Last updated: June 2026
TL;DR: “High reach forklift” isn’t an official licence class — it’s a job-site term. What matters is whether the operator is lifted with the load. If you stay at ground level (a standard counterbalance or a seated reach truck), you operate under a forklift LF licence (unit TLILIC0003). If your platform rises with the load — a high-level order picker or stock picker — you need a separate LO licence (unit TLILIC0004). Both are nationally recognised high-risk work licences, valid 5 years Australia-wide, trained in Brisbane at FMS Training (RTO 45189).
People search for a “high reach forklift licence” all the time, but it can mean two different machines with two different licences. Here’s how to tell which one you need.
“High reach” is a description, not a licence class
In Queensland there are exactly two forklift-family high-risk work licence classes:
- LF — Forklift truck: the standard counterbalance forklift. Importantly, this also covers most reach trucks — the tall warehouse machines whose forks telescope out and lift high — as long as the operator stays at ground level.
- LO — Order-picking forklift truck: machines where the operator’s control platform is part of the lifting carriage and rises with the load. These are the “stock pickers” you ride up into the racking, and turret trucks in narrow-aisle warehouses.
So the question isn’t “how high does it reach?” — it’s “do I go up with the load?”
Reach truck vs order picker — the quick test
| You operate from… | Licence | Unit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Counterbalance forklift | Ground level, seated | LF | TLILIC0003 |
| Reach truck (forks reach high, operator stays down) | Ground level, seated | LF | TLILIC0003 |
| Order picker / stock picker (you rise with the load) | Elevated platform | LO | TLILIC0004 |
| Turret truck in narrow aisles (operator elevates) | Elevated platform | LO | TLILIC0004 |
If you’re being lifted up to pick stock from height, that’s an LO machine. If the machine reaches high but you stay on the ground, that’s still LF.
What the WorkSafe definitions actually say
WorkSafe Queensland defines the LF class as a forklift truck with a mast and elevating load carriage and fork arms that raise 900mm or more — but it excludes order-picking forklifts. The LO class is specifically for order-picking forklift trucks, where the operator’s control “is part of the load carriage/lifting media and lifts with it.” Those are the official lines that decide your class.
Do I need the LF first, before LO?
No — LO is its own licence with its own unit (TLILIC0004); you don’t have to hold LF first. That said, many warehouse operators end up holding both because sites use a mix of counterbalance/reach trucks and order pickers. Each class is a separate high-risk work licence with its own training, assessment and WorkSafe application.
How to get your LO (order picker) licence
The pathway mirrors the standard forklift licence:
- Be 18 or older.
- Complete the unit TLILIC0004 — Licence to operate an order-picking forklift truck with a Registered Training Organisation, and pass the national assessment on a real machine (it can’t be done online-only).
- Apply to WorkSafe Queensland within 60 days, paying the $109.71 application fee per class.
Your LO licence is valid for 5 years, Australia-wide. See the order-picking forklift course →
Need the standard counterbalance/reach truck licence instead? See the forklift (LF) course →
Still not sure which you need?
Tell us the machine — counterbalance, reach truck, stock picker or turret truck — and what you’ll be doing with it, and we’ll point you to the right class before you book. Getting the class right the first time saves you a second application fee and another assessment.
Why train with FMS Training
FMS Training is a female-owned Registered Training Organisation — RTO 45189 — with 35+ years of industry experience and a 4.9-star rating from more than 1,261 reviews. We train both forklift classes from our Lawnton (north Brisbane) yard, with weekday, weekend and on-site options across South East Queensland.
See order-picker course details → · See forklift (LF) course →
Frequently asked questions
Is there a “high reach forklift licence”? Not as an official class. “High reach” is a job-site term. In Queensland the two forklift licence classes are LF (counterbalance and reach trucks, operator at ground level) and LO (order pickers, operator rises with the load).
What’s the difference between LF and LO? LF covers forklifts you operate from ground level, including most reach trucks. LO covers order-picking forklifts (“stock pickers”) where your platform lifts with the load. The deciding factor is whether you’re elevated with the load.
Do I need an LF licence before I can get an LO? No. LO is a separate licence with its own unit (TLILIC0004) and you don’t have to hold LF first. Many warehouse workers hold both because their site uses both machine types.
What unit is the order-picker licence? TLILIC0004 — Licence to operate an order-picking forklift truck. The standard forklift (LF) licence is a different unit, TLILIC0003.
Can I do the order-picker course online? No. Theory can be studied beforehand, but the assessment must be done in person on a real machine by an accredited assessor.
How long is an LO licence valid? Five years, and it’s recognised in every Australian state and territory — the same as the LF forklift licence.
Which licence do I need for a reach truck? Usually LF, because you operate a reach truck from ground level. You’d only need LO if the operator’s platform rises with the load, as on an order picker or turret truck.
Regulatory sources (verify at publish time): WorkSafe Queensland — Forklift truck (LF/LO); training.gov.au — TLILIC0004; WorkSafe Queensland — Licence fees.