Counterbalance lift truck Training
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration does require operators using a counterbalanced lift truck to have received lecture style or classroom training. They additionally require that a periodic refresher training as well as a supervised driving program is completed. There is no minimum time requirement for the classroom training or supervised driving. Also, there is no frequency mandated for the refresher training either.
Counterbalanced Forklifts
A counterbalanced lift truck balances its load with the truck's weight. The forks on a lift truck are in a fixed position; they go up and down and do not pivot. The forks run parallel to the forklift's body. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration require that drivers who will be utilizing counterbalanced forklifts on the job be properly trained on the trucks while being in the kind of environment which they would be utilizing them.
Classroom Training
Training either in a classroom or lecture style would offer forklift and operator information for the truck you will be utilizing. Most training will cover several aspects such as the weight and load capacity, height, how to fuel or charge the lift truck. It covers how to gauge the time on the engine along with any forklift specific safety information like for example where to stand when walking around the truck. Either written and/or oral testing is part of the classroom training. There is no minimum time requirement for the training.
Supervised Driving
The driver of a forklift would need to learn to utilize the equipment while being supervised. The supervised driving needs to take place in an environment that resembles the present environment which the operator works in. This atmosphere must include the kind of terrain she would be traveling on, have the same surrounding structures close by, and the same pedestrian and vehicle traffic nearby too. There is no required minimum number of hours the driver has to drive while being supervised.