Anyone working in the logistics industry will at some point need to learn how to operate an electric pallet truck. It would be ideal if it was as simple as learning to ride a bike. However, there are some training requirements for electric pallet trucks, including loading, manoeuvring, and obtaining necessary certificates. This guide will help you avoid any trial and error along the way.
Electric Pallet Truck – Usage
The pallet truck, also called a pallet jack, is the most basic form of a forklift when shifting pallets around a warehouse. A battery pack typically powers it, and it can operate for several hours before needing a charge. There are many electric pallet truck training requirements, but some key points you should be aware of include:
- Ensure the forks are at their lowest position before usage.
- Always walk with the truck beside you or pulling it behind you.
- Use the controller to shift or twist the truck in your desired direction.
- Make sure to plug the vehicle into a charging port at the end of the day.
Requirements for Driving an Electric Pallet Truck
If you have to use a pallet truck at work, your employer must give you proper training. What this training covers will depend on where you are in the world when you are learning these skills.
Personal attributes
If you’re looking at operating an electric pallet truck, you need to be physically and mentally fit for the role. The physical part is about handling heavy stacks, while the mental part involves focusing a lot on the tasks. If you have any ongoing medical conditions, you may not be considered a suitable candidate.
Although there is no experience limit to taking the test, you will find yourself in higher standing with a trainer if you have been able to demonstrate an aptitude in other aspects of your job rather than taking on a load that could be too much for you.
Safety guidelines
Workplace safety is the most important thing when using material handling equipment, so you should prioritize it and get training. You will have likely been briefed on health and safety procedures once you started your current job.
Make sure you are aware of the truck’s maximum lifting capacity. This should be printed either on the truck itself or available as part of a manifesto.
Required skillset
Loading and stacking
You might be familiar with the loading and stacking of packages. The training will cover much of what is an advancement of what you have already worked with. Maintaining the safety and security of packages and making sure you don’t endanger yourself.
Manoeuvring
You’ll be managing a heavy load and navigating it around the warehouse. As you’re not dealing with a manual pallet jack, the motor will do a lot of the work. This means you’re less likely to incur a strain-related injury. Yet, you need to make sure the heavy loads you carry don’t collide with anything or anyone else around you
Manual handling
Employers and trainers must assess your ability to handle things manually before giving you equipment-related tasks. Part of this experience can be obtained from handling a manual pallet truck.
Checks
Before you begin operating the pallet truck, these are the routine checks you need to carry out:
- Scratches or cracks
- Oil leakage from the cylinder
- The smooth movement and grip of the wheels
- The emergency brake operating without hindrance
- The lifting and lowering functions via the controls
- All nuts and bolts are firmly tightened
- Any broken hoses or exposed electric wires
If you see any of these things, inform your supervisor. Make sure that no one else uses the pallet truck until it is repaired. The trainer will discuss these with you during training. Consider the safety checks you already have to do and how they can apply to this role.
Other safety issues to consider
Electric pallet jacks can stack high and heavy pallets, making it hard to stop the truck quickly.
They can also lift much greater loads while taking much of the physical responsibility away from the handler. Various electric pallet trucks come in various formats such as starter models, stand-ins, and sideways-seated. Before enrolling in a course, determine the type of electric pallet truck used in your warehouse. Then, select a course that offers training for that particular model.
Do you need a licence for an electric pallet truck?
You don’t necessarily require a driving licence to operate a pallet. But depending on your location, you must have certification to operate electric pallet trucks. In the US, OSHA does not require certification for using electric pallet trucks. However, they recommend that companies establish a certification program for their employees.
The individual certification will come upon completion of the course. Some courses may have an expiration date, so you might have to take the course again in the future.
Risk assessments
The courses will teach you how to stay safe when using an electric pallet truck. This includes making sure the items are secure and having a clear path to your destination. But they will also provide the necessary training for those rarest of occasions when you are involved in an accident.
Types of courses
There are various courses offered at varying levels. Perhaps you’re a novice who is looking to use an electric pallet truck for the first time. Maybe you’ve used a forklift before, but you want more experience and knowledge about it.
Or you could be an experienced professional who has worked in the logistics sector for years and wants to add an electric pallet truck to your list of ‘machinery I can operate’. Or perhaps you’re an experienced professional who wants to receive some updated training.
If you want to make warehouse life easier, electric pallet truck training is essential for you. Improve your warehouse safety by getting a proper electric pallet truck training, and selecting the right truck for your warehouse and your needs!