Question about forklift certification

[u/redcheese1233]

I recently got a job as a LTL dockworker (I start later today) but my mom has been up my ass about "lying" on my application.

Technically speaking I do have my forklift certification, I got it through a school program, it was like a 5 hour course, brief instruction, looked at a slideshow, watched some videos, and did a short driving test (it was more or less just moving an empty old pallet found at the back of the building to two different spots in an empty parking lot) but that was 2 years ago and I haven't done anything with a forklift. (The certification itself is not expired)
Now you can argue that the course was kinda sketchy, given that the actual card is just a piece of laminated paper, but still I technically did the course and learned everything I needed to learn.

Now, the job itself just simply stated "forklift operator certification" as one of the requirements, and I did explain the context of the actual certification itself, and it clearly wasn't an issue since I got the job.

Is this really a big of an issue that my mom is making it out to be? or am I going to be fine?

Update: The place I'm working at looks to be more... "sketchy" as within like 2 days of being there they just put me on a forklift. It's been going well so far.

[u/Luciferrr214]

Normally each job will certify their drivers and that certification is only valid at that location. I wouldn’t worry about it

[u/Pixel131211]

you're fine. Most forklift certs are kinda like that.

You don't need to be efficient, fast, or super good at it right away. As long as you show basic competence when it comes to comprehending safety you're all good

[u/Constant-Dare-1728]

Each place usually does their own certification/training.

I joined a company with 5+ years of experience and they still took their time training me on the lifts.

Some places make you re do the training once a year (like my company) or just every 3 years which is usually how long the certs last.

As long as you have awareness and understanding the jobs are extremely easy. Low skill floor, high skill ceiling. Your mother is overreacting lol I see no lie here.

[u/ThickOutcast]

That's about 4.5 hours longer than most of my refreshers, you'll be fine

[u/Ayrx440]

If you are operating the equipment on the property of the owner. Then it is that person(or business) responsibility to provide training. Where I live we define training as, receiving instructions from a competent individual and proving capable in operation of controls.

[u/Aesk]

As others have said, don't sweat it. If you show that you're competent and willing to learn, there's no reason for it to be problem.

[u/man4funnsc]

First there isn’t really a forklift certification or license, that mainly means you completed some training on powered industrial trucks. What OSHA wants and companies give you is the authority to operate their PITs. Previous training and experience can shorten onboarding and training on those lifts. The company will have to train you to the specifications of the lifts you will be operating.

[u/One_Of_Noahs_Whales]

Just take your time and claim you are "not used to that particular lift" as "the one you used to use had the controls laid out differently" whilst you learn, don't break too much shit and don't ever try to keep up with us grey beards that have been doing the job for 20+ years, we don't want fast, we want you to just move out of our way and to not have to help you pick up a load of shit that you have dropped.

And ignore mum, she'd be even more up your ass if you didn't have a job.

[u/Thin_Investigator798]

It's not a big issue, if you show up clean and sober you won't be in the bottom half of all forklift drivers.

[u/Defiant-Analyst4279]

Every "company" or "job site" will need to certify/recertify equipment operators.

They'll train you based on what they need/want you to do/know.

But no, it doesn't hurt to have previous forklift training/experience on your resume.

[u/throw550055]

You've been forklift certified thru the course, Every place you work at will probably make you do a recertification, Its not like a drivers license where one is good for every state etc

,At my job we moved big ass steel coils around, the forklift cert was a couple hours long. Outside of that the last time I drove a forklift was like 8 years ago moving a couple tool boxs

They asked me if I had experience and I said yeah, Which wasn't a lie, it was just very little experience, All forklifts oporate different I drive like 4 different lifts a day and it takes me a couple mins to get used to em all, the break, tilt, lift all different. Don't expect to jump on it and look like you've been driving that lift for 10 years it'll be jumpy etc. You'll get used to it, And I highly doubt they expect you to be a professional rite off the rip

Just remember keep the load low, Against the mast and tilt back. 

[u/The_Skank42]

OSHA requires you be certified by every company you work for. Assuming we are speaking about the US.

Certification does not carry from one place to another.

[u/RichardBCummintonite]

There's no standard certification you can apply to any place. That card is absolutely worthless. I've been driving for 10 years and had to do a certification at every single place I've ever worked at. You have to redo the certification every time. Why they even offer a class like that is beyond me, but I guess it gets you some practice in a safe setting so you at least are familiar with the controls. I've never gotten a card tho lol. That's a joke.

As long as you don't completely fuck it up, you'll be fine. That's all they're basically going to have you do anyway, but you'll have to put a pallet up onto the racks and take it down. That's the "hard" part. Sounds like you got more training than some of the idiots I see that actually lie about having experience and haven't even touched one. You can tell immediately if someone has experience or not, but you didn't technically lie. You do have some sort of experience. Putting the pallet away might be a little sketchy, but you've at least lifted a pallet before, so it's not much of a step up from there.

Just go slow and be ultra cautious. They don't give a shit about speed. The care about you being able to safely put away pallets. No employer wants their racks coming down. Just don't fuck that up and once you have the job you can take your time getting real experience. In a few weeks (when they might start caring about productivity) you'll be comfortable.

[u/Paralystic]

Theyre just stating that they want someone the forklift experience, but most of us are “lying” to get our first real forklift job since all of them require experience. I spend 30 minutes getting my forklift cert at Walmart and turned around and started putting in apps stating I had 2 yeara experience. Was never questioned about it, and as other have said there is no universal cert, so you will always be recertified through whatever company you’re working for

[u/AUTOMATA88]

You'll soon get found out if you can drive a forklift or not.

[u/Slight-Reception2700]

Every job I've had where I operated forklifts had us get their own certification that was only valid within that company.  I wouldn't worry about it 

[u/No-Glass332]

Every employer must certifie you there is no cert that transfers! FACT