Types of Forklifts: The 7 Classes, Explained

OSHA groups powered industrial trucks into seven classes by power source and tires, from the electric sit-down forklift in a warehouse to a diesel rough terrain truck on a job site. Certification is per truck type, not one card for every truck, so knowing your class is the first step.

About the truck

Answer four quick questions about the truck. We'll tell you the OSHA class.

What does the truck do?

How is it powered?

Where is it used?

Where is the operator?

Your truck's class

Answer the questions to see it.

We'll show the class number, the full name, and what our course covers for it.

How to use the class finder

  1. 1

    Answer the four questions about what the truck does, how it's powered, where it's used, and where the operator rides.

  2. 2

    Answer in any order. The class appears on the right as soon as all four are answered.

  3. 3

    If the truck is unusual, confirm the class with its maker or dealer. The data plate shows its fuel type designation and capacity.

Looking for forklift training classes instead?

This page is about the seven OSHA truck classes, not training classes. If you need training, our online forklift certification course covers the formal instruction for all seven classes in under an hour for $59.

Your employer then completes the hands-on evaluation on the specific class you drive, which no online course can do for you. See the full OSHA forklift certification requirements for how the two parts fit together.

Types of forklifts by the names people use

Almost every forklift you hear named at work falls into one of OSHA's seven classes. The table matches the everyday name to its class, so "you'll be on the walkie" or "stand-up experience required" turns into a class you can look up below.

Two things set the class: the power source and how the truck is built to work. Electric trucks split across Classes I to III: rider counterbalance trucks, narrow-aisle trucks, and walk-behind or hand/rider trucks. Engine trucks split into Class IV or V by their tires. Tow tractors are Class VI and rough terrain trucks Class VII. When in doubt, ask the truck's maker or dealer.

Sit-down electric forklift

Class I

Standard counterbalance forklift with a battery, the warehouse default

Power: Battery

Class I

Three-wheel electric forklift

Class I

Sit-down electric forklift that stands on three wheels instead of four

Power: Battery

Class I

Stand-up counterbalance forklift

Class I

Counterbalance truck the operator drives standing up

Power: Battery

Class I

Reach truck (stand-up reach)

Class II

Narrow-aisle truck whose mast and forks reach forward into the rack

Power: Battery

Reach truck guide

Order picker ("cherry picker" in some warehouses)

Class II

Operator rides up with the forks to pick items by hand

Power: Battery

Order picker guide

Turret truck, side loader

Class II

Very narrow aisle trucks that load to the side

Power: Battery

Class II

Walkie or electric pallet jack

Class III

Walk-behind powered jack that lifts a pallet just off the floor to move it

Power: Battery

Pallet jack guide

Walkie/rider pallet jack, end rider

Class III

Powered pallet jack with a platform to stand on

Power: Battery

Pallet jack guide

Walkie stacker

Class III

Walk-behind truck that lifts pallets up to racks

Power: Battery

Class III

Cushion-tire propane forklift

Class IV

Engine-powered sit-down truck on solid tires, for smooth floors

Power: Propane, gas or diesel

Class IV

Yard forklift (pneumatic tires)

Class V

Engine-powered sit-down truck on air-filled tires for outdoor pavement

Power: Propane, gas or diesel

Class V

Tow tractor, tugger

Class VI

Pulls a train of carts, no forks

Power: Battery or engine

Class VI

Straight-mast rough terrain forklift

Class VII

Big-tire forklift for dirt, gravel and job sites

Power: Diesel, most often

Class VII

Telehandler (telescopic handler)

Class VII

Rough terrain truck with a telescoping boom instead of a mast

Power: Diesel, most often

Telehandler guide

Truck-mounted ("piggyback") forklift

Class VII*

Rides on the back of a delivery truck and unloads at the site

Power: Varies by model

Class VII

Manual pallet jack

No class

Hand-pumped, no motor

Power: Your arms

What counts as a powered industrial truck

Classes checked against the lift-code drawings in OSHA's forklift eTool. A few trucks come in more than one version: electric forklifts with air-filled tires are still Class I, and OSHA also lists some low-lift pallet and platform trucks in Class II. *OSHA lists truck-mounted forklifts as a type of Class VII truck but notes that not all of them are rough terrain forklifts, so confirm yours with the maker.

A note on "cherry picker." Some warehouses use the word for an order picker. Elsewhere, including in NIOSH safety material, it means a boom lift with a bucket, which is an aerial lift covered by different OSHA rules and not a forklift at all. If a job post says "cherry picker," ask which one. Our guide to what counts as a powered industrial truck sorts out the borderline machines.

