Forklift Training in Connecticut, The Constitution State

Planning to get your forklift certification in Connecticut? Of course, you are otherwise why else you be here!

So, let’s dive right into it and find out everything you need to know to obtain your forklift license in CT, the Constitution State.

Connecticut is a beautiful state located by the south coast of the United States of America. It’s famous for long beaches, and of course, Yale University.

However, it is also happens to be a fantastic place for anyone who is hoping to start a career in any industry which requires forklift operators.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is a constant demand for people who are capable of safely and legally operating a fork lift truck.

In fact, their studies have concluded that it is likely for the demand for forklift operators to rise by 12% in 2020 – and that’s just in Connecticut.

Surely, if you’re a hands on person who lives in Connecticut, getting hold of a forklift license would be in your interest. A well-paid forklift operator job that’s in high demand, and far more enjoyable than sitting behind a desk all day – who on Earth could say no to that?

Within this article, we’ll be covering a few aspects of being a fork lift operator in Nathan Hale’s home state!

We’ll be looking at the requirements of getting a forklift certification, the method of how to go about maintaining said certification, and employment opportunities in Connecticut for a licensed forklift operator.

We will also discuss things like the salary that you can expect if you chose such a career, the benefits of getting your hands on a forklift license, and when is your forklift certification renewal is due and how to renew it.

OSHA CDL Training in CT

OSHA Forklift Training in CT

Requirements for the Forklift Certification in CT

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if anybody who wanted to could hop on a lift truck and start using it?

If your answer to that question was anything other than ‘Hell No!’ perhaps you ought to read the following list about the requirements for gaining a forklift certification in Connecticut.

  1. You have to be at least 18 years old. At the age of 18, you become (legally at least) an adult. This means (in theory at least) that you are mature enough to operate a forklift without causing any danger to yourself or others. Could imagine if they let kids drive a potentially murderous machine?
  2. You need to be in good physical shape. Yes, operating a fork lift requires you to sit on your backside, whilst you control the device with your hands. However, having a weakling behind the wheel isn’t just ineffective – it’s dangerous! If you get out of breath easily, or you’re not strong enough to pull the right things at the right time, the consequences of such weakness could result in some serious injuries.
  3. You need to be clear of any criminal history. The fact of the matter is that a forklift is a dangerous piece of machinery that could easily take a human life if it’s put into the wrong hands. What would you call the hands of a former convict if not ‘the wrong hands’? Perhaps it is taking things a bit too far, but that’s better than not taking them far enough!
  4. The final ‘requirement’ is not really a requirement at all – more of a recommendation. You ought to have a driver’s license. Knowing how to drive a car will help you significantly to drive a lift truck – they’re both vehicles that have not-too-dissimilar controls.
OSHA Training CT

OSHA Forklift Operator Training and Certification in CT

How to Get a Forklift License in CT

Getting a forklift certification in CT is pretty much the same as getting it in any other state. And just like in every other state – OSHA requires you to have a license or else you may not operate a fork lift!

If you’re lucky enough, you may be employed by someone who is willing to provide you with the training that you need to be able to earn your license.

Sometimes, employers will have a permanent, in-house trainer who will train all new employees on how to safely operate a lift truck.

However, other companies will call in an expert trainer (who has been authorized by OSHA) if none of their own staff have completed a ‘train-the-trainer course’.

It is your employer’s responsibility to ensure that you meet all the legal requirements before he or she lets you operate any piece of industrial machinery. Although it varies from employer to employer, forklift training could take as little as 8 hours in the state of Connecticut.

During this training, there will be classroom section where you must listen to your instructor who will use speeches, PowerPoint’s, and movies to tell you about how to operate a fork lift and the safety procedures that must be followed.

After the classroom section, you will have to pass a practical test. This test will involve completing a serious of tasks to your trainer’s satisfaction.

If you complete both the classroom and the practical aspect of the training, you will be issued with a forklift license and certification of training.

If you are not currently employed, it will be of enormous benefit to you to go to a local forklift driving school. The school will provide a similar type of training to an employer.

However, it will have to be paid for with your own money, and the classroom bit requires you to pass the written test, also known as the forklift certification test.

Forklift Training Classes Connecticut

School for Forklift Driving in CT

Forklift Training Schools in Connecticut

To obtain your forklift certification in CT (Connecticut), you will need to enroll in one of OSHA forklift training classes and complete your training. Here is a list of schools for forklift training in CT state where you can get your on-site forklift certification.

Forklift certification locations in Connecticut in the alphabetical order.

