Forklift Training
Alongside our warehouse projects, Stein Service & Supply offers forklift training. We train and evaluate forklift operators and in-house trainers to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard 1910.178.
Certified byRoss UllmanPresident, Stein Service & Supply
Forklift Training Services
We provide forklift operator classes and train-the-trainer classes that follow OSHA 1910.178. Each class combines classroom instruction with hands-on driving on sit-down and stand-up forklifts. Trained drivers cause fewer accidents and less damage to product.
Most of our work is in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia, and in 2025 we completed projects in 24 other states.
- Operator classes for new and experienced drivers
- Train-the-trainer classes for staff who will train and evaluate drivers
- Classroom instruction on the 1910.178 curriculum
- Hands-on driving on sit-down and stand-up forklifts
- Driver evaluation and certification
- Saturday and after-hours classes, for an additional fee
OSHA Rules for Forklift Operators
OSHA 1910.178 requires every forklift driver to be trained and certified. The employer issues the certification, and it applies to one site only. A driver certified at a previous job must be trained and evaluated again in the new building, because the conditions there are different and the forklift brand can be different too.
A forklift can overturn a storage rack, destroy the inventory in it, and injure or kill a person in its path. If the driver is not certified, OSHA can fine the employer, and the insurer may refuse the claim.
| Situation | Requirement of the regulation |
|---|---|
| New hire with no driving experience | Classroom instruction, practical training, and an evaluation of the driver in the workplace. Until the driver passes, the driver operates only under the direct supervision of a trainer. |
| New hire certified at another job | An evaluation on the employer’s trucks and in the employer’s building, and a new certification from the employer. |
| Accident or near-miss | Refresher training and a new evaluation. The driver is usually removed from the truck until recertified. |
| Unsafe driving or a poor evaluation | Refresher training and a new evaluation, including after a single instance of unsafe driving. |
| Different type of truck | Training on the new truck. A driver trained only on a sit-down forklift requires training before operating a stand-up forklift. |
| Change in the workplace | Refresher training when a change in the building affects safe operation, such as a new rack layout. |
Class Format
Each class takes drivers through the classroom instruction, hands-on driving, and workplace evaluation that OSHA requires for certification.
Class Length
4+hours
Longer for larger classes, depending on class size and retention
Start Time
8a.m.
A large class can finish in one workday
Certification
3years
Each driver is then evaluated again
Classroom
The classroom instruction follows the 1910.178 curriculum and covers the topics listed below.
Hands-On Driving
Drivers operate both sit-down and stand-up forklifts under the direct supervision of the trainer.
Evaluation
The trainer observes every driver at work, since OSHA requires the evaluation to take place in the workplace. A driver who passes is certified until the next evaluation, or until a situation in the table above requires retraining.
Class Topics
Load Ratings and Stability
A load must not exceed the load rating of the truck. Some manufacturers permit added counterweight, but we train drivers to stay within the original rating of the truck and to keep the load centered so the truck does not tip.
Refueling and Recharging
The procedure depends on the type of forklift, so drivers learn the one for the trucks they will operate.
Loading Docks
Operating procedures for the loading dock, one of the busiest and loudest areas of the building.
Safety Inspections
The inspection a driver performs on the truck before use.
Operator and Train-the-Trainer Classes
We offer two classes, one for drivers and one for the staff member who trains them. With a trainer on staff, a warehouse that hires drivers throughout the year can certify new drivers and conduct refresher training without an outside class.
Operator Class
For anyone who will drive a forklift. Drivers complete the classroom instruction, hands-on driving, and evaluation, and the employer then certifies them.
Train-the-Trainer Class
For the staff member who will train and evaluate drivers. Trainers complete both the operator class and the trainer class, so they can teach by demonstration as well as from the curriculum.
Forklift Training Questions
What records must the employer keep?
Does training reduce rack damage?
Do you train on scissor lifts and boom lifts?
Contact
Discuss a Forklift Training Project
Contact us with the number of drivers and the types of forklifts they operate.