When training to get your forklift licence or forklift certification it’s important to ensure your chosen provider is accredited as it will ensure you get a qualified and experienced instructor, are taught the right information, and will mean that your licence is respected by prospective employers.
Training sessions vary in duration and intensity depending on your previous forklift experience and there are plenty of courses with varying levels of focus on the theory and practical implications of operating forklifts ranging from complete novices to those requiring refresher courses.
Novice Training
This training is aimed at those who have no operational skills on any type of manual handling equipment and have never had any experience with forklift trucks. The course will cover all aspects of operating a forklift, theory and practical, and will ensure that once you’ve completed it along with a theory and practical test you will find yourself comfortable with the handling of forklifts and be knowledgeable in the safety aspects of operating what can be a very dangerous piece of equipment in the wrong hands.
The timescale for this novice training ranges from three to five days depending on the number of people taking part. If there is just one person taking part then the course can be completed in as little as 3 days where as many training providers will offer to train 3 people over 5 days. Prices for a typical counterbalance course vary depending on location but look to pay around £600-£750 on average.
As an outline you can expect most courses to contain the the following itinerary:
- Introduction to course
- Structural parts
- Regulations
- Safety Operator Video
- Vehicle Inspections
- Safe operating methods
- Confined spaces
- Industrial Racking
- Stacking and Lorry Loading
- Theory Test
- Practical Assessment
- Course Evaluation
Conversion Training
This one day training course (or two day for up to three operators) is for those who are already knowledgeable with one type of truck but need to extend their knowledge and undergo a conversion course
Many skills are transferable but this is also a good time to refresh existing skills, knowledge, and standards of safety, ending with a theory and practical test at the end of the course. New machines have different operational requirements and can cause great harm if used incorrectly.
This course will generally cost between £100 and £200 and upon completion you will get your certification and licence.
A typical Counterbalance/Reach conversion course will have the following content:
- Introduction to course.
- Introduction to the fork truck, controls and instruments.
- Starting, moving, steering and stopping the fork truck.
- Steering.
- Hydraulic System.
- Pre-shift Inspection.
- Battery Care / Refuelling Procedures.
- Weight Assessment.
- Handling unladen and laden pallets.
- Driving on / off Ramps.
- Vehicle Loading and Unloading.
- Fork Truck Stability.
- Operators Safety Code.
- Testing.
- Course Closure.
Semi-Experienced/Untested Training
A lot of people have experience of operating forklift trucks but have had no formal training, or completed a course many years ago with their licence lapsing, so if you can already operate a truck and handle loads this type of course is for you.
This course costs on average £200-£300 and will give you the official skills and knowledge to operate forklift trucks safely and a theory and practical test at the end of the training will ensure this is the case and you can expect the training to include the following sections:
- Starting, moving, steering and stopping the fork truck.
- Steering.
- Hydraulic System.
- Pre-shift Inspection.
- Battery Care / Refuelling Procedures.
- Weight Assessment.
- Handling unladen and laden pallets.
- Driving on / off Ramps.
- Vehicle Loading and Unloading.
- Fork Truck Stability.
- Operators Safety Code.
- Testing.
- Course Closure
Refresher Training
Refresher forklift training courses are for those who have already undergone formal training in the past and ensure operators are up to date on all the latest legislation and techniques and maintaining the correct standards of operation at an acceptable level.
Refresher training should be part of an employers monitoring system and is recommended that this type of training occurs for all flt operators every 3 years or if they are returning from a lay-off period where they may have forgotten some of the essential safety and operation guidelines.
Working the same premises, loads and equipment day after day can foster bad habits in even the most diligent and experienced fork lift drivers, Refreshing on all the essentials of operation the course ensures that operators areup to date with the latest changes in legislation, safety recommendations and general best practice. Sometimes we all need to be reminded not to get complacent.
This refreshers course should only take 1 day to complete and there is a theory written test and practical skills tests at the end of the training course to get that flt licence.
As the course lasts for only 1 day costs individually are around £100-£125 based on 3 people taking the course at the same time but a one on one basis would obviously cost more.
Training Centres
As with all of the above courses it worth doing some research into local companies and the prices and services they charge. We have put together a list of training providers around the UK and you can search for them here.