Forklift Driver Training

  • Comprehensive forklift driver training courses offered
  • Basic forklift training & refresher forklift training available
  • Maximum of 3 participants per course to ensure quality training

Forklift Training Available In The West Midlands

Full Licence Forklift Training & Refresher Training

Types Of Licence Include:

  • Counterbalance Truck

  • Order Picker

  • Articulated Truck (Bendi)

  • Sideloader

  • Pallet Trucks

Other Training Also Available:

  • Emergency First Aid

  • First Aid At Work

  • Fire Safety

  • Manual Handling

  • Working At Heights

No matter what type of forklift training you need, from a refresher course before you get back on the forklift or you need a full licence Atlas Forklift has what you need to make sure you are compliant with regulations.

Ongoing training is essential for employees to stay up to date with knowledge and skills. While businesses benefit from having reduced downtime, fewer accidents, improved employee knowledge and high productivity.

    FORKLIFT TRAINING LICENSES

    This course is designed to equip operators with the essential skills for safe and efficient operation of counterbalance trucks. It includes practical and theoretical training on handling and using a counterbalance forklift. The training spans from regular pre-shift checks to advanced steering methods, ensuring operators leave with a thorough understanding of both fundamental and complex forklift functionalities. 

    Successful completion certifies proficiency in safety and operational competence, essential for modern industrial environments. Participants will master hazard identification, precise forklift manoeuvring, and essential operational protocols through a blend of practical exercises and theoretical learning.

    Reach forklifts are agile, highly manoeuvrable and come with the benefit of being able to reach items at height. Understanding what impact stability, hydraulic controls, maintenance and motive controls are essential.

    Our reach truck training covers important topics such as hazard awareness, manoeuvring in confined spaces, and comprehensive pre-shift inspections. This ensures operators are well-prepared to handle these vehicles with confidence and care.

    The structured course criteria include a wide range of practical skills and knowledge areas, from operating hydraulic controls to understanding lift truck stability. This approach enhances operator competence and understanding of workplace safety responsibilities.

    Efficient product and item retrieval is essential for saving both time and money. Understanding surface conditions, proper load handling, navigating warehouse traffic, and ensuring safe entry and exit are fundamental skills for order picking.

    The forklift order picker training is a comprehensive program designed for operators who require initial or refresher training. This training ensures that operators have the essential skills to carry out their tasks in a safe and efficient manner.

    When operating a Bendi or Pivot Steer forklift, undergoing proper training is crucial. This training encompasses both theoretical knowledge and practical skills related to articulated forklifts, operation, component identification, and manoeuvring in tight spaces while transporting a load.

    Side loader training is essential for safely and effectively handling heavy loads over distances. 

    Sideloaders, commonly used in industries like steel and timber, can handle significant weights with ease. These courses focus on teaching important safety principles for operating side loaders. By enrolling your team in side loader training, you guarantee that they are well-equipped to operate these forklifts competently, securely, and confidently.

    Upon completing a pallet truck training course, learners will have increased efficiency, effective maintenance, injury prevention, and theoretical and practical skills. 

    Forklift training courses are essential in ensuring that operators are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to safely and efficiently operate pallet trucks. 

    From learning how to navigate tight spaces to understanding the importance of regular maintenance, these courses cover all aspects of pallet truck operation.

    OTHER TRAINING ALSO AVAILABLE

    Emergency First Aid Courses

    When working in hazardous spaces, it is vital that as many employees as possible have first-aid training that is specific to the industry.

    Manual Handling Courses

    Manual handling courses significantly reduce the amount of work-related injuries. Manual handling covers pushing, pulling, lifting, putting down, and carrying - as well as the use of trolleys, moving live loads, trucks and other mechanical aids—good handling techniques as well as team handling.

    Fire Marshall & Fire Safety Training

    When working in an environment that handles all types of materials, there is always a fire risk associated with it. To manage the risks and control any outbreaks of fire, several or more employees should have Fire marshall & fire safety training.

    Abrasive Wheel & Angle Grinder Training

    Methods of fitting, testing and the use of abrasive wheels. Types of abrasive wheels, abrasive wheel marking, accident prevention, safety, testing storage, etc. This course addresses the specific challenges that come with handling an abrasive wheel.

    Working At Height

    A course on working at height will increase awareness of the hazards involved with this type of work. The fundamentals of fall protection, cage safety, material handling, elevated platforms, harness and anchorage specifications and inspections, calculating the total fall distance, lanyard usage and proper care of harness and lanyards.

    LIST OF CERTIFIED FORKLIFT DRIVER TRAINING BODIES

    RTITB

    Due to its focus on enhancing workplace safety, RTITB is among the top standards-setting agencies in the UK for forklift training accreditation. In order to improve the effectiveness of employers' systems and increase employee safety, the RTITB Instructor Academy works closely with trainers and assessors.

    ITSSAR

    ITSSAR strive to reduce workplace accidents by independently confirming that all approved training meets and exceeds the criteria set forth in The Approved Code of Practice, which they promote through a global accreditation programme.

    AITT

    Standards for Professional Training in the Material Handling Sector. a nationally renowned organisation that certifies workplace transportation training. In our sector, AITT is the only membership-run accrediting body and is pleased to be a wholly nonprofit corporation.

    ALLMI

    To guarantee that managers, instructors, and members of the lorry loader lifting team alike receive the highest degree of training, ALLMI is the only accrediting authority in the UK that specialises in training for each member of the lorry loading lifting team.

    NPORS

    NPORS has been in operation since 1992. The organisation takes pride in its core values, which include industrial support, transparency, and regulating training and testing for the security of personnel operating heavy machinery.

