There's no single forklift 'licence'
UK law doesn't issue a forklift licence. Employers must make sure you're trained and competent for each type of truck you use. Most use a certificate from an accrediting body such as RTITB, AITT, ITSSAR or NPORS. Counterbalance, reach truck, VNA and other types need separate training.
Refresher training isn't set by law, but most employers and accrediting bodies expect it every three to five years.
Getting the driver's rate
Many warehouses pay drivers more than general operatives, often £1 to £2 an hour more. Check that the driver's rate is paid for every shift you're on a truck, not just the shifts you're rota'd as a driver. If you're moved onto a truck mid-shift, ask how those hours are paid.
Example: a driver on a £1.50 uplift works 40 hours a week, but 16 of those hours are paid at the operative rate of £12.71 by mistake. That's £24.00 missing that week, or more than £1,152 over a working year.
Who pays for the training
If your employer requires the training, the time is working time. If you're asked to pay for the course, the cost can't take your pay below the minimum wage in that pay period.
Some contracts include a training repayment clause, where you pay back some of the cost if you leave soon after. It must be agreed in writing in advance, and repayments still can't take your pay below the minimum wage.
Shift patterns
Drivers are often on the same patterns as the rest of the warehouse: four-on-four-off, continental shifts or fixed nights. Shift premiums apply to driving hours too.
Track it shift by shift
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Common questions
Do I need a forklift licence?
There's no government licence, but your employer must make sure you're trained for each type of truck, usually with an accredited certificate.
Can my employer make me repay training costs?
Only under a repayment clause you agreed in writing in advance, and never in a way that takes your pay below the minimum wage.
How often does forklift training need refreshing?
There's no fixed legal period, but every three to five years is common practice.