Learning to drive a forklift truck....

[slowmotion]

Have you all seen the Russian vodka warehouse clip? High bay racking isn't as substantial as it looks. Fortunately, nobody got badly hurt.
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View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stDWNam7RtE
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[slowmotion]

If your truck hasn't quite got the required reach, don't despair.

 

[Fnaar]

My brother did a course a while back, and said the test was pretty straightforward. So good luck, hope it goes well.
In the meantime, get things out of your system beforehand by watching vids like this:

 

[Mattonsea]

I know it sounds daft but look in the direction you travel. It's a bad habit they love to pick up on, oh and the keys thing, take them out!!

 

[4F]

Short of space ? no room for a ramp ?
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPkKV6wvLxI

 

[hedder2212]

View attachment 105800 If your truck hasn't quite got the required reach, don't despair.

First day of training today and they actually showed us most of this stuff that has been posted here, First go i knocked the barrier and barrels over but once i got the hang of the rear steering wheels thing it wasn't too bad. Being 6ft7 ive been having issues getting in and out of the seat Picked up my first pallet too and i was the only one out of four of us not to brake the pallet

 

[smokeysmoo]

I did my CB a few years ago, (expired now), and it was a 3 day course with a 1 day refresher after 3 years.

After day 1 it was all a bit boring really, but just keep your head down, do exactly what they say and to repeat others, DON'T FORGET YOUR HANDBRAKE!

Also ditto all the other things like 3 points of contact, look where you're going, take the key out etc, etc, etc.

Also, if your training in racking don't let your masts touch the racking as you'll lose points for that on your test.

If you are off line when going into racking it's better to take your medicine and do a shunt to get get back on track, it's better to drop one point than make a worse mistake and possibly loose more.

Relax, enjoy and you'll fly though the test at the end of the week

 

[hedder2212]

Racking isnt easy, broke two pallets but after that i got the hang.
Putting handbrake on isnt a issue, i do remember to do that. The one issue im having is remembering to look back when im reversing
I got a shock when the instructor lay down behind the truck and started screaming

Just need to get the hang of the hydraulics controls, theyre buggers on this little electric truck im on

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Racking isnt easy, broke two pallets but after that i got the hang.
Putting handbrake on isnt a issue, i do remember to do that. The one issue im having is remembering to look back when im reversing
I got a shock when the instructor lay down behind the truck and started screaming

Just need to get the hang of the hydraulics controls, theyre buggers on this little electric truck im on

There was an instructor I had who used to say "thats squashed the tea ladies foot" every time someone forgot to look behind when reversing.

 

[DRM]

Racking isnt easy, broke two pallets but after that i got the hang.
Putting handbrake on isnt a issue, i do remember to do that. The one issue im having is remembering to look back when im reversing
I got a shock when the instructor lay down behind the truck and started screaming

Just need to get the hang of the hydraulics controls, theyre buggers on this little electric truck im on

The fingertip hydraulic levers can be a bit sensitive, but you will soon get the hang of them, once you've passed you will soon learn the excuses, brakes don't work, handbrake came off, I didn't hit the racking, honest, I wasn't going too fast etc etc, trouble is the mechanics have heard it all before, several times a day.

 

[hedder2212]

well my mock test turned out to be the real test.......
26/40 points. completed in 22 minutes.... PASSED

 

[ShipHill]

Nice one

I've been driving counterbalance for about 30 years now on and off but I started on an ancient non-power steered Lansing Bagnall FRER5 reach truck. They're brilliant. 18 turns lock to lock if I remember. My right arm was like Popeye's..... from turning the wheel so much! What are you lot like eh.

We've also got a Bendi at our place which I'm pretty experienced at now but I'd rather drive a reach or even a man-up narrow aisle. I've actually been round the Bendi factory in Redditch. It's tiny.

Cable tie an old cleaned out plastic container to one of the roof uprights makes an ideal biscuit and sweetie container.

 

[Andy_R]

........ but I started on an ancient non-power steered Lansing Bagnall FRER5 reach truck. They're brilliant. 18 turns lock to lock if I remember. My right arm was like Popeye's..... from turning the wheel so much! What are you lot like eh. .......

I remember those - I used to get shouted at by the warehouse manager for turning the steering whilst not moving . I also used to frequently catch my knee on the grab handle when dismounting. It hurt like a hurty thing, but I used to do it all the time!

 

[vernon]

well my mock test turned out to be the real test.......
26/40 points. completed in 22 minutes.... PASSED

What did I say at the beginning?

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.

Congratulations!

 

[Deleted member 1258]

well my mock test turned out to be the real test.......
26/40 points. completed in 22 minutes.... PASSED

Well done!