North Dakota is famous for its agricultural industry, this state is also a hub of energy supplying industry. The demand for labor workforce is steady, especially for licensed forklift operators. If you are seeking employment to become one, you must understand that you need to acquire a forklift license before you are allowed to operate the machine.
In compliance with the OSHA Req. 1910.178, all operators should be properly certified to make sure they do not pose danger to himself and workers around the workplace. If OSHA inspector visits your company and found out that operators have no license to show or established that they are not certified, every operator could be penalized and charged to pay $8,000. The employer could face a heavier fine.
In order to get your forklift license, follow these steps:
What You Need to Do to Get Forklift License
- Evaluate what type of forklift you want to be trained on because the training should be specific to the type of forklift truck you’ll be using.
- Enroll for the certification course. The list of schools that provide forklift operator training is below for your information.
- The training comprises of three parts: the classroom training, written examination and practical assessment. During the classroom lectures, applicants will learn basics of forklift operation, pre-inspection, OSHA laws and legislation, fundamentals of operation, safety awareness and advocacy, accidents mistakes and prevention, danger synopsis, incident reporting, proper operational procedure, pedestrian traffic, machine stability, weight calculation, and another subject that are relevant. This part lasts for 5 hours.
- After the classroom lectures, the applicants will be given a written exam in which they need to pass 70% of the questions in order to be eligible to take the last part of the course.
- If all is well and completed, the applicants will be subjected to actual forklift operation. This is where applicants must demonstrate their skills driving the forklift. They will assign to complete sets of duties like maneuvering, pallet arrangement, stacking and de-stacking, moving of materials from a height, placing of heavy materials from one location to the another, and other tasks that the trainer asks you to do.
- If satisfied, the trainer will make the recommendation about your eligibility. The school will then issue your certificate of course completion and license card.
- The license is valid for three years. The forklift license can be used anywhere in the state and recognized anywhere in the US.
Forklift Training Schools in North Dakota
It is imperative for an applicant to complete the training course, it is the utmost important step of acquiring the forklift operator license.
In order to get hold of forklift operator license, the applicant must join a training course to be provided by a trade school, nearby colleges or center near your resident or location. Here are some of the schools and centers that offer forklift operator training in North Dakota:
- Forklifts of North Dakota - 1808 East Main, West Fargo, ND 58078, Phone: 701-282-2334, Toll: 800-342-4964
- Herc-U-Lift Inc. - 4333 12th Ave N, 4333 12th Ave N, Fargo, Toll Free Phone: 800-362-3500, Phone: 701-219-5811
- North Dakota Safety Training Pros - (701) 862-2132 OR (651)-210-7717
- Riekes Equipment - 701.281.3049, 1007 W. Main Ave, West Fargo, ND 58078
- F-M Forklift Sales & Service Inc. - 1331 Airport Road, Bismarck, ND 58504, (701) 258-8331
- North Dakota Safety Council - 1640 Burnt Boat Dr, Bismarck, ND 58503, Phone: +1 701-223-6372
- Basin Safety Consulting Corporation - 4401 16th Ave West, Williston, 701-572-8140
- United Rentals - 1820 HWY 2 & 52 WEST, MINOT, ND 58701, 701-839-6329
- Minot Safety Training - Training is available in Bakken and Minot areas, Call: 651-210-7717 or 507-251-1235
- Safety Works, LLC - 38 Sims St., Dickinson, Phone:701-483-9212, 701-483-9213
- AGC of ND - Bismarck, call 701-391-SAFE (7233) or 701-793-2510
Benefits of Having a Forklift License
- It is your big-ticket item to get accepted for the forklift driving job. Employers prefer those applicants who have readied license than those without.
- You are more productive in doing your job. You can easily get the job done in less amount of time.
- You are more aware of safety. Safety is the first priority when doing work, this means fewer accidents, material damage, property damage, mishaps and near misses.
- A trained operator can do work efficiently.
How Much You Can Make as Licensed Forklift Operator
If you will work in North Dakota, you could make an average salary of $38,202 per year. In South Dakota, the salary is slightly lower.
Listed below are the cities of North Dakota that give high wages for forklift drivers. This report is according to the latest February 27, 2023, survey of Salary.Com
| $37,704- Amenia | $37,501- Lisbon |
| $38,070- Argusville | $39,045- Mandaree |
| $37,623- Arthur | $38,070- Mapleton |
| $39,654- Baldwin | $39,654- Menoken |
| $37,745- Casselton | $37,501- Pillsbury |
| $37,501- Colfax | $39,126 - Regan |
| $37,785- Davenport | $39,248- Saint Anthony |
| $38,110 - Fargo | $39,207- Sterling |
| $37,826- Gardner | $39,045- Trenton |
| $38,110- Harwood | $37,501- Wheatland |
| $38,029- Horace | $39,207 - Wilton |
| $37,663 - Kindred | $39,045- Zeeland |
If you can prove your worth and loyalty with the company, you can expect for promotion as an on-site trainer, this means you can ask for salary raise.
Governing Agencies
If you require advice about wage and related benefits or have questions about occupational safety and health, you contact these authorities in North Dakota:
Department of Labor and Human Rights
600 East Boulevard Ave., Bismarck, ND
(701) 328-2660
www.nd.gov/labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
521 East Main Avenue, Suite 200
Bismarck, North Dakota 58501
701-250-4521
Cities of ND
Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, West Fargo, Williston, Dickinson, Mandan, Jamestown, Wahpeton, Devils Lake, Watford City, Valley City, Minot AFB, Grafton, Lincoln, Beulah, Rugby, Stanley, Grand Forks AFB, Horace, Casselton and New Town, Hazen, Bottineau, Lisbon, Carrington, Belcourt, Mayville, Oakes, Langdon, Harvey, Bowman, Tioga, Hillsboro, Garrison, Crosby, Shell Valley, New, Rockford, Park River, Surrey, Rolla, Larimore, Washburn, Ellendale, Fort Totten, Parshall, Velva, Hettinger, Killdeer, Cavalier, Burlington, Cando, Beach, Kenmare, Belfield, Linton, Thompson, Wishek, Walhalla, Cooperstown, Northwood, LaMoure, Cannon, Ball and Hankinson, New Salem, Mapleton, Enderlin, Gwinner, Mohall, Mandaree, Dunseith, Mott, Harwood, Napoleon, Drayton, Green, Acres, Underwood, Hatton, Glen, Ullin, Ray, Kindred, Ashley, Wilton, Steele, Four, Bears, Village, Hebron, New, England, Milnor, Lakota, Elgin, Lidgerwood, Rolette, Minto, Reile's Acres
