Hello all! Got a friend that's out of work (just left the Army, then laid off from construction) and looking for a job. He said he drove a forklift in the Army, and thought that he needed a forklift license to get a job doing that kind of work. I couldn't find any evidence of that on the web, and I remember when I worked retail I occasionally had to drive a forklift and I had to pass a quick test from my employer but it wasn't a state licensing kind of thing. Of course, that was back when I lived in Minnesota. Is the need for forklift licensing something that varies from state to state, or just from company to company? Are there any OSHA regs about it? Do Kansas or Missouri have any laws about forklift licensure? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for the feedback. - Freed
Hi Freed, I live in Massachusetts and as of a couple of years ago, OSHA has changed the rules and now require lift-truck operators to have a license. I would keep checking the web for state laws as they may be different. Many local material handling companies or forklift sales and repair centers may be to answer your question right away and provide information on classes to obtain a license. I got my license(again) last year an it is real easy, he may already qualify due to his military training!! I did the same thing(forklift op.)for a short time when I was in the service and my military training was taken into consideration when I got my first job out of the service. Best of Luck, Mark
The company I work for just had an OSHA inspection a couple of weeks ago. I was one of the lucky ones to get interviewed and they asked me if I operated the forktruck,RARELY. Well I was not on the list of "CERTIFIED OPERATORS". I'm getting tested tomorrow
15 years ago, I had to be licensed, here in ND. Where I work now, any operators HAVE to be licensed. Way too much liability for the employer anyway, to have unqualified staff operating one.
At General Motors, there is an internal class and test that anyone using a forklift must take every 2 years, and on top of that anyone that supervises a forklift driver must also take the test, it is all internal to GM. In addition to that anyone on a mobile piece of equipment, be it a crane lift, fork truck or personnel carrier or crash vehicle(breakdown truck, millwrights usually in an assembly plant) must complete a daily inspection of the vehicle before they use it! Safety is our overiding priority at GM, All accidents can be prevented, and No Fatalities is our Safety motto, charter, reinfornced every day! The every day thing includes a 2 minute safety talk or in many cases when doing non-regular or routine work a pre-planning meeting to discuss things that could happen. This has greatly improved our(GM) safety record, to be one of the Best in the world! Although there are still alot of things to do to instill to the workers, as there is still the thought that we did this job once before, and it didn't exactly follow the safety rules there won't be a problem, and then there is a problem. hence the GM Take 2 for Safety is being enforced in everything we do! Pre-planning for non-routine work, gathering the workforce every shift to instil safe operating procedures, has worked for GM to become a leader in manufacturing in safe work practices! Everyone can learn from our experience and leadership in safe work practices. GM wants their employees to be able to go home in the same condition they came to work in, and doesn't want to have to call a wife or family member that they can't come home cause they got hurt at work! This is a really great thing for GM and all our employees! And it has seemed to work, very well!RV
When I was furloughed from the railroad back in Feb and March I picked up a job at Home Depot. I was required to get a forklift license. I had to take a test on a kiosk and then I was shown how to start it up and move it around. Total physical class time of 10 minutes or so. I was then given a Home Depot license, and got to go smash into things. I was dangerous for a while, but got used to it.
at the mill i work at, you are allowed to take the forklift driving test. it is a two hour walk through and written test after which you are issued a licence. it is pretty basic stuff mostly centered on safety and basic machine maintainance. most of the employees have done it. i let my licence lapse a while back as an excuse NOT to have to drive a fork liftuzzled: i figured i lacked the one qualification that seperates a forklift driver from someone who can drive a forklift....i didn't want to drill a hole in my head and suck out half my brains:laugh: :moonu: hey, isnt that guy 'bomhour' on "king of the hill" a fork lift driver? i rest my case:TU:
OSHA does have regs on forklift operations. To be able to operate forklifts at the Mitsubishi plant that I work at I had to take an inhouse course that was administered by the National Safety Council. It was a 3hr class (we even got to play with a RC forklift:TU: ) Then a driving test.
I Passed!!! If you can walk a chew gum at the same time ,I think you can pass this test? It is an OSHA requirment that all operators be licensed. I don't know where you could go on your own to be tested, our insurance company did it for us. Hey Joe I'm in Evans City ( Mars, Cranberry Twp. area).
12 years ago when I worked at Fel-Pro in the Dyno lab I had to have a forklift license just to more around the engines. The test was really easy. If I can pass it your friend can. Happy Holidays. Beth
Yeah I know where your at Jim. The railroad I work for comes onto CSX at the Eidenau Wye about a mile West of Evans City. My railroad (Buffalo and Pittsburgh RR) was forced into taking the P&W line from Glenshaw to New Castle It goes through Evans City, Mars, Harmony, Zielionople, etc.. The take over will be effective Dec. 23. I'll toot the horn at you when I go by, if the engineer lets me.
I live in Missouri and drive a fork lift some at the plant where I work.The plant itself gives me a 100 question test and then I have to prove I can visually inspect and drive each truck that I'm liscensed for.This is done every 12 months and a new liscense is issued by the plant.Its a piece of cake.The state of MO doesnt issue fork truck liscenses.
You know the test is easy if they even gave me a liscense! Yep, I worked in the shipping department of a small manufacturing plant and we were required to have them before we could get on the tow motors. Those things are fun
here is a test for you, how many different names for a fork lift are there? tow motor is new to me. fork lift fork truck jitney fork buggy hyster [brand name, i know, but also used genericlly] lift truck
