Forklift Licence Types Explained: Counterbalance, Reach, and More

Forklift operating is one of the most valuable skills you can have in the warehouse and logistics sector. A trained forklift operator earns £1 to £3 per hour more than a standard warehouse operative, and the qualification opens doors to a wide range of industries. But "forklift licence" is actually a broad term covering several different machine types.

The Main Forklift Types

Counterbalance

The most common forklift type. It has forks at the front and a heavy counterweight at the rear. Used in almost every warehouse, factory, and building site. If you get one forklift licence, make it this one.

• Training duration: 3 to 5 days for novices, 1 day for experienced operators
• Used for: loading/unloading vehicles, moving pallets, stacking in wide aisles
• Available in electric (indoor) and diesel/LPG (outdoor) variants

Reach Truck

Designed for narrow aisle warehousing. The mast extends forward to reach into racking, allowing higher stacking in tighter spaces. Reach trucks are used in most modern distribution centres.

• Training duration: 3 to 5 days for novices
• Used for: high-level racking work, narrow aisle warehouses
• Can lift to heights of 10 metres or more
• Requires good spatial awareness and precise control

Very Narrow Aisle (VNA)

Specialist trucks designed to operate in aisles as narrow as 1.6 metres. Often guided by rails or wire in the floor. VNA operators are well paid due to the specialist skill required.

Pivot Steer / Bendi

An articulated forklift that can turn in its own length. Used in warehouses that need the stacking height of a reach truck but without dedicated narrow aisles.

Powered Pallet Truck (PPT)

The simplest powered machine — an electric pallet truck you ride on or walk behind. Less training required (1 to 2 days) but essential in many warehouses for horizontal transport.

Accreditation Bodies

In the UK, forklift training is delivered through two main accreditation bodies:

• RTITB (Road Transport Industry Training Board) — the most widely recognised
• ITSSAR (Independent Training Standards Scheme and Register) — equally valid

Both deliver training to the same national standards. Employers accept either. There is no legal "forklift licence" issued by the government — the card you receive is an industry-recognised certification.

Costs

• Novice course (3-5 days): £400 to £700
• Experienced operator (1 day): £150 to £250
• Refresher/renewal: £150 to £300
• Some agencies and employers fund training for reliable candidates

Renewal

Forklift licences are typically valid for 3 to 5 years depending on the accreditation body and employer policy. Renewal involves a shorter refresher course and practical assessment. Do not let your licence lapse — many employers will not allow you to operate until it is renewed.