Forklift safety training is one of the investments where you can best put your time and effort, not only it costs you a little time to complete but it also doesn’t hurt your pocket. Its benefits are huge for individual and employers alike.
The training certificate and/or operator card that will be issued to you upon successful completion of such training is your solid evidence that you can show to an employer that you are qualified for the job. They called it a forklift license.
Obtaining a forklift license in Arizona is not as hard as you think. It only takes about a few hours to complete the certification course. The forklift license is recognized across other states and companies.
Certified forklift operators are always in demand and sought after and they’re being favored by the employer over other job applicants if they are licensed. There’s no reason why you don’t have to obtain it.
Don’t hesitate, take action to improve your skills and elevate your career.
Here, in this guide, we provided the step by step guide in getting a forklift license and the schools where you can take the training at.
Read on…
How to a Get Forklift License
What is the process of becoming a licensed forklift operator? The process only takes several steps to complete and it is straightforward, here are what you need to do:
- Enroll in a course offered by a forklift training school - the list of schools in Arizona is below, for your reference. Contact them to make an inquiry about your requirement.
- Attend the formal training – as part of any course, classroom training is important to impart the theoretical knowledge to students. It only takes about 4 hours to complete.
- Pass the written test – to measure the knowledge the students gained from the classroom, the written test may be administered. It could be administered either on paper or computer. The passing grade is usually 80% but it may depend on the school’s training standard.
- Attend the practical training – as part of the certification course, the trainer will give the student sufficient time to take the practice driving to get a feel how the forklift operates.
- Get your performance assessed – To become certified, the trainer has to evaluate your performance driving the forklift. He will assign you to complete different tasks with the forklift. Such tasks are starting the truck, unloading/loading of loads, transporting of loads, driving on an inclined floor surface, picking laden pallet and storing it on the rack, basic repair and troubleshooting, basic maintenance and inspection, and other topics.
- Receive your credentials - If you’re successful in passing the tests, you will be issued with forklift certificate and license card. The forklift license is valid for three years after which you have to attend a retraining course.
If you’re an employer and needing safety training or a skill upgrade for your forklift operators, you can also make an arrangement with the training school.
The school will send its trainer to your workplace to conduct the training on-site. the on-site training is ideal because the trainer can modify the course curriculum to suit the type of forklifts used by your operators and to match with the setting of your workplace.
READ these to help you pass the training exams:
Here are some of the topics you might be interested in:
- Common Question: Workers is Injured While Driving Forklift During His Duty, Is His Employer Liable?
- Can You Still Use Your Forklift Certification When Transferring to Another Employer (in Other State)?
- How to Get Certified Driving the Forklift?
- Where to Get Certified Operating the Forklift?
- How to Choose the Best Forklift School to Get Quality Training?
- What are the Requirements You Need?
- How Much Will It Cost You?
- How Long is the Training?
Forklift Training schools in Arizona
if you are looking for a training school where you receive your certification course from, here are the training schools in Arizona:
CertifyMe PO Box 16205, Phoenix, Arizona 888-699-4800 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. www.certifyme.net |
Naumann/Hobbs Material Handling 4335 E. Wood St. Phoenix (602.904.6763) 4217 E. Gila Ridge Rd. Yuma (928.344.8792) 2905 N. Flowing Wells Rd. Tucson (520.623.5865) 823 Frontage Rd. Rio Rico (520.281.9445) |
Alliance Material Handling 3324 E Atlanta Ave., Phoenix 602-386-1850 602-386-1851 Toll 800-543-1966 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Forklift University 2733 N. Power Rd Suite 102-262 Mesa, AZ Toll: (888) 674-9992 602-903-1895 www.forkliftuniversity |
Toyota Lift, Inc. Arizona Office (866) 797-8416 www.toyotaliftinc.com |
Pioneer Roofing 9221 N. 15th Ave. Phoenix 602-944-2696 f:602-997-0623 |
Handling Systems, Inc. 2659 E. Magnolia St. Phoenix (602.275.2228) 2725 N Grand Ave., Nogales (520.281.4125) Tucson (520.281.4125) |
Arizona Safety Plus, LLC PO Box 50823, Mesa, Arizona (844)-297-2338 www.azsafetyplus.com |
Forklift Certification (Arizona) 130 E.Lawrence Rd., Phoenix Toll:1.888.278.8896 www.forkliftCertification.com |
