Learning to drive a forklift truck....

[hedder2212]

After a few months of waiting i finally got booked onto the Counterbalance FLT course/test.
I do 4 days training and the 5th day is the test.
Now im winding myself up worrying about messing it up, dropping pallets etc etc
Ive been watching youtube videos and reading all the info i can but its mostly american stuff.
Any tips from anybody on here who is a FLT driver/has experience driving a forklift?

 

[earlestownflya]

your instructor will show you everything you need to know,just take your time,safety is a massive issue,so make your allround observations .

 

[vernon]

After a few months of waiting i finally got booked onto the Counterbalance FLT course/test.
I do 4 days training and the 5th day is the test.
Now im winding myself up worrying about messing it up, dropping pallets etc etc
Ive been watching youtube videos and reading all the info i can but its mostly american stuff.
Any tips from anybody on here who is a FLT driver/has experience driving a forklift?

It's a piece of piss.

I passed first time. Just go with an open mind, listen to the instructions, watch any demonstrations and relax when you are practicing. Don't sweat over your test.

I was put through a 'mock test' at the end of the instruction period and awarded a pass certificate. It was a sneaky way of dispelling nerves.

You won't drop pallets or screw up. That will happen after you acquire the confidence comensurate with passing your test.

Don't ask me how I know.

 

[Andy_R]

And just wait 'til you have a go at using a reach truck...hehe....

 

[hedder2212]

Im crapping myself because unless it has two wheels im usually rubbish at it and have issues with spacial awareness/reversing etc
Im only doing this because employer needs me to be able to take pallets off the end of the line and store them in the warehouse.
The biggest thing im worrying about is the clutch/drive thing - i dont have to use the clutch like i would a car do i?

I cant even cycle there and back as its too far for me to cycle

 

[Deleted member 23692]

Don't forget the handbrake.. you're forever putting it on and off whilst training

 

[Deleted member 23692]

As it's rear wheel steering, when you're going backwards it's drives like a car going forwards.

It's going forwards that takes a bit more getting used to as if feels like you're losing the back end until you get the hang of it.. which takes about 5 mins

 

[threebikesmcginty]

If you're driving a sideloader and you've got lots of stuff on don't forget to put the legs down otherwise you'll turn the whole thing over.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

The biggest thing im worrying about is the clutch/drive thing - i dont have to use the clutch like i would a car do i?

All the ones we've ever used have a 'Go' pedal and a 'Whoa' pedal, forward and backward lever and we never used to bother stopping when changing from one to the other, then it's up or down with the forks and don't forget to steer when you're at a corner. Easy.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

After a few months of waiting i finally got booked onto the Counterbalance FLT course/test.
I do 4 days training and the 5th day is the test.
Now im winding myself up worrying about messing it up, dropping pallets etc etc
Ive been watching youtube videos and reading all the info i can but its mostly american stuff.
Any tips from anybody on here who is a FLT driver/has experience driving a forklift?

Relax and listen to the instructor, make sure the handbrake is on when you're using the hydraulics and that it turns round the front inside wheel. Some years ago I worked for a small engineering firm, most of my forklift driving involved unloading and loading lorry's moving loose bundles of metal and handling metal bins, they insisted on a refresher every two years both reach and counterbalance, the fun and games used to be on the reach course, it was always pallet and racking, which was the one thing I never did at work, I usually just managed to scrape through the test at the end

 

[gbb]

Unless its changed significantly, the bit that I struggled to do properly was applying the handbrake...and when, or particually how often.
Id been through quick internal training and driving one for years but was surprised how often you were supposed to apply the handbrake when I did the proper test some years later.

 

[vernon]

Yeah, the handbrake. Remember the handbrake.

 

[vernon]

If you're driving a sideloader and you've got lots of stuff on don't forget to put the legs down otherwise you'll turn the whole thing over.

I use one of those for my pie deliveries.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I use one of those for my pie deliveries.

Probably a 40 tonner with a triplex mast.

 

[Deleted member 23692]

I remember WETCAPS being a very important mnemonic when I was did my test about 30 years ago...