Counterbalance Forklift Operator Novice - 3 days
The Counterbalance Forklift Operator – Novice Course is designed for individuals with little or no previous forklift operating experience who want to gain the knowledge, practical skills and confidence required to operate a Counterbalance Forklift Truck safely and effectively. Delivered over 3 days at A&D Training Centre, this intensive course is limited to a maximum of 2 candidates, providing increased practical operating time and more individual tuition with our experienced instructor.
Description
Counterbalance Forklift Trucks are among the most commonly used materials handling vehicles across warehousing, logistics, manufacturing and industrial environments.
Our 3-day Novice Operator Course provides new operators with structured training covering everything from basic truck controls and daily inspections through to manoeuvring, load handling and stacking and de-stacking.
Unlike courses operating with larger groups, A&D Training Centre limits this course to just 2 candidates.
This allows each candidate to benefit from:
- More individual instructor attention
- Increased practical driving time
- More opportunity to practise manoeuvres
- Additional load-handling experience
- More time to develop confidence
- Individual feedback and coaching throughout the course
Training combines theory, instructor demonstrations and practical exercises, allowing candidates to progressively develop their skills before completing the required assessments.
Prerequisites
This course is specifically designed for novice operators, so no previous forklift operating experience is required.
Candidates should:
- Be of an appropriate age to operate workplace equipment
- Be physically capable of safely operating a Counterbalance Forklift Truck
- Have sufficient understanding of English to follow safety instructions and complete the required assessments
- Have access to an email address
- Be willing to participate in both classroom and practical training
Candidates with significant previous forklift experience may be more suited to our Experienced Operator Course.
Candidates who already hold recognised operator training may instead require a Refresher or Conversion Course.
What's Involved
The course combines theoretical knowledge, instructor demonstrations and extensive practical operating experience.
Core Training Areas
Training includes:
- Introduction to the Counterbalance Forklift Truck
- Operator responsibilities
- Relevant workplace safety requirements
- Identification of truck components and controls
- Pre-use inspections and daily safety checks
- Defect identification and reporting
- Starting, stopping and safe parking procedures
- Steering and manoeuvring
- Forward and reverse travel
- Safe operation in open and confined spaces
- Correct use of forks and hydraulic controls
- Principles of stability
- Rated capacity and load centres
- Understanding capacity plates
- Safe load assessment
- Picking up, transporting and setting down loads
- Stacking and de-stacking
- Low, eye and high-level load handling
- Safe use around racking and storage systems
- Pedestrian awareness
- Workplace hazards and risk awareness
- Safe operating speeds and stopping distances
- Refuelling or battery charging procedures, where applicable
- End-of-shift procedures and securing the truck
Course Structure
The course is delivered over 3 days and includes:
- Face-to-face instructor-led training
- Maximum of 2 candidates per course
- Theory instruction
- Instructor demonstrations
- Extensive practical truck operation
- Individual coaching and feedback
- Realistic operating exercises
- Formal operator assessments
Keeping the course to a maximum of two candidates allows more practical operating time for each learner throughout the programme.
Assessment
Candidates must demonstrate the required theoretical knowledge and practical operating competence to successfully complete the course.
Assessment includes:
Theory Test
Candidates complete a theory assessment covering areas such as:
- Operator responsibilities
- Safe operating procedures
- Stability principles
- Load handling
- Workplace hazards
- Relevant safety requirements
Pre-Use Inspection Test
Candidates must demonstrate their ability to correctly carry out a pre-use inspection of the forklift truck.
This includes:
- Identifying safety-critical components
- Carrying out appropriate checks
- Identifying potential defects
- Understanding when a truck should not be operated
- Following correct defect reporting procedures
Practical Operating Test
Candidates are assessed on their ability to safely and efficiently operate the Counterbalance Forklift Truck.
The practical assessment includes:
- General truck control
- Effective observation
- Forward and reverse manoeuvring
- Steering accuracy
- Load handling
- Stacking and de-stacking
- Safe positioning
- Correct use of hydraulic controls
- Awareness of pedestrians and workplace hazards
- Safe parking and shutdown procedures
Candidates must successfully complete the required assessments to demonstrate competence.
Key Benefits
Maximum of Only 2 Candidates
Our smaller course size provides significantly more opportunity for practical training and individual instructor attention.
More Hands-On Truck Time
With only two candidates sharing the practical training, learners benefit from increased operating time to practise and develop their skills.
Designed for Complete Beginners
No previous forklift experience is required, making this an ideal starting point for anyone looking to become a forklift operator.
Practical Skills Development
Build real-world operating skills through extensive practical exercises including manoeuvring, load handling, stacking and de-stacking.
Individual Instructor Support
Receive personalised feedback and coaching throughout the course to help develop safe operating techniques.
Build Confidence
Progressive practical training allows candidates to develop their skills and confidence over the three days.
Improve Workplace Safety
Develop an understanding of stability, load handling, pedestrian awareness, pre-use inspections and other essential workplace safety considerations.
Improve Employment Opportunities
Counterbalance Forklift Truck operators are required across warehousing, logistics, manufacturing, distribution and many other industries.
Recognised Training & Assessment
Complete structured operator training and assessment designed to demonstrate the knowledge and practical skills required to safely operate a Counterbalance Forklift Truck.
Pricing
TOTAL COST: £510.00
This includes:
- £400.00 Course Fee
- £25.00 RTITB Accreditation (Optional - ensure you select this at booking)
- £85.00 VAT