Forklift Operator Evaluation Form Template
Streamline Your Forklift Operator Assessments for Safety and Compliance
Evaluating forklift operators can be challenging, especially when ensuring compliance and safety standards. This template helps organizations effortlessly assess the skills and competencies of their forklift drivers, promoting a safe work environment. With clear criteria for evaluating performance, tracking operator training, and ensuring regulatory compliance, you can make better hiring decisions and maintain workplace safety. This customizable form is designed for user-friendly completion and can be adapted to meet your specific needs, allowing you to focus on what really matters-safety on the job. Try out the live template today.
When to use this form
Use this evaluation when you hire or reassign operators, renew certifications, after a near miss or incident, or when equipment or attachments change. Supervisors, safety leads, and trainers use it to verify driving skills, load handling, and shutdown steps, and to spot coaching needs. Document what the operator can do today, set a clear improvement plan, and keep a defensible record for audits. Pair the assessment with a pre-use check using the Equipment checklist form. If your team runs multiple machines or attachments, standardize expectations with the Heavy equipment checklist form so criteria stay consistent across sites, then schedule any fixes from the ride-along through your maintenance process.
Must Ask Forklift Operator Evaluation Questions
- Can the operator complete a pre-operational inspection and report defects?
This confirms the truck starts the shift safe and issues are addressed before work begins. It also shows the operator understands what makes a forklift unsafe to use.
- Does the operator maintain safe travel practices: seat belt use, horn at intersections, controlled speed, and clear line of sight?
Travel behavior prevents most incidents, more than lifting itself. This check verifies habits you cannot measure on a written test.
- Can the operator pick up, move, and place loads within rated capacity using correct fork spacing, mast tilt, and stacking height?
It demonstrates control of load center and stability, reducing tip-overs and product damage. Clear criteria make pass or retrain decisions fair and consistent.
- How does the operator handle ramps, inclines, and tight aisles while keeping the load upgrade and maintaining visibility?
These maneuvers reflect real conditions where small errors cause big risks. Observing positioning and right-of-way shows whether the operator can work your layout safely.
- Does the operator park and shut down correctly: lower forks, neutralize controls, set the brake, chock if needed, and refuel or charge safely?
Proper shutdown prevents rollaways, trip hazards, and charging or fueling incidents. Capture any service needs and route them to maintenance with the Preventive maintenance checklist form.
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