Forklift Training in Minnesota, The North Star State

Having a OSHA forklift certification in Minnesota is required by law for operating a fork lift.

With the e-commerce boom and the wide range of industrial development statewide, fork lift operators are high in demand.

Minnesota is a beautiful state with lots of job opportunities for skilled individuals having proficiency in their field, and it’s true for lifttruck operators too.

The chances are that you are here because you would like to land one of these great forklift operator jobs and are wondering how to go about it.

As stated above, it is mandatory to get a forklift license in Minnesota to be able to secure a job as a fork lift driver. So the first step would be to take your forklift training in MN and get your license.

To help you with your quest, in this article, we will provide you with all of the tools and information that you need to know in order to obtain your license in this awesome state.

Not only that, this article will be your guide to getting into a great job in this field.

We will go over all of the requirements that you will need to follow in order to get a job in this state. There are compelling benefits that we will put into detail for you to get you excited about your job.

Also, we will paint a picture of what kind of salary you can expect to receive as a fork lift operator in this state with many opportunities!

Fork Lifts of MN

OSHA Forklift Operator Training Duluth in MN

Requirements for the Forklift Certification in MN

Minnesota goes by the industry standards when it comes to certification requirement. The standards are set and overseen by OSHA, which all states are required to adhere to.

There are many requirements that fork-lift-operators-to-be need to adhere to in order to successfully obtain a forklift license in MN.

Employers are responsible for making sure that new hires are adequately trained by a qualified trainer. Anyone wishing to get their license will need to complete the three-part training course.

We will go over all three parts of this course later in the article, so that you can be prepared for training.

Another requirement is that you must be a legal adult, which is 18 in the United States. In order to prove your age, you must bring your state I.D. to your interview so that the employer can verify.

Having basic skills like reading, writing and communication are needed for this job for day to day duties for safety reasons as well. Getting a high school diploma or GED equivalent will ensure that you possess the skills necessary for the job.

Also, be sure to bring your forklift operator resume, with your education and work-related experience to your interview.

In Minnesota, employers will often make you pass a background check and drug test. This means that you must have no criminal record and be drug-free.

Being mentally sharp on the job is critical to the safety of you and your coworkers, which is impossible if you have a substance abuse problem. This job can be physically demanding at times, so being healthy and in decent shape is necessary.

If you have any questions on the requirements of this job you can ask your future employer. If you feel more comfortable doing so, you can always ask an OSHA representative as well, here is their contact page.

Now that you know the requirements we can move into how to go about getting your license in this great state!

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

OSHA Forklift License MN

OSHA Forklift Training in Bloomington in MN

How to Get Forklift License in MN

Now that you know all of the requirements you must be wondering how to achieve your goal of getting a forklift certification in Minnesota state.

This section will make it easy for you to understand because we will go over in detail how to go about accomplishing this important task.

In Minnesota, there are two different approaches to training depending on your experience.

If you are new to the field, you must go through the whole forklift operator training program, at a specialized school for lifttrucks. This school will need to be an in-person training facility that will do one on one training with you.

A good fork lift training school will be well recognized and have great reviews.

Once that you think that you have found a forklift training school, look them up on the BBB (Better Business Bureau). If you have any doubts, then ask your future employer or other warehouse companies what training school they recommend.

One thing is for sure: and that is that all training schools must follow and teach OSHA standards. A law for all of the united states, according to OSHA, states that a lift truck operator must be taught by a trained professional in the field.

While you are doing your search online, try not to get confused by all the “Get Your OSHA Forklift Certification Online!” Ads. When you are new to the field you will need more than just the online course, so don’t even waste your time.

To make this search easier, you can just simply type in “forklift training classes near me.” According to OSHA, the course must contain all three parts that are necessary to learn how to successfully operate a fork lift.

This will include the lecture, written test (forklift training test), and evaluation; this is another thing that you will need to confirm with the training facility that they offer all parts.

The trainer must be a veteran in this field, and obviously will need to have a license him/herself. Knowing how to operate and maintain all types of lifttrucks is a must for all forklift trainers.

That was all the information you will need to know when getting your license for the first time.

By now you must be wondering what that second approach was that we talked about earlier in the section. The other approach is for new employees that do have experience in driving a fork lift.

If you have a forklift operator license, you will most likely be able to skip the training. Although if your license is expired (3 years or more), then you will need to take a refresher course for your forklift certification renewal.

