Truck forklift license

Figure 1. Employees being trained. Training requirements. What does the OSHA standard require? Differences between the truck and the automobile. Truck controls and instrumentation: where they are located, what they do, and how they work.

Engine or motor operation. Steering and maneuvering. Visibility including restrictions due to loading. Fork and attachment adaptation, operation, and use limitations. Vehicle capacity. Vehicle stability. Any vehicle inspection and maintenance that the operator will be required to perform.

Operating limitations. Trainees may operate a powered industrial truck only: Under the direct supervision of persons who have the knowledge, training, and experience to train operators and evaluate their competence. Many companies are looking for workers, especially those with a forklift license.

To get a pandemic-proof job as a forklift operator, you first need to get your forklift license certification. A forklift license qualifies you to operate forklifts and start your new role in a warehouse or another setting. Workers must be authorized to operate forklifts on the job.

Some people refer to this authorization as a forklift license , but there is technically no such thing. OSHA requires employers to certify all forklift operators are trained and competent to operate powered industrial trucks PITs safely, including all classes of forklifts. While workers may receive a forklift certification through a third-party trainer, the employer must provide their own evaluation and record up-to-date certifications for all operators.

They exist for many reasons, namely to keep you and your co-workers safe. Here are just a few reasons why forklift certifications are important:. Sure, operating a forklift looks like easy driving, but only trained operators make it seem so simple. According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics , forklift accidents are responsible for 7, workplace injuries every year.

Between to , workplace forklift injuries resulted in a total of deaths. The reason is that tech schools offer many different academic programs. So it can be like finding a needle in a haystack. Some staffing agencies offer forklift training as part of a job-placement program with companies that frequently hire operators.

Some staffing agencies offer forklift training for applicants. But you'll have to do a little "googling" to find them. Some employers will actually hire and train forklift operators without any prior driving experience.

The companies that do this are typically larger in size, and rely extensively on forklifts in their operations. So they can afford to have an internal forklift safety program, with safety officers who are authorized to train and certify operators. Unfortunately, there's no shortcut to finding these companies. It's simply a matter of searching around for who's hiring. Those that do provide in-house training will usually say so in their hiring pages or job descriptions. If taking an online course, the "classroom" instruction portion can usually be completed in hours.

If going the in-person route, most classes run days. That typically includes anywhere from 4 to 8 hours of formal instruction, followed by the hands-on training and evaluation component. The hands-on portion can take as little as 15 to 20 minutes. You already know from the first chapter of this post that OSHA requires some 22 different topics be covered in the formal instruction portion of training.

To maintain forklift safety in the workplace, there are some responsibilities that fall on you, the operator. But there are also some that fall on your employer.

Forklift certification is ultimately about being safe. Not only for you, the operator. But also anyone who works around you. OSHA's standard That includes visually inspecting the truck for leaks and damage.

And it also includes an operational check, while the lift is running. You'll learn the ins and outs of what exactly goes into pre-trip inspections , including:. Forklifts are meant to lift things up and put them down. That much is obvious. But less obvious is how to tell the amount of weight your truck can safely lift. In fact, there are a number of calculations that you must perform to determine the capacity of your fork truck.

Don't worry though - it's pretty simple math. Once you understand how to calculate capacity, you'll need to learn what affects a forklift's stability. As a forklift operator, you may move all kinds of different materials around, depending on where you work.

But not every load is created equal. Nevertheless, there are some universal do's and don'ts when it comes to constructing loads, picking them up, transporting them, and placing them at their final destination. That's why you'll cover the 7 different classes of forklifts.

You can learn more about that right now by checking our post called Types of Forklifts: The Complete List. In it, we show examples of trucks that fall under the different classes. Now that we've covered what you'll learn, let's discuss how you can ace the final exam when it comes time. And just like with any test, there are some best practices you should observe to maximize your chances of passing:. Plus, you can take the test as many times as you need until you get a perfect score!

You may have already done the research and decided that you definitely want to be a forklift driver. According to Indeed. While the job duties above are pretty typical for forklift operators everywhere, the actual working conditions can vary greatly. Depending on where you get a job, you may be working indoors, outdoors, or even a combination of both. Warehouses, for instance, will mostly involve indoor work. But lumber yards will be mostly outdoors, with some indoor work sprinkled in throughout your shift.

Depending on where you get hired, you might be driving forklifts indoors, outdoors, or a combination of both. You may also be exposed to environmental hazards, like extreme heat foundries , cold cold storage and food processing plants , or even noxious fumes and corrosive substances chemical plants.

Sometimes you'll have to move products by hand that are too small to be manipulated by your truck. Other times, you may have to climb ladders, manually move pallets, or stretch-wrap materials for shipping. In fact, some operators report that they don't even leave their seat all day!

Because driving a forklift means making lots of turns and driving in reverse. Especially their necks and heads. And those kinds of movements, combined with vibrations and other aspects of forklift operation, can cause some health problems.

It requires being alert at all times. And one careless move can result in tragedy very quickly. So it's crucial that you're always aware of your surroundings.

That's the only way to avoid injuring yourself and pedestrians, or damaging property, equipment, and product. And speaking of injury, you should be aware of all the risks to your own health. You can be crushed, fall off the lift, be hit by another driver, or suffer carbon monoxide poisoning, among other health risks for lift truck operators.

Starting a career as a forklift operator can be a great way to bump up your wage. Especially if you're transitioning from traditionally lower-paying jobs, like fast food and retail. In recent years, companies have come to realize that there simply aren't as many lift truck operators as they need to meet demand.

The result is that they've had to pay more to hire and retain drivers. Anyone 18 years or older can obtain a forklift operator license. Various classes of forklifts are used at worksites across the United States. Workers can obtain a license that authorizes them to operate different types of forklifts.

This ensures lift operators can use specific types of lifts to safely complete work tasks. OSHA requires that all forklift operators in the United States obtain safety training before operating powered industrial trucks. This category of industrial equipment includes:. Regardless of the type of forklift your employees use on the job, thorough training is required to drive a forklift in the United States.

With our affordable prices, comprehensive course content, and outstanding customer support, CertifyMe. OSHA-approved forklift safety training is not optional. Instead, workers who use a forklift as part of their everyday work must get a license. Otherwise, these workers are illegally operating a lift, putting themselves and others in danger. Operating a forklift without a license can increase the risk of lift accidents.

Even a single accident can cause serious injury or death. It can also result in costly penalties for an employer. There is no guaranteed solution to stop forklift accidents. But, requiring workers to get a forklift license can minimize the risk of accidents. Since workers are required to complete safety training to earn their license, they can learn how to identify and address forklift dangers before they get out of hand.

Plus, they can use what they learn to contribute to a safe work environment.