There is no OSHA forklift license and no public OSHA exam. Under 29 CFR 1910.178(l), the employer trains, evaluates and certifies each operator. This practice test helps operators review the rules, and helps trainers check understanding before the hands-on evaluation.
Who must be trained
Every operator of a powered industrial truck (forklifts, motorized hand trucks, platform lift trucks and similar) must be trained and evaluated before operating one on the job, except while training under direct supervision (29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)–(2)). Training and evaluation must be done by people with the knowledge, training and experience to train operators and judge their competence.
The employer then certifies each operator: the certification records the operator's name, the date of training, the date of evaluation and who performed them (1910.178(l)(6)). A wallet card is fine as a convenience, but it is the employer's certification that the standard asks for.
How often: evaluation and refresher training
Each operator's performance must be evaluated at least once every three years (1910.178(l)(4)(iii)). Refresher training is required sooner when:
- the operator is seen driving unsafely, or an evaluation shows unsafe operation;
- the operator is involved in an accident or a near miss;
- the operator is assigned to a different type of truck;
- a condition in the workplace changes in a way that could affect safe operation.
What the training covers
Training combines formal instruction (lecture, discussion, video, interactive computer learning, written material), practical training, and an evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace (1910.178(l)(2)(ii)). That is why an online course alone cannot complete it. The content has two parts (1910.178(l)(3)):
- Truck-related topics: controls and instruments, steering, visibility, forks and attachments, capacity, stability, inspection, refueling or battery charging, and the warnings in the operator's manual.
- Workplace-related topics: surface conditions, load composition and stability, stacking, pedestrian traffic, narrow aisles, hazardous locations, ramps and slopes, and closed areas where carbon monoxide or diesel exhaust can build up.
Good quiz material comes straight from the operating rules: no one stands or passes under raised forks, loaded or empty; with an obstructed forward view you travel with the load trailing; on grades over 10 percent a loaded truck is driven with the load upgrade; an unattended truck has its forks fully lowered, controls neutralized, power off and brakes set (1910.178(m) and (n)).
Using the practice test in a session
Play it live before the practical part: put it on a screen, let operators answer from their phones, and stop on the questions most people miss. Then move to the truck for the hands-on training and evaluation. For a record of who completed the review and their score, run it in Test mode. Quizhat is an independent tool, not affiliated with or endorsed by OSHA.