Forklift licence checks and FLT operator references
There is no government forklift licence. There is a training certificate you can verify, and a previous employer who can tell you how they drive.
How do you check a forklift licence?
To check a forklift licence in the UK, ask for the operator's training certificate or card and verify its number with the accrediting body that issued it, such as RTITB, AITT, ITSSAR or NPORS, using that body's online checker or register. There is no government issued licence. Then reference the operator with a recent employer. RefAssure collects and chases those references.
Is there a forklift licence in the UK?
No. People say forklift licence or FLT licence, but in Great Britain there is no licence issued by the government. What operators hold is a certificate or card showing they completed training with a provider accredited by one of the workplace transport accrediting bodies.
The legal duty sits with the employer. Under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations, employers must make sure people using work equipment are adequately trained. The HSE Approved Code of Practice L117, Rider-operated lift trucks: operator training and safe use, explains what that means in practice:
- Basic training: the skills and knowledge to operate a type of truck safely.
- Specific job training: the controls, attachments and conditions of the job they will do.
- Familiarisation: on the job, under supervision, on your site.
L117 also recommends that employers give operators written authorisation for the trucks they may use, and that they monitor and reassess operators over time. A certificate from another employer shows past training. It does not authorise someone to drive on your site.
Why references still matter
A training certificate can be years old. A recent employer can tell you which trucks the operator actually drove, how they behaved around pedestrians, and whether there were any incidents. That is the evidence a client or insurer will ask about after an accident.
How to verify an FLT certificate, in four steps.
Ask for the card
Note the certificate or registration number, the accrediting body, the training provider and the truck types covered.
Check with the body
Use that accrediting body's own online checker or register, or contact it directly. Each body keeps its own records.
Match the trucks
Make sure the categories match your trucks, for example counterbalance, reach or very narrow aisle.
Assess on your site
Arrange familiarisation and an assessment on your equipment, then issue written authorisation.
What to ask an FLT operator's referee.
A card shows training. A reference tells you how they actually drive.
Trucks and attachments
Which trucks they operated day to day: counterbalance, reach, VNA, pallet trucks or articulated trucks.
Safety record
Any accidents, near misses or damage involving their truck, and how they responded.
Pedestrian awareness
How they followed site speed limits, traffic routes and pedestrian segregation rules.
Pre-use checks
Whether they reliably completed daily checks and reported defects.
References chased while they start induction.
Send the request in two minutes. RefAssure collects consent, then chases referees with 5 emails and up to 2 texts over 12 days.
- Add your own FLT questions to a template once and reuse it
- Referees answer on any device with a secure link, no login
- Bounced emails flagged, mostly within minutes
- Each reference filed as a signed, timestamped PDF
Forklift licence questions
More in the full FAQs.
Can I check a forklift licence online?
Usually, yes. The accrediting bodies run their own online checkers or registers for certificates issued through their accredited providers. Use the one named on the operator's card, or contact the body directly.
How long does a forklift certificate last?
There is no fixed legal expiry. L117 expects employers to monitor operators and provide refresher training or reassessment, and many employers set their own interval. Check your own policy and any customer requirements.
Is an FLT licence from another employer valid on my site?
It shows they completed basic training. You still need to give job specific training and familiarisation on your trucks and site, and authorise them in writing.
Does RefAssure verify forklift certificates?
No. You verify the certificate with the accrediting body. RefAssure collects the references and employment history, with consent, chasing and a signed PDF.
Who are the forklift accrediting bodies?
The main workplace transport accrediting bodies are RTITB, AITT, ITSSAR and NPORS. They accredit training providers and instructors, and each keeps its own records of operators trained through its accredited providers.
What if the operator has lost their card?
Ask for the name of the training provider and the approximate date, then contact the provider or the accrediting body to confirm the record. A previous employer's reference can confirm the trucks they operated in practice.
Do agency FLT drivers need references?
Most clients expect them, and agencies need to confirm workers have the experience and training the role requires. See client site requirements.
Related guides
Certificate checked. Now the reference.
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