NameAddressPhone
A & M Equipment53 Rockwell Rd, Newington, CT 06111860-666-4884
A.B. CDL Training Center, LLC35 Great Neck Rd, Waterford, CT 06385860-444-8099
Able Warehousing/Equipment Inc.185 Burnham St, East Hartford, CT 06108860-289-2559
Affordable CDL Training School532 New London Rd A, Colchester, CT 06415860-537-8235
Allstate Commercial Driver Training School249 Pearl St, Seymour, CT 06483203-922-8252
Berkshire Forklift Inc.22 Alain White Rd, Morris, CT 06763860-567-3181
Cargo Tec33 Peters Rd, Bloomfield, CT 06002860-243-1310
Chase Equipment Services372 Danbury Rd, New Milford, CT 06776860-355-1950
Eric Starvish Repair35 Bridge St, East Windsor, CT 06088860-623-2267
Forklift Service & Sales16 Industrial Rd, Prospect, CT 06712203-758-3334
Industrial Management & Training Institute233 Mill St #1, Waterbury, CT 06706203-753-7910
Neco Systems45 Commons Ct, Waterbury, CT 06704203-753-2388
New England Industrial Truck Inc.20 N Plains Industrial Rd, Wallingford, CT 06492203-269-7448
New England Tractor Trailer Training School32 Field Rd, Somers, CT 06071860-749-0711
New England Tractor Trailer Training School510 Barnum Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06608203-368-9069
NITCO150 N Plains Industrial Rd # 3, Wallingford, CT 06492203-626-7670
Northeast Industrial TruckFox Hill Dr, Stafford Springs, CT 06076860-851-9922
PMT Forklift Corporation275 Great East Neck Road, West Babylon, NY 11704631-661-5050
Precision Devices Inc.55 N Plains Industrial Rd, Wallingford, CT 06492203-265-9308
Starlift Equipment Company, Inc.829 1st Ave, West Haven, CT 06516203-937-8101
Summit ToyotaLift11 Defco Park Rd, North Haven, CT 06473203-239-5351
Summit ToyotaLift39 Murphy Rd, North Franklin, CT 06254860-642-4377
Superior Fork Lift Inc.150 N Plains Industrial Rd, Wallingford, CT 06492203-265-9510
Training Direct3885 Main St, Bridgeport, CT 06606203-372-8842
Tri-Lift, Inc.180 Main Street Anx, New Haven, CT 06512203-467-1686

The list of forklift certification classes and schools was last updated on March 1, 2024. If there are any inaccuracies, please report it to us.

Forklift License CT

OSHA Forklift License in CT

Employment Opportunities for Forklift Workers in Connecticut

Despite (or perhaps because of, let’s not get political) all the government regulations surrounding lift truck operating, people who are capable of driving the vehicle are currently in very high demand – particularly in the Land of Steady Habits.

Connecticut is home to many warehouses, trucking companies, and industrial complexes.

The state is an extremely popular place for such companies due to the fact that Interstate 95 provides an ideal highway for the transport of goods. Most of the companies mentioned above involve moving very heavy objects from one location to another.

Could you imagine how slowly all that work would be done if it weren’t for fork lifts? Everything would have to be moved by hand, and that would take a lot of time, and a lot of people, and therefore, a lot of money.

Thankfully, the forklift enables it to be done much quicker, much easier, much cheaper, and much safer. Most of the time, fork lifts are used in industries such as storage and warehousing.

However, pretty much any industry that involves moving heavy objects will require them.

This includes but is not limited to, the agricultural industry, the technology industry, the building and construction industry, and the automobile industry.

Unlike many other professions, the demand for forklift operators does not decrease in the event of a recession. However bad the economic climate is, employers will always require people who are authorized to operate a lift truck.

The only thing that could potentially cause the demand to go down is robots, and by the looks of things, that doesn’t seem to be happening anytime soon.

Check the graph below from Indeed job board. It shows that there’s an increasing demand for certified forklift operators and it’s not slowing down anytime soon.

Forklift Jobs in CT

Forklift Operator Jobs Trends on Indeed

Also, read more about the duties & responsibilities of a forklift operator.

 

Salary of Licensed Forklift Operator in Connecticut

In purely financial terms, Connecticut is the 12th best state to be a fork lift operator. You could see that as there being 11 states which are better, but you could also see it as there being 38 states which are worse – I’ll let you decide whether your glass is half-full or half empty.

As of June 2017, the minimum yearly salary of a fork lift operator is $37,000. That’s the equivalent of about $3000 a month.

Of course, you might not be able to go around spending your money like there’s no tomorrow, however, you should be able to live comfortably.

According to salary.com, in certain towns in Connecticut, the average salary of a forklift operator is even higher.

  • In Stamford, you could earn $40,044 a year.
  • In Bridgeport, you could earn $39,556 a year.
  • In Danbury, you could earn $38,719 a year.

I think it’s fair to say, that in Connecticut, there are worse jobs that you could have than lift truck operator. Some may argue that this minimum wage is far too high for simply driving a forklift.

However, I say that a fork lift is an incredibly complex, and dangerous piece of machinery that must be respected. Therefore the people who drive it deserve a higher wage in exchange for that respect.

So let’s look at how much does a Fork Lift Operator make in Connecticut state.

