Forklift Training and License in Pennsylvania (PA)

Planning to obtain your forklift certification in Pennsylvania?

First of all, congratulations on your decision to pursue a career as a forklift operator in Pennsylvania. There has never been a more exciting time to become a fork lift driver and additionally a forklift trainer.

But first things first, you will be required to acquire your forklift license in Pennsylvania because it is mandatory to have a valid forklift certification in order to obtain employment as a fork lift operator.

Without a valid license to operate a fork lift truck, you will not only be breaking the federal law but also will be putting your’s and other’s lives in danger. See, a fork lift can be a deadly weapon in the hands of the inexperienced, untrained, or distracted driver.

That’s why OSHA prohibits someone from operating a powered industrial truck unless he is…

If you don’t already have a forklift license, then worry not because, in this article, we will be sharing all the information that you may need to get a forklift certification in PA.

Not only we will cover things like how to get forklift certified and what are the salary expectations, but we will also list some of the best forklift training schools in the beautiful state of Pennsylvania.

We will also cover when and how to get your forklift license renewed when it expires (Yes, they too have an expiration date).

OSHA Training in Philadelphia

Why Become a Forklift Operator in Pennsylvania?

The economy of Pennsylvania is based upon manufacturing, oil refinery, food processing, and other similar industries. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that these industries use fork lifts, in fact, every factory, port, and warehouse requires people who are who are capable of driving a forklift truck.

With so many different industries in the state, the demand for fork lift operators with valid forklift certification just gets higher. High demand tends to mean one thing – high pay!

A simple look at a map of the United States of America will tell that Pennsylvania is located near the sea, but is also surrounded by several other states, because of this there is a constant flow of products, in, out, and within the country.

Once you become a lift truck operator, you’ll already be earning a decent salary, but there is still room to move up. You may soon become a warehouse manager or a fork lift mechanic. But before you can become either of them, you have to start at the bottom (which is still quite good) as a forklift operator.

I understand that this type of hands-on job isn’t exactly for everybody, but if you don’t mind getting physical, and working with heavy objects, then working with fork lifts could be a fantastic option for your career.

Learn what is the forklift operator’s job description.

OSHA Forklift License in PA

Requirements for the Forklift Certification in PA

Now it’s time to talk about something that may make some uncomfortable or even sad.

An unfortunate reality is that not everybody will be able to operate a fork lift, and some may not even be eligible to even attempt to gain forklift certification. I know it’s upsetting, but it’s very important that you read this next section. If you’re not eligible for lift truck operating, it’s probably best that your throw in the towel immediately.

Firstly, you need to and have graduated from high school. If you’re a high school dropout, I have bad news for you.

A decent understanding of the English language and literacy is also required. With safety signs, and new words to learn, fork lift driving is no job for the illiterate.

If you’re less than 18 years old, you’re gonna have to wait. OSHA says that no minor (anyone who’s under the age of 18) is eligible to take part in forklift training – sorry kids!

Although medication is necessary for thousands of Americans, the fact is they can alter your mental state, making you very unstable. Is that the type of person who should be operating a deadly piece of machinery? I think not!

Got a criminal history? You’re off the list! I know for a fact, that I do not want to be working around dangerous people who can use something as dangerous as a fork lift!

Finally, anybody who has a history of drug or alcohol addiction/abuse may not operate a forklift. Why? For the same reason that people on medication can’t.

Even if you are eligible to train for your license, if you fail either the written or the practical part of the test, you don’t get your license until you pass.

OSHA Forklift Training in PA

How to Get a Forklift License in PA

Getting your forklift operating license is as easy as ABC. By law, your employer is not allowed to let you operate a lift truck if you do not have the appropriate training and certification. They could get into some serious trouble with the government if they do!

If you do not yet have a license (and you’re employed), your employer will provide you with the training that you need. And obviously, you’ll get your license at the end of it.

If however, you’re unemployed and wish to change that, then one option might be to enroll in a forklift training school. At this school, you’ll have to listen to a 4 hour (yep, you read that right) lecture about fork lift operating and safety. After the lecture, you’ll do a written examination (forklift training test), so best pay attention!

If you pass (the pass rate depends on what school you go to) you can then progress onto your practical exam, in which you’ll have to perform a series of tasks including maneuvering in tight spaces, avoiding people, and carry a heavy load from one point to another. Once (or perhaps I should say if) you pass, you’ll be fully certified to operate a forklift truck.

CareerLink Lancaster is a certification program that’s perfect for anybody who works (or wishes to work) in the shale industry.

Susquehanna county and the tech center have teamed up to create a scheme of grant funded employee training. This means that employers will get a lump of money which they will have to use to train their employees on how to safely operate a fork lift and other factory machines.

This scheme is available to anyone who lives in either Susquehanna or Lackawanna. Getting your forklift license in Pennsylvania is not just a potential legal requirement, it’s also super easy. And some even get a helping hand.

As mentioned in the introduction, forklift operators are currently in high demand in the state of Pennsylvania. The Keystone state has plenty of factories, ports, and warehouses.

Of course, people who know how to drive a fork lift are always needed. Because it’s not the case that anybody who wants to can hop onto a lift truck and get to work immediately (legally at least), forklift operators are likely to be very popular with potential future employers.

OSHA Forklift Certification in Philadelphia PA

Forklift Training Schools in Pennsylvania

To obtain your forklift certification in PA (Pennsylvania), you will need to enroll in a OSHA forklift training class and complete your training. Here is a list of schools for forklift training in PA state where you can get your forklift certification.

Fork lift training schools in the alphabetical order.

The list of forklift training classes and schools was last updated on June 1, 2023. If there are any inaccuracies, please report it to us.

