Pallet Jack Safety Training and Certification FAQs

A pallet jack is a basic type of forklift designed to move pallets in a warehouse or truck trailer. Like traditional forklifts, a pallet jack is used to push or pull a load. Pallet jacks can be manual or electric. Electric pallet jacks are operated while sitting or standing, and manual pallet jacks are maneuvered while walking.

Electric pallet jacks are usually used in larger facilities and have higher load capacities. Smaller warehouses often use manual pallet jacks because they are easier to maneuver in tight spaces. OSHA requires electric pallet jack operators to complete formal training and certification. Certification is not required for manual pallet jack operators, but employees should be trained on using this equipment safely.

Step 1: Formal Instruction

Our 100% online Pallet Jack Safety Training and Certification course satisfies OSHA's formal training requirement. After finishing the training course, you can instantly download a certificate to give to your employer. Your wallet-sized pallet jack certification card, printed on durable plastic, will arrive in the mail in 5-7 business days.

Step 2: Hands-On Training

Your employer is responsible for providing hands-on training, which should include jobsite-specific demonstrations and equipment exercises.

Step 3: Performance Evaluation

To become officially certified, you must pass an employer-led performance evaluation. In the final module, you can download a printable Powered Industrial Truck Operator Evaluation Form to give to your supervisor. The form includes a list of skills you will be tested on. Once you pass your evaluation and you and your employer sign the form, you will be a certified pallet jack operator.

Although you might not think of a pallet jacks as a trucks, OSHA classifies them as a Class III forklift under 29 CFR 1910.178 — Powered Industrial Trucks. Therefore, to comply with federal law, anyone who must use a powered pallet jack for their job needs to complete training that satisfies OSHA requirements.

OSHA does not require certification to operate a manual pallet jack. However, employees who use this tool should be properly trained on safe operating procedures and common hazards.

If your current or future job role requires you to use an electric pallet jack, OSHA standards mandate that you must be at least 18 years old and become certified. To earn your certification, you must complete formal training, receive practical on-the-job training and pass an operator evaluation.

Manual pallet jacks, which are not classified as powered industrial trucks, can be operated by workers under the age of 18 and do not require certification training.

Yes. Our 100% online course satisfies OSHA's formal training requirement for pallet jack certification, which is the first step to becoming certified. Your employer handles the remaining steps: practical training and a performance evaluation.

According to OSHA standard 1910.178, workers must learn how to operate an electric pallet jack through proper training and certification. If you are a newly hired employee in a warehouse environment, you will need to earn a certification to operate any powered pallet jack. To earn the certification, you must complete formal instruction, practical training and a performance evaluation.

With our online Pallet Jack Safety Training and Certification course, you can finish the formal instruction requirement at your own pace from any device. After finishing the two-hour course, you can instantly print your Certificate of Completion. Expect your laminated pallet jack certification card to arrive in the mail within 5-7 business days.

Yes. To complete the online training, you must take and pass six module quizzes and a final exam. The quizzes include up to five questions and require a score of at least 80% to pass. Quizzes are included to help you retain lesson information, so they have no time limit and you can retake them until you pass.

The final exam contains 20 questions that cover topics from the entire course. You must score at least 70% to pass. If you don't pass, you can retake the exam as many times as you need until you pass.

In addition to the test for the formal instruction portion of your training, you will also need to pass an operator evaluation to prove you can operate a pallet jack safely. This evaluation will be led by your employer on the jobsite.

After completing our two-hour pallet jack training course, you receive a certification certificate and plastic card that is accepted in every state. Certification is valid for three years.

OSHA requires pallet jack operators to complete a new operator evaluation every three years to maintain certification. We recommend that all operators retake the Pallet Jack Safety Training and Certification course every three years to refresh their knowledge of safety hazards and best practices.

Anyone who wants to be an OSHA-compliant pallet jack operator must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Complete formal instruction by taking an online or in-person training course
• Complete hands-on training from an employer
• Pass an employer-led performance evaluation

Manual pallet jacks are not classified as powered industrial trucks, so OSHA does not require operators to earn a formal certification. In addition, you do not need to be 18 or older to use a manual pallet jack. However, we recommend that all workers who use pallet jacks complete training and receive on-the-job training that covers safe operation procedures and site-specific hazards.

Both pallet jacks and forklift trucks help move large loads that are stacked on pallets. But there are some key differences between the two.

Pallet Jacks (Class III: Electric Motor Hand Trucks or Hand/Rider Trucks)

• Work well where there's limited space
• Include sitting, standing and walk-behind models
• Can lift up to 5,000 pounds or more
• Usually have a maximum lift height under 10 inches

Forklifts (All other forklift classes)

• Most are driven from a sitting position
• Are larger and need proper clearance to operate
• Can lift over 5,000 pounds
• Can lift loads to heights up to 35 feet

You can download an Operator Evaluation Form in the final module of the course. You can review the form to learn the specific skills you will be tested on during the final step of the certification process.

To initiate the in-person evaluation, print the Powered Industrial Truck Operator Evaluation Form and give it to your on-site supervisor or manager. Your supervisor will give you in-person training on the equipment used at your jobsite and explain hazards to be aware of.

Your supervisor will then use the evaluation form to test you on your operating skills and the knowledge you learned during your online course. Passing this evaluation satisfies OSHA's in-person evaluation requirement and provides an official certification.