"Driving" a forklift is not much different than driving a car, but a forklift "operator" is an entirely different concept. The simplest way I can sum up the difference is what a machinist or engineer would call "tolerances." Basically the difference between a driver and an operator is how much room do you need to have on each side so you aren't damaging anything.
The most important, actual "skill" that you will need is "spatial awareness," will this huge box fit in that tiny space type of spatial awareness. Honestly, over the past ten years, I have started to wonder if that particular skill can be taught or not.
To become decent will require at least six months of experience, and that short of a time frame requires a good teacher, a good student, and a quick study. I have seen guys that claim five, and even ten years of experience that still couldn't follow instructions well enough to avoid damaging product, and I have seen guys working with the same product after only a couple weeks with no problem because they listen to the warnings and PAY ATTENTION.
A couple helpful hints.
Virtually all lifts have the first two levers set up the same. The first is up and down, the second is to tilt. Pull back the first lever to lift, push to lower. Pull back the second lever to tilt back, push to tilt forward. The other two levers will vary, this becomes annoying, and even dangerous, when muscle memory tells you that the third lever does one thing but it does something completely different. An example of this is the third lever on one lift shifting from side to side, and the same lever on the lift next to it opening a clamp to release product. Hit the wrong lever on the wrong lift and you have product all over the floor.
DRIVE BACKWARD WHENEVER YOU HAVE PRODUCT ON THE FORKS. You can take corners faster without product toppling, and if you have to stop suddenly, the product will lean against the mast instead of falling over.
Honestly, operating a forklift safely isn't exactly rocket surgery, go slow as you are learning, and pay attention. Speed comes with experience, and it is always cheaper to pay someone for a couple extra minutes than to pay the customer for damaging their product.
