The challenge: preparing a practical training without adding complexity
BLOM opleidingen needed a way to help a practically-educated audience, many of whom were unfamiliar with digital learning tools, absorb and test theoretical knowledge before arriving at a training location
BLOM opleidingen is one of the largest training providers for forklift driver certification in the Netherlands. Each year, they train around 30,000 students across 22 practice locations, all designed as mini warehouses. Their mission is clear: reduce warehouse accidents to zero by ensuring that every student is well-prepared, confident, and able to work safely.
For many years, the industry standard was a half-day of classroom theory followed by a half-day of practical training. BLOM opleidingen recognized this model had a fundamental flaw: too much time was spent on theory in a classroom setting, leaving insufficient time for participants to learn by doing at the machines.
In 2018, the company made a pivotal decision to transition to a digital exam. The goal was to free up instructors so they could spend more time with students in practice. But this shift raised an important question: if theory was no longer being delivered in a classroom, how would participants prepare?
BLOM opleidingen needed a way to help a practically-educated audience, many of whom were unfamiliar with digital learning tools, absorb and test theoretical knowledge before arriving at a training location.
BLOM opleidingen also wanted to ensure that their certificates reflected real knowledge and skill. Many competitors still used paper exams that rarely changed. Maarten explained that some competitors had two or three versions that may change once a year. They wanted a more reliable and objective approach.
The solution: gamified preparation with quizzes and flexible learning options
BLOM opleidingen adopted Easy LMS in 2018 to power its pre-course preparation program. The approach was deliberately simple and learner-centered.
When a participant books a training, they receive an invitation asking them to prepare. That preparation consists of three optional resources, each available around the clock without a mandatory login:
An online textbook covering the full theory.
Quizzes built from the same question database as the digital exam.
Learning videos sourced from YouTube.
Participants choose for themselves how they want to learn. There is no prescribed sequence. If someone prefers to go straight to the quiz, they can. If they want to read the textbook first, that option is there too. BLOM opleidingen deliberately avoided putting content behind a fixed login because the goal was to lower the barrier to preparation as much as possible.
We looked at what our practically-educated audience liked, came to gamification and quizzes, and then suddenly there was Easy LMS.
The quizzes quickly became the most used element. Because the quiz questions are drawn from the same database as the actual digital exam, participants who prepare this way arrive at the location already familiar with the format and the type of questions they will encounter. For a practically-educated audience, that familiarity made a significant difference in confidence.
Maarten explained that the methodology aligned naturally with the Kolb learning cycle. Instead of walking through a PowerPoint on how to inspect a forklift, instructors now take participants directly to the machine, hand them a QR code on their phone, and ask them to perform the inspection themselves, photographing any deviations they find. This kind of learning by doing is only possible because participants already have a foundation from their preparation.
The quiz content has been expanded steadily over the years. BLOM opleidingen started with a forklift and reach truck quiz, then added quizzes for aerial work platforms, hoists, and terminal tractors. After noticing that English-speaking participants arrived less well prepared than Dutch-speaking ones, the team also translated all materials into English, eliminating the preparation gap for that group.
The results: more time to practice, higher pass rates, and a stronger certificate
The impact of shifting to digital preparation has been measurable in several ways.
Time savings in training
Moving theory preparation outside the classroom freed up approximately two hours of training time per day. That time was reinvested entirely into practical instruction. The structure of the training day was redesigned around this change, allowing instructors to open each session with hands-on context setting rather than chapter-by-chapter theory delivery.
Higher pass rates
Maarten noted that the pass rate on theory exams rose by an estimated 5-10% after the introduction of digital preparation. Because participants already encountered the material once before arriving, the training session effectively functions as a reinforcement, and the exam feels familiar rather than intimidating.
A certificate that reflects true competence
Unlike some competitors who still use paper exams with a small number of static question sets, BLOM opleidingen uses an algorithm-driven digital exam with a large, evolving question database. This means the result reflects genuine knowledge rather than familiarity with a fixed set of answers. Maarten was direct about what this means: a certificate from BLOM opleidingen carries more weight in the market.
Competitive advantage
Maarten observed that many competitors are still delivering classroom theory or mandatory e-learning programs that structurally reduce the time available for practice. By doing things differently, BLOM opleidingen has built a more effective training model and believes instructors are now better able to focus on what matters most: guiding students with the vehicles.
Looking ahead
Looking ahead, Maarten sees continued growth in the market for forklift and machinery training. More forklifts being sold means more drivers needing certification. There is also growing demand for machinery skills beyond traditional forklift driving, in sectors like tree care and painting, where aerial work platforms have replaced ladders and scaffolding.
This creates a growing responsibility. More machines and more movement in warehouses mean that safe behavior becomes even more critical. BLOM opleidingen believes that preparation will play an even larger role in that future. Their goal remains unchanged: to reduce forklift-related accidents to zero. And the learning journey that supports that goal still begins before a student ever steps into the warehouse.
Easy LMS will continue to support this preparation phase. The combination of quizzes, videos, and accessible learning materials helps students arrive confident and ready to learn. As Maarten put it, “the learning journey around safely working with a forklift begins with the quiz”. BLOM opleidingen expects to expand and refine this digital layer as its training model evolves, ensuring that every student enters practice with the right foundation.