Be prepared to give references, not only from your past work in the field, but from the forklift driving school as well.

If you do not have a license, you will need to attend the three-part training course outlined above. Sometimes employers will do on-site training for people that have experience so check with them and see what they require.

Forklifts of MN

Forklift Training Duluth in MN

Forklift Training Schools in MN

To obtain your forklift certification in MN, 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 Minnesota state where you can get your on-site forklift license.

OSHA Forklift certification locations in Minnesota in the alphabetical order.

NameAddressPhone
Forklifts of Minnesota Inc.2201 W 94th St, Bloomington, MN 55431952-887-5400
Minnesota Supply Company6470 Flying Cloud Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55344952-828-7300
St. Cloud Technical and Community College1540 Northway Dr, St Cloud, MN 56303800-222-1009
Minneapolis Community and Technical College1501 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403612-659-6000
SCTCC Training Solutions1215 15th St N, St Cloud, MN 56303320-308-5682
Saint Paul College235 Marshall Ave, St Paul, MN 55102651-846-1600
East Side Neighborhood Services Inc.1700 NE 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55413612-781-6011
Toyota Lift of Minnesota8601 Xylon Ct, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445800-523-0611
Quality Forklift Sales and Service, Inc.587 Citation Dr, Shakopee, MN 55379952-895-9918
Willmar Forklift Inc.2480 US-12, Willmar, MN 56201320-235-9224
Hennepin Technical College9000 Brooklyn Blvd, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445952-995-1300
Sotera Consulting, LLCInver Grove Heights, MN612-597-6463
Minnesota Safety Council474 Concordia Ave, St Paul, MN 55103651-291-9150
Crown Lift Trucks860 Vandalia St, St Paul, MN 55114651-645-8668
Herc-U-Lift Inc.765 21st Ave NE, St Cloud, MN 56304320-251-9001
Herc-U-Lift Inc.5655 U S Hwy, Maple Plain, MN 55359763-479-2501
Herc-U-Lift Inc.1308 NW 4th St, Grand Rapids, MN 55744218-326-0539
Fairchild Equipment15735 Central Ave NE, Ham Lake, MN 55304763-434-3832
Toyota Lift of Minnesota1526 Voll Drive NW, Byron, MN 55920507-444-0063
Pro-Tech Forklift Service Inc.32653 Co Rd 2, St Joseph, MN 56374320-363-7474
Forklift & Equipment Services, Inc.7583 W Hwy 13, Savage, MN 55378952-894-8390

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.

OSHA Forklift Training MN

OSHA Forklift Training St Paul in MN

Employment Opportunities & Forklift Jobs in MN

At this point, you may feel a bit overwhelmed, but you shouldn’t because getting a job in this great state can be very rewarding.

Minnesota is home to a huge metropolis: Minneapolis-St Paul. This is a city with many big companies that call it home such as Estee Lauder, Gillette, IKEA, General Mills and Medtronic to name a few.

All of these companies have several warehouses and plants that are scattered throughout the metropolis. These warehouses are needed to store extra product to be delivered to other states and even to other countries as well.

With all of this product and movement, it is vital that these companies hire fast and efficient fork lift operators to move cargo in and out. Working for these companies that are known across the globe can provide you with great benefits and opportunities.

Working for a big company provides you with more opportunities than a small company, if you are a hard worker of course.

Check the following graph from Indeed. This shows that there is always a high demand for certified lift truck operators and it’s growing rapidly.

Willmar Forklift MN

Forklift Operator Jobs in MN

So, rest easy! There are many opportunities for a dedicated lifttruck operator just like you.

What are you waiting for? Get your forklift license in Minnesota and get applying today!

 

Certified Forklift Driver’s Salary in MN

With all of these great perks that come with working and living in this awesome state, you may be starting to plan the budget.

Minnesota pays their fork lift operators at about the average salary compared to other states. As stated earlier though, this state and the capital have a lower cost of living, so it ends up paying off.

The average salary of the whole state is $35,800 a year or about 17 dollars an hour. If you decide to work in the beautiful city of Minneapolis, you will make slightly above this rate at $37,219 a year.

The only catch to this is that you will need to be licensed in order to reach these rates.

This figure is right above the national average of $35,000 according to salary.com.