Arizona Hi-Lift 830 S. 23rd Ave., Phoenix P: (602) 462-1315 F: (602) 462-1321 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Sunstate Equipment Company 520-201-1719 Tucson, AZ www.equipmentrentaltucsonaz.com |
Airborne Forklift Certification and Safety Consultants 800.852.5507 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. |
Northern Arizona University www.nau.edu/facility-services/safety-training This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Images Enterprises LLC 3820 S Palo Verde Road, Suite 113, Tucson (520)777-6462 |
Fleet Services of Arizona, L.L.C. 4635 S. Apollo St., Fort Mohave This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (928) 704-1400 F: (928) 704-6499 |
Central Arizona College 520-494-5319 520-494-5314 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Reliable Forklift Sales LLC 2150 E University Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85034 PHONE: 602-415-9996; FAX: 602-415-9963 |
Quinn CAT 3579 Gila Ridge Rd, Yuma, AZ 85365 Main Phone: 928-341-9000 |
Arizona Builders Alliance 1825 W. Adams, Phoenix, AZ 85007 Ph: 602.274.8222; Fx: 602.274.8999 1661 N. Swan, Suite 144, Tucson, AZ 85712 Ph: 520.881.7930; Fx: 520.327.1686 |
Miner Material Handling 1156 W. Southern Ave, Suite 103, Tempe, AZ 85282 833.469.8416 |
Arizona Safety Plus, LLC P.O. Box 8403, Phoenix, Arizona 85066 Office:(480) 223-8427 |
Camejo Safety Training will take place at Burton Barr Central Library, 1221 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004 702-399-5166 |
Tip: Never disclose to them the type of forklift truck you want to be trained on, just ask what are the training courses they conduct. The reason for this is because you don't want to receive a positive answer from them that they are specialized for that particular truck, even though they are not.
Forklift Certification Curriculum
The curriculum is consisting of theory and actual operation. The topics that will cover are the following:
- Safety Training
- General Operating Procedures
- Vehicle Maneuvering
- Load Management
- Operational Maintenance
- Reporting of hazard in the workplace
- Risk analysis
- First-hand Experience
- Load computation
- Post-operational check up
- Proper parking
At the end of the course, the student must pass the evaluation to be certified.
Who Qualifies to Take the forklift certification
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- High school diploma or GED certificate
- Driver’s license(optional)
- forklift experience recommended
- Must be in very good physical condition and can stand for long hours of work
- Understanding for an accurate inventory of materials
- with good work ethics and communication skills
- can work in a team
Salary of Forklift Operator in Arizona
According to Salary.com, a forklift operator working in this state can make between $33,217-$42,574 per year. While in the neighboring state of New Mexico, the operator wage is slightly lower.
There’s a great deviation of wages from town to town in Arizona. The reasons for this difference in wages are the skill level and experience of the worker and the size of the company.
As of January 29, 2021, here are the cities/towns of Arizona with the highest pay according to salary.com's report:
Aguila | $37,014 | Peoria | $37,317 |
Avondale | $37,292 | Phoenix | $37,393 |
Bouse | $37,014 | Prescott | $34,634 |
Chandler | $37,398 | San Tan Valley | $37,034 |
Flagstaff | $35,013 | Sierra Vista | $35,188 |
Gila Bend | $37,014 | Sun City | $37,241 |
Glendale Luke Afb | $37,166 | Tacna | $37,017 |
Goodyear | $37,166 | Tempe | $37,398 |
Lake Havasu City | $38,099 | Tucson | $35,566 |
Mesa | $37,398 | Yuma | $38,818 |
For more information about the forklift operator salary of every city/town in Arizona, check this operator salary matrix.
If you are still unemployed and wanting to apply for a job, here the topics you need to READ:
- How to Write a Resume that Will Impress the Hiring Manager?
- How to Write an Application Letter?
- How to Find a Forklift Job Even Without Experience?
- Is Driving Forklift the Right Job For You?
- Prospecting Your New Job
Governing Agencies:
If you have questions regarding rules, legislations, and laws pertaining to workplace health and safety, wages and benefits, and forklift operation policies, here are the governing bodies in Arizona:
Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) visit their website or personally visit Industrial Commission of Arizona, 800 West Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ, contact them at (602) 542-4411
Other Locations of AZ
Apache Junction, Avondale, Buckeye, Bullhead City, Camp Verde, Casa Grande, Chandler, Chino Valley, Coolidge, Cottonwood, Douglas, El Mirage, Eloy, Flagstaff, Florence, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Glendale, Kingman, Lake Havasu City, Marana, Maricopa, Mesa, Nogales, Oro Valley, Paradise Valley, Payson, Peoria, Prescott, Prescott Valley, Queen Creek, Safford, Somerton, Sahuarita, Guadalupe, San Luis, Surprise, Scottsdale, Yuma, Winslow, Wickenburg, Tempe, Sedona, Show Low, Sierra Vista, Tolleson, Snowflake,