Forklift certification onlineThe forklift class, done right.
The classroom part online in short lessons; a qualified trainer at your workplace does the hands-on training and evaluation.
The lesson plan
24 lessons in 7 chapters · about 5 minutes each
1Stability and capacity4
(l)(3)(i)(H) Vehicle capacity; (I) Vehicle stability
- The forklift stability triangle Lesson 1 · free
- Reading the load capacity plate
- Why forklifts tip over
- What to do in a tip-over
2Know your truck3
(l)(3)(i)(A) Operating instructions, warnings, and precautions; (B) Differences between the truck and the automobile; (C) Truck controls and instrumentation; (D) Engine or motor operation; (M) Operator's manual instructions
- A forklift is not a car
- Truck types and the operator's manual
- Controls, gauges and warning lights
3Inspection, fuel and batteries3
(l)(3)(i)(J) Vehicle inspection and maintenance; (K) Refueling and/or charging and recharging of batteries
- The pre-shift check
- Taking a truck out of service
- Refueling and charging safely
4Driving the truck3
(l)(3)(i)(E) Steering and maneuvering; (F) Visibility; (L) Operating limitations
- Rear-wheel steering and tail swing
- Seeing and being seen
- Speed, riders and parking
5Handling loads3
(l)(3)(i)(G) Fork and attachment adaptation, operation, and use limitations; (l)(3)(ii)(B) Composition of loads and load stability; (C) Load manipulation, stacking, and unstacking
- Forks and attachments
- Sizing up a load
- Stacking and unstacking safely
6Your workplace4
(l)(3)(ii)(A) Surface conditions; (D) Pedestrian traffic; (E) Narrow aisles and restricted places; (F) Hazardous (classified) locations; (G) Ramps and sloped surfaces; (H) Closed environments; (I) Other workplace hazards
- Floors, ramps and grades
- Pedestrians and blind corners
- Narrow aisles and loading docks
- Exhaust, fumes and hazardous areas
7Getting certified at work4
(l)(1) Safe operation; (l)(2) Training program implementation; (l)(3)(iii) The requirements of 1910.178; (l)(4) Refresher training and evaluation; (l)(6) Certification
- Who may drive a forklift
- How forklift certification really works
- Refreshers and the three-year check
- Your evaluation
Built on OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178(l), Operator training: the training topics in (l)(3) · eCFR, current as of 2026-11-10
Read lesson 1: The stability triangle
A forklift is not a car. It steers with its rear wheels, carries heavy loads at one end, and can tip over.
A sit-down forklift balances on three points: the two front wheels and the pivot pin in the middle of the rear axle.
Join them and you get the stability triangle. Keep the combined center of gravity inside it and the truck stays on its wheels.
Pick up a load and the center of gravity moves forward. Carry it low, just clear of the floor, and tilted back.
Watch the raised load shift the dot forward. Never tilt raised forks forward except to pick up a load or deposit a load positioned over a rack or stack.
Raise the load yourself. Keep the dot well inside the triangle.
You carry a load across the yard. Where should your forks be?
- At eye level
- Low, just clearing the ground, tilted back
- As high as possible
Answer: Low, just clearing the ground, tilted back. Low and tilted back helps keep the combined center of gravity inside the triangle. Raising the load shifts it up and forward, making the truck less stable.
A fast turn with the load up swings the center of gravity out past the side. That is how a truck tips over sideways.
Your sit-down counterbalanced forklift starts tipping sideways. What should you do?
- Stay in, hold on, lean away
- Brake hard and steer into it
- Jump toward the falling side
Answer: Stay in, hold on, lean away. Stay in, hold on, lean away. Do not jump. Grip the wheel, brace your feet, and lean away from impact and forward. Wear the seat belt if fitted. On a stand-up, rear-entry truck, step backward off the truck during a tip-over.
Next lesson: Reading the load capacity plate
The full class, $49 at launch.
Paid once, when it opens. Lesson 1 is free now.
- Sit-down counterbalanced trucks
- Training record for your employer
- Evaluation checklist for your employer
OSHA issues no forklift license. Online training covers formal instruction only. A qualified trainer must train you hands-on and evaluate you at your workplace, on the truck you’ll drive.
Questions
Can I get forklift certified online?
Only partly. OSHA’s rule (29 CFR 1910.178(l)) requires formal instruction, hands-on training and an evaluation at your workplace; online covers the instruction, and your employer certifies you.
Is there an OSHA forklift license?
No. OSHA issues no forklift license or card; your employer certifies that you were trained and evaluated.
How often are operators evaluated?
At least every three years, with refresher training sooner after an accident or near miss, unsafe driving, a poor evaluation, or a new truck or workplace.
When does it open, and what will it cost?
Lesson 1 is free now. The full class opens at $49, paid once.