ibu institut für berufsbildung und umschulung gmbh
Vocational training: forklifts and industrial trucks
We offer adult vocational training in warehouse logistics.
For jobseekers
Training for entering or returning to warehouse work.
For employees & apprentices
Forklift certification, driving training and skills for everyday workplace operations.
Questions & advice
We can advise you on the right programme for you or your business.
forklift operator training · for jobseekers
New opportunities in warehousing
At ibu, we train you to operate a modern forklift and provide up-to-date knowledge to respond to continuing change in logistics. We offer a learning environment designed to support you effectively. Successful completion provides an important foundation for entering or returning to warehouse work.
entering and returning to employment
Your route to the right training
You may be a jobseeker with previous warehouse experience whose vocational qualification is out of date or who is unfamiliar with modern technology.
Or you may be a jobseeker looking to move into warehouse work from another field.
Then ibu gmbh is the right place for you!
Funding through a Bildungsgutschein (German training voucher) may be possible. Ask your Agentur für Arbeit or funding body about the individual requirements.
for employees and apprentices
Forklift certification for everyday working life
Our courses combine theoretical training with practical driving exercises for operating forklifts and other industrial trucks.
Our courses follow the requirements of the German statutory accident insurance institution. After demonstrating their skills in a theoretical examination and practical driving test, participants receive a personal industrial truck operator's permit and a certificate.
Individual starts are possible on an ongoing basis.
training for your business
Three stages for workplace practice
- General training
- Additional training (stage 2)
- Company-specific training
For in-house training (up to a maximum of 12 participants), we offer individually arranged dates at short notice. Prices are available on request.
Introductory courses and annual refresher instruction: new dates are being planned. We also welcome enquiries about specialist industrial trucks.
pdf · explore leaflet (German)
Education & training programmes
Two routes to forklift operator certification: read the relevant leaflets (German).
pdf · forklift operator training (German)
For jobseekers: with a Bildungsgutschein
Training for entering or returning to employment.
Requirements & course content
For jobseekers
- Minimum age: 18
- Physical and mental fitness
- Adequate motor skills
- Careful, reliable working habits
- Eyesight test for the operator's permit
- Basic written and spoken German, at least level A2
- Basic computer skills
- A recent passport photograph
- Reasons for training
- Legal foundations
- Regular forklift inspections
- Accident patterns
- Construction and function of industrial trucks and attachments
- Drive types and stability
- General operation
- Load handling and specialist operations
- Traffic rules and routes
- Final examination
- Introduction to the industrial truck
- Daily pre-use checks
- Load capacity diagrams, weight distribution and permitted loads
- Hazard points on the industrial truck
- Becoming familiar with the vehicle
- Leaving the industrial truck
- Driving and stacking exercises
- Final examination under accident prevention regulations (UVV)
Course fees and travel costs may be covered by the Agentur für Arbeit or your funding body. Ask about a Bildungsgutschein (German training voucher).
About ibu
Success through qualifications!
Keeping your professional knowledge up to date is a major challenge, particularly given the pace of technological change.
“The next major challenge will be to future-proof logistics staff through initial and continuing training in increasingly technologically demanding businesses. This will be at the heart of supply-chain organisations' strategic planning in the coming years,” says Matthias Heutger, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Innovation & Commercial Development at DHL.
Source: Logistik heute
with a Bildungsgutschein
Dates
Forklift operator training
New dates are already being planned
For employees and apprentices
People aged at least 18 who are physically fit can obtain forklift operator certification. Physical fitness is established by a medical examination.
To obtain forklift operator certification, participants must be at least 18. An exception applies when a minor operates an industrial truck under supervision as part of vocational training: this is not considered “independent operation” under DGUV Regulation 68.
Legal foundations
(10-15 %) – Overview of relevant laws, rules, regulations and accident prevention requirements for industrial trucks.
Accident patterns
(5 %) – Industrial truck accident statistics and analysis of selected accidents.
