Learning to drive a forklift truck....

[Saluki]

Hubster says just pay attention and it's a walk in the park.
The only reason, in his opinion, is that they get more money out of it. If you are unable to grasp it in a day, you are doing something wrong.
He also says to enjoy the course.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Brake on before you touch any hydraulics

Climb on with your left leg and swing onto seat and climb off the same way

ROPS

SWL + load management. a 1ton capacity truck can only lift 750kg at a certain point of load placement on the legs

Centre of front axle marks your turning point

Figure of 8 is fun

IBC's and Stillages can lock together with a clunk, don't fret too much as long as you lift straight and with enough height to clear the lower



AND!! When you get off the truck, TAKE THE KEY WITH YOU and hand back to instructor

 

[Andrew_P]

Don't go round corners too fast with a 2 tonne pallet on the front @ 3 foot... Also don't try donuting it in the yard! Oh and don't use it as a snow plough with a pallet on the front HSE would have field day with me years ago.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

[QUOTE 3936635, member: 9609"]a mate of mine was delivering fertiliser to a local farm, he had about a dozen dumpy bags to lift off - the only person on the steading was the farmers daughter (who I think is 15) he was a bit surprised when she went and got the front loader and lifted them all off. he reckons she was good at, especially considering she never once let go of her mobile phone (may be there is an app or something that controls these things now?)[/QUOTE]
Farmers kids are experienced many years before they're 15 these days. I was never allowed to use any PTO attachments that had spinning blades but I'd say I was pretty proficient in ploughing straight lines when I was 9/10 ish

 

[threebikesmcginty]

5 days is a long course, most I've seen before is a 3 day. You'll be the best flt driver in the uk after that.

 

[Andrew_P]

Three at my warehouse got theirs in a day.

My last forklift HSE story, we were unloading a lorry using the a tractor with forklift attachments, the top pallet had toppled so I leapt on to the forks while someone lifted me to the top which was going fine until the 3 stage mast hit stage two with my hand resting on it! I screamed a luckily the fella stopped instantly and dropped it, nearly lost all my fingers, was down to the bone on two.. I ran around the yard screaming like a madman..

 

[threebikesmcginty]

My last forklift HSE story, we were unloading a lorry using the a tractor with forklift attachments, the top pallet had toppled so I leapt on to the forks while someone lifted me to the top which was going fine until the 3 stage mast hit stage two with my hand resting on it! I screamed a luckily the fella stopped instantly and dropped it, nearly lost all my fingers, was down to the bone on two.. I ran around the yard screaming like a madman..

Halcyon days!

 

[*Dusty*]

Test is easy.

handbrake on every time you stop to do something, all around checks before you move off, keep all your body bits inside the overhead guard or cab. Quick tip, make sure your forks are level, stop them in front of you at eye level and adjust the tilt so they are "flat".

Keep slow and easy is the only way, no sudden jerks on the levers or mini levers if you have them fitted.

When you're getting on and off the truck, three points of contact. Don't just hop on and jump off again. Relax and get 'er done

 

[classic33]

Farmers kids are experienced many years before they're 15 these days. I was never allowed to use any PTO attachments that had spinning blades but I'd say I was pretty proficient in ploughing straight lines when I was 9/10 ish

Would it have been a finger bar/toe bar cutter, rather than rotary?

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Would it have been a finger bar/toe bar cutter, rather than rotary?

I was thinking rotovator but toppers and grass cutting equipment were in the NO category also

 

[PeteXXX]

Someone has been teaching you for four days. Best idea is to do exactly as he's been telling you I reckon!
Good luck with the test.
I passed mine in 1999 and haven't used it since..

 

[classic33]

I was thinking rotovator but toppers and grass cutting equipment were in the NO category also

Its worse when you see one of these moving, but can't see the driver stood at the controls, because they're not yet able to see over them.

 

[DRM]

Counterbalance is pretty straightforward, as people have said, handbrake on when you stop, check all around before setting off, the instructor will show you how to get through the pallet slalom and how to put the load pallet on to the racking, little tip if it's a Toyota there is a little button on the tilt lever, when the mast is tilted back towards the truck push the button down while tilting forward and the mast will stop dead level, and don't forget forget to take the key out after dropping the forks and tilting the mast forward, if it's a modern truck it might have keypad ignition so don't forget to press the off button.
At least you're not doing the Bendi test, they are horrible to drive, next one very narrow aisle man up truck, you get to abseil out of the cab!!!

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Counterbalance is pretty straightforward, as people have said, handbrake on when you stop, check all around before setting off, the instructor will show you how to get through the pallet slalom and how to put the load pallet on to the racking, little tip if it's a Toyota there is a little button on the tilt lever, when the mast is tilted back towards the truck push the button down while tilting forward and the mast will stop dead level, and don't forget forget to take the key out after dropping the forks and tilting the mast forward, if it's a modern truck it might have keypad ignition so don't forget to press the off button.
At least you're not doing the Bendi test, they are horrible to drive, next one very narrow aisle man up truck, you get to abseil out of the cab!!!

Yes I did the narrow aisle truck about 10 years ago, the abseil out of the cab is very interesting if, like me, you have very short legs, in my case with stretching to reach the mast as I dropped down the harness moved a little, I had aching nuts for about a week!

 

[Deleted member 1258]

5 days is a long course, most I've seen before is a 3 day. You'll be the best flt driver in the uk after that.

It used to be common to have a 5 day refresher covering reach and counterbalance years ago, now its one day or 3 days most of the time, often the companies don't want to lose their driver for too long.