Counterbalance lift truck Training
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration does require operators utilizing a counterbalanced forklift to have received lecture style or classroom training. They also require that a supervised driving course is finished as well as periodic refresher training. There is no required minimum time for the supervised driving or classroom training. Moreover, there is no frequency mandated for the refresher training either.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
A counterbalanced lift truck balances its cargo using the truck's weight. The forks on a lift truck are in a fixed position; they go down and up and do not pivot. The forks run parallel to the forklift's body. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration require that people who would be using counterbalanced forklifts on the job be trained on the trucks while being in the kind of setting that they will be using them.
Classroom Training
Training either in a classroom or lecture style would provide forklift and driver information for the truck you will be operating. Most training will include several aspects like the weight and load capacity, height, how to fuel or charge the forklift. It covers how to gauge the time on the engine in addition to any lift truck specific safety information like for instance where to stand when walking around the truck. Either oral and/or written testing is part of the classroom training. There is no required minimum time for the training.
Supervised Driving
The operator of a forklift will need to learn to drive the machinery while being supervised. The supervised driving has to take place in an environment which resembles the existing environment which the operator works in. This atmosphere should include the type of terrain she will be traveling on, have the same pedestrian and vehicle traffic nearby, and similar surrounding structures close by as well. There is no specific minimum number of hours the operator needs to drive while being supervised.