Welcome to the Forklift Licence website

Congratulations on your decision to start your career as a forklift driver. Getting your forklift licence is a great way to not only improve your job prospects but will also ensure you are operating heavy machinery in a safe manner too. Health and safety requires that you under go training and this site will guide you through the process of getting your certification.

Forklift Drivers

There is a very high demand for forklift truck operators in the United Kingdom and demand has never been higher as there is and has always been a strong need for forklift operators playing a crucial role in the smooth running of depots, deliveries, warehouses, yards and ports/airports. Without forklift drivers good wouldn’t be loaded, unloaded, moved, stored, and much more.

Forklift Driver Job Description

Two warehouse workers with forklift
Although job descriptions may vary depending on the company you are working for typically the job will entail the following:
  • Operating Forklift Trucks – Loading and unloading goods from deliveries as well as storing goods in difficult to reach areas of warehouses etc.
  • Inspections – This involves checking the forklift trucks are in good working order and making sure any loads are safe and secure and this should be conducted every day or before every shift.
  • Creating Pallets – You may have to create pallets of materials and good prior to delivery which will involve driving your forklift around the depot and completing the order forms. You may also have to tidy and stack empty pallets too.
  • Other Tasks – You may have to use other equipment such as pump trucks, telescopic handlers and counter-balance trucks.

Forklift Licence Training

Technically there is no such thing as a forklift licence but a lot of the time it is commonly referred to as that or a forklift license/flt licence. Statistics show that there are an average 8000 forklift accidents each year with 12 of them proving fatal and as such UK Health & Safety requires you get attend forklift courses and training to ensure you are operating equipment safely and not putting yourself and others at risk.

Forklift Truck TrainingAny accidents can prove costly, not only on a personal level if you get injured, but can also mean damage to forklift trucks, building, and the goods being handled, and so it’s good to get this training on your CV but it also means that your employer may be happy to pay for this to comply with legislation.

There are four different levels of training ranging from complete novice to refresher with costs varying depending on the level required and how many people are on the course. This training is open to anyone over the age of 16 and take between 1 and 5 days to complete depending on experience and how many are in the training group. Any training and licensing must be conducted by accredited companies so when choosing your training provider ensure they are accredited by any of the following bodies:

  • Road Transport Industry Training Board (RTITB)www.rtitb.co.uk
    Access House, Halesfield 17, Telford, Shropshire, TF7 4PW
    Tel: 01952 520200 Fax: 01952 520201 Email: [email protected]
  • Independent Training Standards Scheme and Register (ITSSAR)www.itssar.org.uk
    Armstrong House, 28 Broad Street, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 1AB
    Tel: 0118 989 3229 Fax: 0118 979 6058 Email: [email protected]
  • Construction Industry Training Board, (CITB)www.constructionskills.co.uk
    Bircham Newton, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE31 6RH
    Construction Plan Competence Scheme (CPC) Tel: 0870 417 7274
  • Association of Industrial Truck Trainers (AITT)www.aitt.co.uk
    Unit 20, The Springboard Centre, Mantle Lane, Coalville, Leics, LE67 3DW
    Tel: 01530 277857 Fax: 01530 810231
  • Lantra National Training Organisation Ltd.www.lantra-awards.co.uk
    Lantra House, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG
    Tel: 024 7669 6996 Fax: 024 7669 6732 Email: [email protected]
  • National Plant Operators Registration Scheme (NPORS)www.npors.com
    PO Box 204, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 7FY
    Tel: 01606 49909 Fax: 01606 352239 Email [email protected]

Forklift Licence Cost

The cost of getting your licence, certification and training varies depending on your previous experience, how many are being trained per session, as wel las your geographical local but you are looking at anywhere from £100 for refresher training to £750 for complete novices. This may be a cost you have to cover yourself but there is also a requirement on behalf of employers to train their staff so you might be able to get this cost covered by your place of work.

Prices shown are only rough guides so please do your homework before booking onto a course.

Wages and Salary

The average rate for a Forklift Driver is £9.62 per hour pay for forklift drivers according to PayScale.com (correct Dec 2022) but this will increase depending on experience and your knowledge of different types of trucks and different loads heading up to £26,000 per year. The lower scale of pay can be £8.71 p/h with the top scale earning £12.44 an hour.

If you have plenty of experience then salaries of £35,000 are not unheard of especially in London. There is always plenty of demand for forklift truck operators and it could be anywhere from Tesco to Heathrow as drivers are always needed and the work will always be there once you are qualified. You can see a selection of jobs here.