Official Training Program
If you live in or plan on working in Texas as a forklift operator, or need to certify multiple of your employees, this official guide will give step-by-step instructions on what you will need to do to ensure OSHA compliance.
It should be noted that the Texas OSHA-approved forklift safety standards apply to private sector workers located within the state. State and local government workers are not covered by federal OSHA.
While most employers require job applicants to obtain their forklift certification prior to applying, it is not federally required. Some Texas based companies will hire individuals without a certification or prior experience and enroll them in the online training during the employees onboarding process. If you are an individual seeking a job, it is recommended that you get your certification beforehand for faster employment, as many organizations use the certification as a measure of a potential candidates qualifications.
No, you do not need hands-on training to apply for a job position as a forklift operator in the state of Texas. This is because the hands-on training and evaluation is generally provided by the hiring organization during the individuals work onboarding process. The organization is required to provide hands-on training as well as evaluate each individual’s ability to competently operate the machinery safely.
Read the steps below for a much more in-depth look at the process you need to take.
Once you have decided you want to pursue a career as a Texas forklift operator, the recommended next step is to enroll in the online training course. This course consists of animated training videos, quizzes & final exam required to gain your certification.
Or if you prefer to learn more about the course before enrollment, click here to learn more.
Yes, this training is intended to be completed online. Individuals can take the training on any device, including phone, tablet or computer.
$49.00
The course is broken up into 5 topics – each intended to satisfy the requirements set forth by OSHA. These topics include:
Operators with no previous forklift experience can expect to spend ~2 hours completing the course. Individuals with previous experience, however, typically finish the course in about 1 hour.
After you successfully pass the exam, you will receive your Official Forklift Certification document. The certification will include your name, date, certification number & QR code your employer can use to authenticate the document.
Texas is a booming state with an insatiable appetite for business. Moving to Texas and starting a new business? Looking to enter the Texas workforce? Make sure you’re following Texas OSHA regulations! Texas doesn’t mess around when it comes to safety, which is why the National Forklift Foundation offers forklift training in Texas. Want to learn more about the classes offered? Click here.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 requires that forklift operators must complete certification every 3 years, but many people are not aware of this requirement or choose to ignore it because they think they don’t need it if their company only operates one or two lifts at a time. This could not be further from the truth! Texas has some of the highest fines imposed from being cited on violations.
The Texas Department of Labor (TDL) has jurisdiction over the Texas OSHA program. The TDL’s goal is to eliminate death and serious injury from Texas workplaces by enforcing standards through inspections, education, training and outreach.” The video below demonstrates how a forklift can cause significant damage in seconds. View Video
Texas is a state in the South Central region of the United States. It is the second largest U.S. state by both area (after Alaska) and population (after California). Texas has a diverse geography, with wide-ranging topography and numerous forests. Texas is considered part of the Southern region of the United States.
Texas also has some of the fastest growing cities in the entire United States. The Texas economy is strong and diversified. Texas has a “miracle” energy sector that continues to power the state’s economy, which ranks as one of the world’s largest economies in terms of GDP.
Forklifts are one of the best solutions for efficiency on a warehouse or distribution center floor because they can operate both indoors as well as out. Workflow and logistics are becoming a competitive edge for Texas.
Here are some reasons Texas is great:
Here are some safety tips for operating a forklift:
Professional development means that you need to learn new things for your job. You need to learn how to be good at the job that you have. Different jobs require different skills. The lift truck profession is no exception here.
Living in Texas has never been more rewarding and getting/staying certified is critical milestone in your professional development.
As of 2019, Texas had more employed forklift drivers than any other state, with over 68,000 individuals currently employed. This is in large part due to the diverse range of industries flourishing within the state. These industries include but are not limited to construction, biotech, aviation, oil & gas, automobile manufacturing & more. Many of these industries require competent forklift drivers as a crucial part of their daily business operations.
Once you have obtained your forklift certification, you are equipped to start applying for local jobs in your area. While applying, is strongly recommended that you include the certification on your resume, as many Texas organizations will use the certification as a way of determining which applicants have the preferred qualifications to best fill the role.
Texas has many local staffing companies that regularly place individuals into organizations looking to hire forklift drivers. Other common resources include web platforms like Indeed, Google & LinkedIn