Telehandler Training: Novice vs Experienced

Mistakes when choosing a telehandler route

The novice and experienced routes end with the same tests. Picking the wrong one usually means a failed test or paying for training you did not need.

• Calling yourself experienced too soon. Occasional use on a farm or yard is not the same as regular site work. If in doubt, take the training.
• Booking novice training when you already operate daily. If you use a telehandler every week on site, the experienced worker test may be enough.
• Skipping the load chart. Both routes test your understanding of load charts, stability and lifting on uneven ground.
• Forgetting the HS&E test. You usually need a valid operatives test result for your card.

A quick self-check

Ask yourself: could you do a full set of pre-use checks without a list, read a load chart for a lift at full extension, and explain what to do if the machine starts to tip? If the honest answer is no to any of these, choose the novice route or add a refresher session.

Your next steps

1. Do the self-check above honestly.
2. Pass the CITB HS&E test.
3. Book the route that fits your experience.
4. Practise pre-use checks and load chart reading before the test.
5. Plan your NVQ so you can move to the blue card.