Of course, if you don’t have your license they do not have to give you a competitive salary. This means that you will most likely be paid far less than this, so yet again it is worth getting your OSHA forklift operator certification.

Here is a list by payscale.com of what higher positions make in the warehouse so that you can see that it really is worth the training.

MN Safety Council Training

OSHA Forklift License in MN

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

The table below shows fork lift operator’s annual base salary for 9 major cities in the Minnesota region.

LocationSalaryLocationSalary
Burnsville$37,757Minnetonka$37,863
Duluth$33,570Rochester$34,421
Eden Prairie$37,792Saint Cloud$32,895
Lakeville$37,615Saint Paul$37,863
Minneapolis$37,863  

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

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

Well, they do and if you are looking to get forklift license in Connecticut, then you must check our guide to see how to get your fork lift operator license.

Forklift Training Duluth MN

OSHA Forklift Training in MN

Benefits of Having a Forklift Certification in MN

Now that you feel good about the opportunities in this state, we can start to dig into some extra benefits.

First off, the quality of life in Minneapolis is fantastic with many outdoor adventures at your disposal. Not only that the cost of living is relatively low compared to the national average so chances are you will have a bit of pocket change after all bills are paid.

These benefits come at a cost though: getting your forklift operator license. Without a forklift license, it is almost impossible to get a job, let alone benefits.

Which brings us to the first benefit: landing a great fork lift job in the first place. Most reputable companies will not hire someone that does not have their license.

A forklift operator certification will prepare you for all different situations that may come up. Practicing in a safe place with a qualified forklift trainer will really make a difference to how comfortable you feel on the job.

Not only that, a manager is far more likely to promote a well-trained fork truck operator.

So, the more training, the better!

If someone comes in to the interview ready to start the next day they will be given a higher authority over someone who is unlicensed. Having a fleet of well trained and licensed forklift operators prevents accidents in the workplace, and that is a fact.

In turn, this saves the company from very expensive and damaging lawsuits, which in and of itself is worth it for them to hire a licensed operator.

So, improve your odds of landing a great job and come prepared to your interview with your license in tow!

OSHA Forklift Certification MN

OSHA Forklift Certification in Minnesota

Forklift License Renewal in MN

Every three years a licensed lifttruck operator must renew his/her license every three years. Failing to adhere to this law could result in loss of your license and therefore loss of your job as well.

OSHA sets this law and all industry standards when it comes to operating a fork lift safely. This law helps you keep fresh and up to date on all safety regulations, as they can change quite frequently.

Although there is a 3-year minimum, in certain situations, you may need a refresher course before then.

One of these reasons would be if you got into an accident and you need to be retrained on how to operate a lift truck efficiently. Also if you want to move up within the company, then you will need to get extra training on different types of fork lift trucks.

Often times you will just need to take an online refresher course, but in certain cases, you will need to take the whole course.

If an accident happens or you need to be trained on specific vehicles, the whole 3-part course will most likely be necessary.

If you have any questions, ask your employer or OSHA representative to see which is necessary in your situation.

If it is an online course, you can do a simple search and pick a popular site with good reviews.

Ask your employer which he/she recommends, because when all is said and done, they will be the ones accepting it. If the three-part course is necessary, then you can just do a search of forklift operator training facilities near where you live.

There are many great places to train in Minnesota, so finding one should not be a huge task.

Forklifts of Minnesota

OSHA Forklift Training in MN

Getting in Touch With The Authorities

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

Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
443 Lafayette Rd,
St Paul, MN 55155
Phone: (651) 284-5010
Fax: (651) 284-5720
Web: http://www.dli.mn.gov/

OSHA Area Office Minnesota
443 Lafayette Road North
St. Paul, MN 55155-4307
Phone: (651) 284-5050
Fax: (651) 284-5741
Web: https://www.osha.gov/oshdir/mn.html

In Conclusion

As you can see from this article, there are many awesome perks to working in this awesome state.

Now that you feel excited about getting a job here, you can use this guide for finding your perfect job. If you feel comfortable that you have the skills necessary for the job, then you will have no problem finding a job here.

Your license will be your ticket to your new job so be sure to take all the right steps to ensure your next great job in the industry!

Although I laid out everything that you need to know about getting your forklift license in MN, but if you still have any questions, you can ask them in the comments, or you can also email me.

Applying for forklift certification in North Carolina, check our NC guide!


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