National LIFTOR Industrial Sites conduct "Skills Checks" also known as on-truck tests. These have taken as little as 45 minutes, and have been known, on occasion, to take up to about 20 hours per operator. Our goal is ALWAYS to ensure mastery of the skills before we let the person out of the training. We recognize that some people take longer than others in developing the required skills. The average time for a skills check of an already-experienced operator is about 2 hours.

These skills checks (tests) are administered by specially trained and certified front-line supervisors. The tests are substantive in that the items closely simulate ALL forklift-related duties required of the operator on-the-job. The tests are content validated, are reliable, and are part of a training process that complies with the new ANSI Z490.1 Standard on Safety & Health Training.

Regarding your "time" question, related OSHA text is available on their website for Docket #S-008 "preamble" section of 29 CFR 1910.178 (l) "Notice of Final Rule Making". Three trainers from Tennessee Valley Authority, Southwestern Bell, and Monaco Group, Inc. concurred that the average time for training and evaluation was about eight (8) hours with their respective programs.

For free information about National LIFTOR's unique and effective approach to forklift operator evaluation, training, certification and OSHA compliance, go to wwwdotLIFTORdotcom.

Best wishes,

Joe