As part of the on-site training for forklift operators, each employer must conduct an evaluation of their employees to assess the skills and required training. Employees are not allowed to operate a forklift, apart from during the evaluation until their training is complete.
Trainee forklift operators are required to undergo training provided by their employer before they are certified to operate forklifts without supervision, this consists of practical and theoretical learning. Included in the training are the similarities and differences of forklifts and automobiles, and visibility.
The initial training for a trainee forklift operator completed on-site lasts approximately five-and-one-half hours, according to the North Carolina Department of Labor. A certificate, awarded upon completion of the training, states the named employee has demonstrated their ability to operate a forklift safely.