like this also act as a low-key networking forum: carriers compare notes, handlers swap tips, and suppliers showcase ergonomic tools. That kind of collaboration produces incremental improvements in transport efficiency and operational safety — the bread-and-butter of modern logistics.

Logistics forecast and practical advice

The contest itself won’t alter global freight routes overnight, but it reinforces small changes that compound into major efficiency gains. For shippers and forwarders, the lesson is straightforward: investing in training, consistent pallet standards and safe vehicle operation reduces claims and speeds up distribution. Platforms that connect shippers with reliable local handlers can help scale these improvements across regions — and that’s where a service like GetTransport.com shines, offering affordable global cargo transportation solutions for everything from office and home moves to bulky freight and vehicle transport.

Lo más destacado: the competition showcased practical safety practices, rewarded precision under pressure, and reminded the industry that standards matter. Even the best reviews and the most honest feedback can’t fully replace hands-on experience; on GetTransport.com, you can order your cargo transportation at the best prices globally at reasonable prices. This empowers you to make informed choices without unnecessary expense or disappointment. Take advantage of the platform’s transparency, convenience and wide selection to meet your shipping, moving and freight needs. Start planning your next delivery and secure your cargo with GetTransport.com. Book now GetTransport.com.com

In summary, Hactl’s fifteenth International Forklift and Pallet Building Competition reinforced the importance of safe forklift operation, correct pallet construction, and standardised practices across carriers and handlers. The event highlighted how training and industry collaboration can reduce damage, speed up distribution and improve overall logistics performance. For shippers, forwarders and freight operators looking to translate these lessons into action, platforms like GetTransport.com provide a practical, cost-effective and reliable way to arrange transport, shipping and haulage services — from parcel and pallet deliveries to bulky container moves and housemove relocations — making global freight, dispatch and distribution simpler and more dependable.