Forklift fork classes are something else

When a parts catalog or a dealer says "Class II forks," it is not talking about the OSHA truck class. Fork class describes how hook-on forks mount to the carriage, with mounting dimensions set by the ISO 2328 standard for trucks rated up to 10,999 kg. It goes by the height of the carriage bars and the truck's capacity, so forks from one truck fit another truck of the same class.

Fork / carriage class Truck capacity Carriage height
Class I Under 2,000 lb 13 in
Class II 2,000 to 5,500 lb 16 in
Class III 5,501 to 11,000 lb 20 in
Class IV 11,000 to 17,500 lb 25 in

Bands from Norden Mfg's ITA-style fork classification guide. Published band edges vary slightly from source to source, so measure the carriage before ordering forks.

Class I: Electric Motor Rider Trucks

Class I trucks are the standard electric sit-down forklift used in most warehouses and distribution centers. A battery drives the motor, so there is no exhaust, which is why these are the default choice for indoor work. Weight in the rear of the truck counterbalances a load lifted out front on the forks.

Power
Electric battery
Tires
Cushion or pneumatic, depending on the model
Where used
Indoors on smooth floors, some outdoor use on paved lots
Operator position
Sits inside, forward-facing or 90-degree seating

Common trucks in this class

  • Counterbalance sit-down rider forklift
  • Three-wheel electric forklift

Main hazard: Tip-over is the leading risk, especially when turning with a raised or overloaded fork.

Class II: Electric Motor Narrow Aisle Trucks

Class II trucks work in aisles too narrow for a standard sit-down forklift, moving between tall racking to reach pallets stored well above head height. The mast reaches forward and up instead of the whole truck turning, which is what lets the aisle stay narrow. The reach truck is the most common example.

Power
Electric battery
Tires
Cushion (solid)
Where used
Indoors, narrow aisles with tall storage racks
Operator position
Stands or sits, often in a swivel seat facing the racks

Common trucks in this class

  • Reach truck
  • Order picker (some models)

Main hazard: For order-picker models the main risk is falling from height; for reach trucks it's a load shifting at full mast extension.

Class III: Electric Motor Hand Trucks or Hand/Rider Trucks

Class III covers the electric pallet jacks and stackers an operator walks behind or rides on a small fold-down platform, rather than sitting inside a cab. They move pallets short distances, typically dock to storage or truck to floor, at low travel speeds. Almost every truck in this class runs on a battery.

Power
Electric battery
Tires
Cushion (solid)
Where used
Indoors, loading docks and short-distance pallet moves
Operator position
Walks behind, or stands on a fold-down platform on rider models

Common trucks in this class

  • Walkie pallet jack
  • Walkie/rider pallet truck
  • Walkie stacker

Main hazard: An operator walking backward while towing a load can run into people or racking behind them.

Class IV: Internal Combustion Engine Trucks, Solid/Cushion Tires

Class IV trucks look like a Class I forklift but run on an engine instead of a battery. The solid cushion tires sit low to the ground for a tight turning radius, which is why these stay on smooth warehouse and manufacturing floors rather than gravel or grass. Propane models can run indoors when the building has adequate ventilation.

Power
Gas, propane (LP), or diesel
Tires
Solid or cushion tires
Where used
Indoors on smooth, finished floors
Operator position
Sits inside

Common trucks in this class

  • Cushion-tire counterbalance forklift

Main hazard: Carbon monoxide buildup in a poorly ventilated building is the risk unique to this class.

Class V: Internal Combustion Engine Trucks, Pneumatic Tires

Class V trucks pair an engine with larger, air-filled tires, giving them more ground clearance and traction than a Class IV truck. That makes them a common choice for lumberyards, outdoor material handling, and work that crosses a loading dock or yard. They handle rougher surfaces than cushion-tire trucks, but they are not built for genuinely rough terrain.

Power
Gas, propane (LP), or diesel
Tires
Pneumatic (air-filled or solid-core pneumatic)
Where used
Outdoors on pavement, or narrow aisles indoors
Operator position
Sits inside

Common trucks in this class

  • Pneumatic-tire counterbalance forklift
  • Yard forklift

Main hazard: Reduced stability compared to indoor trucks when maneuvering on uneven pavement or an incline.

Class VI: Electric and Internal Combustion Engine Tractors

Class VI trucks are not forklifts. They tow carts, trailers, or baggage in a train rather than lifting a load on forks, so there is no mast. Airports, large distribution centers, and factories use them to move goods across long, flat distances.

Power
Electric battery or internal combustion engine
Tires
Solid or pneumatic, depending on the model
Where used
Indoors and outdoors: airports, distribution centers, factory floors
Operator position
Sits inside

Common trucks in this class

  • Tow tractor
  • Tugger

Main hazard: Jackknifing the towed train, or striking a pedestrian while backing up with a long line of carts.

