Tommy: Forklift instructors/trainers are not yet required to be registered or be certified in the U.S. There is also no formal training curriculum that an instructor/trainer must receive. The U.S. OSHA requirements are performance based and basically require that the trainer/instructor be qualified to teach the subject(s) listed under operator training and be qualified to evaluate the operator performance in those areas that the instructor/trainer is involved.

An instructor/trainer can freely move between different companies either as an employee of the company or as an independent trainer contracted to provide services. To provide full training and evaluation services, the instructor/trainer would have to familiarize him or her self with the types of forklifts being used, the forklift manufacturer's operator/safety manuals, the employer's forklift safety manual (if one exists) and any specific operating hazards the forklift operator is exposed to in the employer's workplace, etc.