Construction and function of industrial trucks and attachments
(5-10 %) – Forklift construction, construction of other industrial trucks, differences between forklifts and road vehicles in steering, handling and drive systems; functions of attachments such as side shifters, work platforms, clamps, fork extensions, reach forks and tipping skips.
Drive types
(5-10 %) – Battery-electric drive, battery replacement and charging; internal combustion engines (diesel, petrol, LPG, natural gas); use in fully or partially enclosed spaces.
Stability
(10-15 %) – Centre of gravity of truck and load, effects of attachments, support area, starting, turning and braking, effects of floor conditions, tyres and axle design, turning on slopes and action if a forklift tips over.
General operation
(15-20 %) – Operating manuals and instructions, appropriate speed, leaving the truck, possible risks to others, driving on inclines and declines.
Regular inspection
(5 %) – Daily visual and functional checks, regular inspection by a competent expert, inspection records and inspection stickers.
Load handling
(10-15 %) – Condition of loads and load-handling equipment, picking up loads, handling non-palletised loads, use of load backrests and overhead guards, racking load capacities, visibility of travel routes, transporting suspended loads and hazardous substances, loading and unloading vehicles and trailers.
Specialist operations
(10-15 %) – Use of work platforms, driving in public areas, towing trailers, cold-store operation and transporting molten materials.
Traffic rules / routes
(5 %) – Internal traffic rules; using loading ramps, dock levellers, lifts, narrow passages, gates, entrances and racking aisles; crossing railway tracks.
Source: https://www.staplerberater.de/sicher-stapler-fahren/flurfoerdermittelschein#3
The model practical training curriculum under DGUV Principle 308-001 includes 7 topic areas that every participant must practise under supervision with a counterbalance forklift.
Introduction to the industrial truck
Controls for driving, braking, steering and load handling; special controls (multifunction levers, inching controls); securing equipment and safety devices.
Daily pre-use checks
Visual inspection and functional checks.
Load capacity diagrams, weight distribution and permitted loads.
Hazard points on the industrial truck
Mast, access, vehicle frame, fork replacement, battery replacement and fitting attachments. Together, these four areas should account for 10-20 % of practical training.
Becoming familiar with the industrial truck
Adjusting the driver's seat and restraint, starting the truck and operating all controls without a load.
Leaving the industrial truck
Securing the load and truck. Together, these two areas should account for approximately 5 % of practical training.
Driving and stacking exercises (55-65 %)
Realistic exercises practise typical driving and stacking situations, including driving with and without loads, forwards and backwards, turning and passing through gates. Practical exercises also include loading and unloading and placing or retrieving pallet stacks or pallet cages in pallet racking.
Source: https://www.staplerberater.de/sicher-stapler-fahren/flurfoerdermittelschein#3
Course fees, living costs, travel and residential accommodation costs are covered by the Agentur für Arbeit or your individual funding body, provided that the individual funding requirements are met. Please ask your adviser at the Agentur für Arbeit or funding body about a Bildungsgutschein (German training voucher).
Education & training
Forklift certification and driving training under DGUV requirements
Forklifts and other industrial trucks place specific demands on operators and may therefore only be used by trained, suitable employees. The Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung (DGUV) requires a nationally standardised, compulsory examination for industrial truck operation, through which an industrial truck operator's permit can be obtained.
Our courses follow the requirements of the German statutory accident insurance institution. After demonstrating their skills in a theoretical examination and practical driving test, participants receive a personal industrial truck operator's permit and a certificate.
Individual starts are possible on an ongoing basis.
For in-house training (up to a maximum of 12 participants), we offer individually arranged dates at short notice. Prices are available on request.
Upcoming dates
The next courses take place on the following dates:
- Introductory courses
New dates are already being planned - Annual refresher instruction
New dates are already being planned
We welcome enquiries and registrations, including for specialist industrial truck training (stage 2)!
Videos & insights
Discover how partial qualifications work at ibu.
Your contact for forklift operator training
Hannah M. Rosenkranz
Education and strategy adviser
Neustadt-Glewe