The table below shows forklift operator’s annual base salary for 21 major cities in the Connecticut region.

LocationSalaryLocationSalary
Bridgeport$40,241New Britain$38,254
Bristol$38,254New Haven$38,963
Danbury$39,389New London$38,005
East Hartford$38,254Norwalk$40,738
Fairfield$40,241Norwich$38,254
Greenwich$40,738Stamford$40,738
Hamden$38,963Stratford$40,241
Hartford$38,254Waterbury$38,183
Manchester$38,254West Hartford$38,254
Meriden$38,254West Haven$38,963
Milford$40,241  

* Forklift operator salaries were last updated on March 1, 2024.

Now: Did you know, a fork lift operator in New Jersey gets paid at $16.50/hour on average?

Well, they do and if you are looking to get forklift certification in New Jersey, then you must check our guide to see how to get your forklift license.

Forklift Certification Connecticut

Forklift Operator Jobs in CT

Benefits of Having a Forklift License in Connecticut

OSHA states that if you wish to operate a fork lift, you must have a valid forklift certification in CT. Some are lucky enough to be employed by people who are willing to provide the training which will enable you to get it.

Others are not so lucky.

The others must enroll in a forklift training school. These schools can be rather expensive, and occupy a lot of time.

However, they are worth every penny and every second. Having a forklift license in CT will make you far more popular with potential future employers.

Hiring you will save them time and money as they would not have any legal responsibility to provide you with any training on how to operate a lift truck. You can get straight to work on your first day.

Just as with any job, being able to make your employer more money will make you more popular than the other candidates.

When your employer looks at your forklift operator resume and sees ‘Forklift License,’ he or she will think some (or perhaps all) of the seven things listed below.

  • “This person will save me a lot of time as they will not need to be trained on how to operate a fork lift.”
  • “This person is less likely to get into an accident as they are aware of the safety precautions of driving a lift truck.”
  • “This person will reduce the amount of inventory loss as their training will mean that they are less likely to damage my products due to incompetence with the fork lift.”
  • “This person will be able to maintain the forklift as they would have been taught how to do so at the forklift certification training school.”
  • “This person is less likely to damage my fork lift as they will know how to operate it safely and sensibly.”
  • “This person will have better confidence on the fork lift.”
  • “This person will have a very high level of productivity – that means more money.
Forklift Training CT

Classes for Forklift Driving in CT

Forklift License Renewal in Connecticut

Once again, it’s time to talk about some of the regulations that OSHA have put into place in order to prevent accidents at the workplace at the hands of a lift truck.

There are 6 main reasons why you would be required to retake your training before being allowed to sit on a fork lift again….

  1. You’ve been seen to be operating the fork lift in an unsafe manner. The purpose of all the OSHA regulations and training that you’ve done is to make sure that you can operate a lift truck safely, if you fail this, then obviously, it’s only fair that you will have to redo your training.
  2. You’ve been the driver of a fork lift during an accident or close call. The purpose of being safe is that safety prevents accidents. If you’re in an accident that must mean that you’re not being safe.
  3. If you fail an OSHA inspection for any reason whatsoever. It may be for a silly and arbitrary reason, but OSHA is there for a purpose, and everything they do is from a place of care and safekeeping.
  4. You have to operate a new type of lift truck.
  5. There are substantial changes to your workplace conditions.
  6. It’s been 3 years. Yep, your forklift license will expire and must be renewed every 3 years.
Forklift Certification CT

CDL training in CT

Get in Touch With The Authorities

If you still have any question or need more information about forklift certification in Connecticut state, then you can get in touch with the Connecticut Department of Labor or an OSHA Area Office in Connecticut.

 

Connecticut Department of Labor
200 Folly Brook Blvd,
Wethersfield, CT 06109
Phone: (860) 263-6000
Fax: (860) 263-6529
Web: https://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/

OSHA Area Office
Hartford Area Office
William R. Cotter Federal Building
135 High Street, Suite 361
Hartford, CT 06103
Phone: (860) 240-3152
Fax: (860) 240-3155
Web: https://www.osha.gov/oshdir/ct.html

The Bottom Line

We can see clearly that an on-site forklift certification in CT is an extremely valuable asset to have. And in the state of Connecticut, due to the many booming industries, it’s certainly a highly viable career choice.

With forklift operators earning at least $37,000 a year, it would be stupid not to at least look into it.

So if you live in Connecticut, and you would rather have a hands on job than a desk job, it would be very wise to start researching available forklift jobs and local forklift training school.

Applying for forklift certification in Pennsylvania, check our PA guide!


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Comments →

  1. Samuel Santana

    I am interesting in this

    1. Nice. Then just reach out to one of the training schools. I have listed phone numbers too. 🙂

  2. John

    Is it possible to have training in New York State and get certified, then move and work in Connecticut as a forklift operator? If so, are there any other requirements. A list or a link will be helpful. Thank you.

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