How to Run the Forklift Practical Evaluation Yourself (Employer Guide)
The hands-on evaluation is the one part of forklift certification no course can do for you. Who can run it, what to watch for, how long it takes, and how to record it so the certification holds up.
Under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178(l)(2)(iii), the forklift practical evaluation is done by someone with the knowledge, training and experience to train operators and judge their competence; no outside credential is required. It takes 15 to 30 minutes per operator on the truck they will actually use, covers pre-use inspection, travel, load handling and parking, and ends with the evaluator’s name and the date added to the operator’s certification record. Here is how to do it without a safety department.
Step 1: Pick the Evaluator
An experienced operator, a lead, or a supervisor who has run that class of truck and can explain why a move is unsafe qualifies. The standard asks for competence, not a certificate. If nobody on staff fits, a rental company trainer or a local safety consultant can serve as the evaluator for an afternoon; the record still belongs to you.
Step 2: Confirm the Formal Instruction Is Done
The operator should have completed the classroom or online portion first and be able to show the certificate. The evaluation checks that the knowledge transfers to the truck; it is not where the operator first learns what a load center is.
Step 3: Use a Checklist, and Make It Yours
OSHA does not prescribe an evaluation form. Shield’s printable checklist is a general template that covers the elements in 1910.178(l)(3); cross out what does not apply to your trucks, add the hazards specific to your site (dock edges, pedestrian aisles, racking heights, ramps), or replace it with your own. What matters is that the evaluator watches the operator do the real work and writes down what was observed.
Forklift practical evaluation checklist (printable)
Step 4: What to Watch For
- Pre-use inspection: forks, mast, chains, tires, horn, lights, brakes, fluid leaks, seat belt, data plate legible.
- Mounting and start-up: three points of contact, seat belt on, controls checked before moving.
- Travel: forks low and tilted back, speed matched to conditions, horn at intersections and doorways, looks in the direction of travel, reverses when the load blocks the view, keeps distance from pedestrians.
- Ramps and docks: load upgrade, no turning on a grade, checks dock plate and trailer wheel chocks.
- Load handling: reads the data plate, centers the load, correct fork spread, lifts and lowers smoothly, no one under raised forks, no riders.
- Stacking and retrieving: squares up, tilts only enough to stabilize, lowers before traveling.
- Parking: forks on the floor, controls neutral, parking brake set, key out, not blocking exits or equipment.
Step 5: Decide, and Record It
Pass means the operator did the job safely on the truck and in the area where they will work. Anything unsafe is a retrain-and-re-evaluate, not a note in the margin. Record the evaluation date and the evaluator’s name with the operator’s name and training date; those are the four items 1910.178(l)(6) requires. In Shield’s employer dashboard the supervisor enters the evaluation and it prints on the operator’s certificate and the compliance report; on paper, staple the signed checklist to the course certificate.
When to Do It Again
At least every three years, and sooner after an accident or near-miss, unsafe operation, a different type of truck, or a change in the workplace that affects safe operation (1910.178(l)(4)). A new hire who arrives already trained still gets evaluated on your equipment before operating.
Frequently asked questions
Who can perform the forklift practical evaluation?
Anyone with the knowledge, training and experience to train operators and evaluate their competence (29 CFR 1910.178(l)(2)(iii)); no outside certification is required.
How long does a forklift evaluation take?
Typically 15 to 30 minutes per operator on the truck they will use, covering inspection, travel, load handling and parking.
Is there an official OSHA forklift evaluation form?
No. OSHA prescribes the content of the certification record, not a form; use any checklist that fits your trucks and site and record the date and evaluator.
Sources: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178(l), Operator training; OSHA: Powered industrial trucks, training and certification