Overseas Licences

There is no such thing as a fork lift truck driver’s licence in the UK. It follows therefore that a fork truck licence issued in any other country cannot be valid in the UK.

Some countries do issue licences to fork lift truck operators. It is quite common for an individual from one of these countries, who is seeking employment in UK as a fork lift truck operator, to offer this licence, with an authenticated translation, as proof of their ability to operate.

Whilst there may be no reason to doubt the authenticity of such documentation it would be unwise for any potential employer to accept it at face value. At the very least the skills required to obtain that licence may not have been appropriate to either the kind of truck or the operating environment for which the individual is to be employed.

Under these circumstances it would be best to treat the foreign licence as though it were a training certificate from an unknown, unaccredited trainer – with caution. Arrange to have the potential employee formally assessed and then provide any additional training that may be required.

Remember, the employer is required to give written authority for any employee to actually operate the equipment. The employer alone will determine how long this authority remains valid and it is good practice to ensure that the performance of all operators is formally monitored on a regular basis.