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