Class VII: Rough Terrain Forklift Trucks

Class VII trucks are built for outdoor sites with gravel, mud, dirt, or uneven grading, most often construction and agriculture. Large tires and a diesel engine give them the ground clearance and power that pavement-only trucks lack. Telehandlers belong to this class; their telescoping boom reaches higher and farther forward than a fixed mast.

Power
Diesel, most commonly
Tires
Large pneumatic, often deep-tread
Where used
Outdoors on rough or unimproved ground
Operator position
Sits inside

Common trucks in this class

  • Rough terrain forklift
  • Telehandler (telescopic handler)

Main hazard: Rollover on sloped or soft ground, and reduced visibility from the extended boom on telehandler models.

Does one forklift certification cover every type?

One course can cover the classroom topics for all seven classes, but you are only cleared to drive the types of truck your employer has trained and evaluated you on. OSHA's rule builds that in twice:

  • Truck-related training covers the operating instructions, warnings and precautions "for the types of truck the operator will be authorized to operate" (29 CFR 1910.178(l)(3)(i)(A)).
  • When an operator "is assigned to drive a different type of truck," refresher training in the relevant topics is required (l)(4)(ii)(D), and refresher training includes an evaluation of how well it worked (l)(4)(i).

You do not start from zero on each truck. Under (l)(5), topics you already covered do not need repeating if that training fits the new truck and your workplace and you are evaluated as competent on it. In practice: the new truck's controls and hazards, practice time, and a hands-on evaluation.

The three questions people ask most:

  • Separate cert for an electric pallet jack? Yes, in the sense that a walkie is a Class III truck and needs its own training and evaluation. A sit-down forklift evaluation does not cover it. See pallet jack certification.
  • Training needed for a reach truck? Yes. A reach truck is Class II, with different controls and a load that moves out from the truck. See reach truck certification.
  • Telehandler cert if you already have a forklift certificate? A telehandler is Class VII and needs its own training and evaluation. See telehandler certification.
Get Certified

Which classes does our course cover?

Our course covers the OSHA formal instruction for all seven classes, Class I through Class VII. That is the knowledge half of certification: safety principles, hazard recognition, and equipment knowledge across truck types. It covers each class at overview level. A telehandler rigged to hoist loads with a winch or hook on a construction site can also fall under OSHA's crane rules, which this course does not cover; see our telehandler certification guide.

The hands-on half is your employer's job. After the formal instruction, your employer evaluates you operating the actual truck you will use on the job. If you later operate a different class of truck, OSHA requires new training and a new evaluation for that class under 29 CFR 1910.178(l)(4)(ii)(D). A certification on a Class I sit-down forklift does not carry over to a Class VII rough terrain truck.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 7 classes of forklifts?
OSHA and the Industrial Truck Association group powered industrial trucks into seven classes by power source and tires: Class I electric motor rider trucks, Class II electric motor narrow aisle trucks, Class III electric motor hand or hand/rider trucks, Class IV internal combustion trucks on solid or cushion tires, Class V internal combustion trucks on pneumatic tires, Class VI electric and internal combustion tractors, and Class VII rough terrain forklift trucks.
What class is a telehandler?
A telehandler is a Class VII rough terrain forklift truck. On construction sites, OSHA's crane rules (29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC) exclude forklifts except when they are configured to hoist and lower a suspended load by winch or hook and move it horizontally (1926.1400(c)(8)). Set up that way, the crane rules apply, including operator certification under 1926.1427. Equipment rated to hoist 2,000 lb or less is the exception: 1926.1441 requires operator training instead.
What class is a pallet jack?
An electric pallet jack, whether it is a walk-behind or a walkie/rider model, is a Class III electric motor hand or hand/rider truck. A manual pallet jack with no motor is not a powered industrial truck and does not fall under any OSHA class.
Does one certification cover every forklift class?
No. Formal instruction like our course covers the knowledge for all seven classes, but OSHA requires a separate hands-on evaluation for each truck class an operator actually drives. Switching to a class the employer has not evaluated the operator on requires new training and evaluation under 29 CFR 1910.178(l)(4)(ii)(D).
Is a Class IV or Class V forklift allowed indoors?
Class IV trucks, with solid or cushion tires, are built for indoor use on smooth floors. Class V trucks, with pneumatic tires, can run indoors too, but propane and gas models need enough ventilation to clear engine exhaust, and diesel models are usually kept outdoors because of exhaust volume.
What is a Class 7 forklift?
A Class 7 (Class VII) forklift is a rough terrain forklift truck: usually diesel, on large pneumatic tires, built for gravel, mud, dirt, and uneven ground on construction sites and farms. Both straight-mast rough terrain forklifts and telehandlers fall in this class. Operators need a hands-on evaluation on the rough terrain truck itself, because an evaluation on a warehouse forklift does not carry over.

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