Counterbalance lift truck Training
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration does require operators utilizing a counterbalanced lift truck to have received classroom or lecture style training. They also require that a supervised driving course is finished in addition to periodic refresher training. There is no minimum time requirement for the classroom training or supervised driving. Additionally, there is no frequency mandated for the refresher training either.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
A counterbalanced forklift balances its cargo using the weight of the truck. The forks on a lift truck are in a fixed position; they go up and down and do not turn. The forks run parallel to the body of the forklift. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration require that drivers who would be operating counterbalanced forklifts on the job be correctly trained on the trucks while being in the environment that they will be using them.
Classroom Training
Training either lecture style or in a classroom will provide forklift and driver information for the truck you would be operating. Most training would include certain aspects such as the load and weight capacity, height, how to charge or fuel the forklift. It includes how to gauge the time on the engine as well as any lift truck specific safety information like 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 driver of a forklift would have to learn to use the equipment while being supervised. The supervised driving needs to take place in an environment which resembles the existing environment that the operator works in. This atmosphere should include the kind of terrain she would be traveling on, have similar surrounding structures close by, and the same pedestrian and vehicle traffic nearby too. There is no required minimum number of hours the driver needs to drive while being supervised.