Forklifting certification: everything you need to know before getting that license

So you think you’re ready to get certified as a forklift driver? Or perhaps you need more information about the licensing process and opportunities open to you once you are accredited.

First of all, congratulations on deciding to become a forklift operator – this is one of the well-paying jobs in the logistics and haulage industries. And yes, there are plenty employment opportunities open to you – You could decide to work in manufacturing, shipping docks, haulage, and logistics industries.

But just as you know, you need to get certified. So here is everything you need to be aware of, before obtaining your license.

Forklift operator licensing requirements

It is important to note that, there is no formal organization charged with the sole responsibility of issuing licenses to forklift drivers. Also, there is no official certificate either.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s guidelines, the employer is responsible for the certification of her workers. However, certification organizations like certifyme have sprung up to provide training services and accreditation that ease the burden on employers.

All training providers streamline their forklift training courses to reflect the OSHA standards.

What to expect from a forklift training

The forklift accreditation course is designed to familiarize operators with the nuances of the equipment and also get them proficient with maneuvering the machine safely. Here’re the core areas you’re going to be trained on:

•    Equipment checks: you’re going to be exposed to the workings of the forklift equipment, what to routinely check to ensure it is in an optimal state for use.

•    Forklift maneuvering: operating a forklift is a challenging task, especially when driving in a confined space. Now add heavy loads to it, and you have yourself an onerous task that requires a considerable amount of training and hands-on experience.

•    Cargo control: the course will usually include training in proper load-balancing, stacking and un-stacking of goods, and seamless operational control of forks.

Forklifts are designed to remain balanced when fully-loaded. But, balancing the equipment becomes an issue when it is empty or overloaded. Hence, operators need to know how to handle these situations safely.

Training time and cost

A quick search online will pull up results of several companies offering online forklift training – this, of course, provides a convenient way of getting certified since you can set the pace of your learning.

So you can expect the course duration to be anything between three hours to twenty-four hours, which you can space to suit you. Also at the end of the training, a test is conducted to determine how well you’ve learned the material.

Though most companies offering the training have a different pricing structure, it is still affordable. Some offer their courses as low as $35, while others accept alternative financing as part of their payment options.

Now you’re certified what next?

It’s time to add your new knowledge to your resume and get some job. Keep in mind that you may need to undergo refresher courses once to stay conversant with new processes.