Although it might come as a surprise, most people do not know much about forklifts or that specialised training is necessary to operate one. Most people believe that operating a forklift is the same as driving standard industrial equipment. However, nothing could be further from the truth because the safe operation of a forklift requires appropriate training. Unfortunately, forklift training myths make it difficult for aspiring trainees to enrol or even pass the course. This article reveals the most common misconceptions about forklift training.

You Need a Driving Licence — One of the most common misconceptions about forklift training is that trainees need a driving licence of some sort to be eligible for the course. However, it is not the case, since trainees do not need a driving licence of any kind to enrol in a forklift training course. Of course, a bit of driving experience makes forklift training relatively easy to grasp, but it does not mean that prior driving knowledge is necessary. Most importantly, you can enrol in forklift training even if you do not have previous driving experience or a licence.

Forklift Certification is All-Encompassing — Another common myth is that forklift training and the resulting certification allows you to work anywhere or operate any forklift. Again, nothing could be further from the truth because forklift certifications are specific to certain equipment and locations. It means the certificate issued after training is only applicable to the particular forklift you train in. For instance, if you receive a certificate to operate an electric motor rider truck or Class 1 forklift, you cannot use the same license to operate Rough Terrain Forklift Trucks/Class 4 forklifts. Besides, if you join a company in a new location, your current training and certification will be invalid in that locality. Therefore, it is essential to consider this aspect, especially if you plan to work for different companies all over the country.

Training Focuses on Driving Forwards — During forklift training, instructors and assessors emphasise forward driving and reversing. However, while both skills are essential, training, practice and assessment mainly focus on driving backwards since you will likely spend the majority of your time driving a forklift in reverse. It is particularly the case when you load the forks and cannot see the path in front of you. Moreover, you need to learn to drive safely in reverse, especially in facilities where maneuvering is tricky due to tight spaces.