Have you ever watched a forklift driver and thought it would be an easy job? Not so, according to David Carter, the heavy equipment training instructor for the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM). Although there's no such thing as a forklift license, instructors like Carter do teach an eight-hour class that'll give you a certification upon completion. Any class that is approved by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will certify a person in all 50 states.
Find a class for forklift training that's approved by OSHA. According to Carter, many companies contact UAM for training, because UAM instructors will go to the company's location and the Arkansas Highway Department will pay for the training. If you're an employer, you can also contact Wiese Forklift training, whose consultants also give forklift training at companies, as well as Safety is Us, whose consultants train a company crew to evaluate employees. (Employers use the program to help make an informed decision on whether to certify an employee.)
Take the four to five hours of classroom training for running a forklift truck. The classes from each company teach forklift design, safe handling of the lifts, and basic maintenance. After the classroom training, take the written test.
Learn how to conduct a safety inspection of the forklift, what to watch for while driving, and practice safely using the forklift during the two to three hours of hands-on instruction after the test. After you take the classes, pass the written test, and do the hands-on training, you will be certified.
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