Forklift Jobs in PA

Employment Opportunities for Forklift Workers in Pennsylvania

I could probably spend all day talking about all the job opportunities in the realm of fork lift operating, but I simply don’t have the time to do that. Instead, let’s cover the top 3….

Fres-Co is a company that produces packaging materials. In a place like Pennsylvania, that’s incredibly useful. With their production rate so high, forklift operators are a valuable asset.

In an urban metropolis, building materials are always in demand. Beatty Lumber and Millwork are a company that fulfills this need. As most of us know, building materials are heavy, and heavy means that a fork lift is probably required to move it.

Finally, Graybar Electric Co has a shocking number of opportunities. In case you couldn’t tell by the name, they produce high-quality electrical products which are used by companies across America.

Due to the popularity of electricity, Graybar is doing well for themselves. And a company that’s doing well for itself is a company with employment opportunities.

Forklift Certification in PA

Benefits of Having a Forklift License in Philadelphia

As mentioned earlier, if you’re employed, your employer will have to give you the training which will end with you getting your license. However, wannabe lift truck operators may be unemployed and depending upon training schools to get their forklift certification.

Many are thrown off by the schools’ high prices. But despite the cost, it’s worth every penny. Having your forklift license ready will increase your chances of getting a job by a significant amount.

Why?

Because any potential employer will not have to spend any of their time or money on making you legally eligible to drive a fork lift. You can get straight to work on day one, making your boss money before you even start your first lunch break with that company.

The reality of capitalism is that bosses want green. They will, therefore, do whatever they can to save it.

Giving them such an opportunity will place you one step above the rest of the candidates. If you can’t afford a forklift training school, online alternatives are available.

Online training is not as good as a training school as there can never be a practical exam from behind a screen. Despite this, it’s still better than not having any training at all. Having a fork lift license to put on your forklift operator resume will make you stand head and shoulders above the competition.

Forklift Jobs in Philadelphia PA

Salary of Licensed Forklift Operator in Pennsylvania

I know I keep on mentioning this, and I completely understand if it’s starting to annoy you, but lift truck operating is a very high paid job. Yet, what I haven’t spoken about is just how much a Pennsylvania forklift driver can earn.

How much you get exactly can vary depending on who your employer is and what type of fork lift you operate. If you’re one of the lucky ones, you can be earning up to $16.57 an hour. That’s the same as $34,500 a year.

If this your chosen career path, you probably won’t be struggling to pay any bills. In purely economic terms, Pennsylvania is the 15th best state in which to be a forklift operator.

Stereotypically, it’s thought of as a low paid (sometimes even minimum wage) job. But personally, I would consider $16 an hour to be a fair amount of money.

I know that you’ll probably not become a millionaire from driving a lift truck, but if you want a hands-on job, and you perhaps never went to college, then fork lift operating is a much better paid job than something like a fast food worker (not that there’s anything wrong with being a fast food worker).

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

The table below shows forklift operator’s annual base salary for 22 major cities in the Pennsylvania region.

* Forklift operator salaries were last updated on June 1, 2023.

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

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

Forklift Operator Jobs in PA

License Renewal in Pennsylvania

As great as it would be if you could just do your training once, get your license and certification, and that be that for the rest of your life, it simply doesn’t work that way.

OSHA regulation requires that every forklift certification in PA state must be renewed after every 3 years. 3 years is a long time in which to forget stuff, and most of us do!

Although it’s a bit of an inconvenience, being a bit inconvenienced than yourself or others ending up in a hospital or even in a grave.

Side note: The expiration date will be printed on the license itself.

At the 3 year mark, your employer will have to retrain you, which normally takes a day or two. If you’re not currently employed, then it’s probably wise to enroll in a local training school.

Some people will have to redo their forklift training even before their license expires after 3 years. Anyone who fails an OSHA inspection or is caught fooling around and acting in a way which is potentially life threatening will be fired and have their license revoked. This will mean that training school is the only option.

Pennsylvania Safety Laws

Unlike some other states, there are no workplace safety laws which are exclusive to Pennsylvania. Because OSHA is a part of the federal government, all states (including Pennsylvania) have to obey the laws and regulations that they law down.

The government of Pennsylvania seems to think that OSHA regulations are enough and therefore do not ask any more of any employer than what OSHA requires them to do.

Individual companies, and bosses within them may create their own rules regarding safety, but these rules are not legally binding to any boss who does not wish to implement them.

OSHA Forklift Training in Philadelphia

Get in Touch With The Authorities

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

Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
1700 Labor and Industry Bldg,
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: 717-787-3756
Web: http://www.dli.pa.gov/

OSHA Area Office
Harrisburg Area Office
43 Kline Plaza
Harrisburg, PA 17104-1529
Phone: (717) 782-3902
Fax: (717) 782-3746
Web: https://www.osha.gov/oshdir/pa.html

The Bottom Line Is

Pennsylvania is a fantastic state, it’s filled with brilliant people, the culture is inspiring, and the food is delicious.

Forklift operating in Pennsylvania is a fantastic career to get into. Becoming one is incredibly easy. You either have to do a course online, enroll in a forklift training school, or get trained by your employer.

For the people who are lucky enough to live in Susquehanna or Lackawanna, your country will even give you a helping hand with getting hold of your forklift license.

Here’s the bottom line, OSHA will not allow anybody who does not have a valid forklift certification to drive one. Therefore, having one will be of enormous advantage to you.

You’ll be earning a healthy salary with opportunities to move up the career ladder. If you live in the state of independence and you’re not too sure what you want to do with your life, then becoming a fork lift operator is certainly something to look into.

Applying for forklift certification in New Jersey, our NJ guide will help you out!