    BASIC FORKLIFT TRAINING (3 OR 5 DAYS)

    Our training programs are created to improve your skills and ensure that your forklift operators meet industry safety and operational standards. Whether you are new to forklift operation or looking to renew your certification, we provide customised courses to meet your requirements.

    REFRESHER FORKLIFT TRAINING (1 DAY)

    This course is designed for operators who are required to re-certify.  It combines theoretical and practical training. On successful completion, the operator will be certified by the examiner.

    The courses can be run for a maximum of 3 participants and can be tailored to meet specific customer requirements.

    FORKLIFT DRIVER TRAINING COURSES

    Forklift training courses help drivers with no forklift experience progress through the course and, upon passing the tests, qualify as a certified forklift operator. The course includes theoretical and practical training in safe working practices relevant to forklift operations. Operators will gain ample practical experience to feel confident operating forklifts in your workplace environment

    We work with a RTITB training provider to provide forklift training services. All of our trainers and instructors are certified and possess instructor certifications and/or teaching qualifications. Whether you need a customised course or a standard course, our training provider can tailor their services to suit your requirements.

    COMMON FORKLIFT TRUCK HAZARDS AS A RESULT OF LACK OF DRIVER TRAINING

    • Limited visibility whenever driving a truck is a common hazard.
    • In order to cut down on the number of trips necessary, operators would be tempted to stack their goods.
    • Equipment abuse or selecting the incorrect equipment also poses a major hazard.
    • When the wrong tools are employed to execute a task, accidents that could have been prevented happen much too frequently.
    • There are several blind spots when a forklift truck is transporting cargo since the front portion is entirely concealed by the carrying load.
    • The driver's field of vision is also limited by obscured crossings and drive-in locations inside the warehouse in addition to the weight on the fork.
    Training,On,The,Use,Of,Forklift,Trucks
    Training on a forklift

    FORKLIFT TRAINING AVAILABLE IN THE WEST MIDLANDS

    AtlasForklift provide forklift driver training to a wide spectrum of industries and businesses. Each customer has training tailored to the needs of health & safety, compliance and the needs of their business.

    ON-SITE FORKLIFT DRIVER TRAINING

    Forklift driver training can be delivered on-site. Our instructors visit to deliver 3 and 5 day courses with the minimum of disruption and the maximum impact. Everyone delivering training on behalf of Atlas is RTITB (Road Transport Industry Training Board) accredited.

    FORKLIFT DRIVER TRAINING - FAQ's

    No - you are not required to have a UK driving license but must have a certificate of completed basic training course from a certified body such as RTITB, ITSAAR, ALLMI, NPORS or AITT. To add to this, if you are driving on public roads with the forklift, then you must always obey traffic laws so as not to commit any crime. Without a forklift certification you will not be able to lawfully operate a forklift, so this is essentially the equivalent of driving licences, but it is slightly different for industrial machinery.

    In order to drive a forklift truck, you need to be at least 18 years of age. No one below the age of 18 should be allows to utilise a forklift, and if you are found to be operating a forklift underage then you can expect some repercussions from the law. No site manager should ever allow anyone under the age of 18 to use a forklift truck.

    In most circumstances, a forklift training course will last for around 3 to 5 days, depending on the provider. A forklift training course should be longer than a day but less than a week, as you simply need time enough to get your head around the various controls, as well as better understanding the associated risks and dangers. Refresher courses are recommended for forklift drivers too, as it’s a good idea to indulge in some extra training every 3 years to make sure you are as clued up as can be.

    Although there is no specific rule that states forklift drivers need to wear seat belts at all times, it's still highly recommended that any operators wear a seatbelt when driving a forklift to promote the best levels of health and safety.

    Class 2 Narrow Aisle and Order Picker - a reach truck is the ideal example of a class 2 narrow aisle and order picker category of truck. They are found indoors and used primarily on smooth floor surfaces. Operators ride the platform and elevate to the desired height for an efficient method of retrieval.

    No - the only situations that would trigger the need further training are:

    • You have been operating a forklift dangerously, or have been involved in a forklift accident.
    • You have to operate a new type of forklift.
    • Your workplace or your role at work has changed.
    • Negative comments at your 3-year reevaluation from an employer that suggest you need retraining.

    Dissimilarly to a normal car driving license, forklift certificates do not expire - this means that they have no ‘end date’. However, it is worth noting that the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) recommends all forklift operators take a refresher course every three years.

    You need proof of your eligibility to drive a forklift, but technically speaking there is no such thing as a forklift ‘license’. You still need to go through the right training, and will end up with a qualification (which is required for operation), but this qualification will be a forklift certificate that you can use as evidence of your license to drive. So, they’re essentially one and the same thing.

    No, in most cases you cannot drive a forklift without a forklift license. Only if you are in training for your qualification.

    Your forklift license will indicate what kind of trucks you have permission to operate, as well as including information on any restrictions which may have been deemed necessary for your unique situation.

    Class 1 Industrial Counterbalance – class 1 counterbalance category trucks are likely the most popular type. They can be gas, diesel or electric powered, and can thrive both inside and outside in places like yards or ports.

    To be a great forklift driver, you don’t need to be particularly academic. But, the following are great attributes of a good forklift truck driver:

    • Concentration is a vital skill for a potentially dangerous working environment.
    • Discipline is needed to do your job safely, as you must follow a strict set of rules at all times.
    • Organisation is key too, as your job may not always be straightforward. Be prepared to change your working methods and goals at a moment’s notice.