Forklift certificate B and A: the path to safe truck driving

In almost all warehouses, the forklift truck is the central piece of technical equipment: it moves pallets in from the ramp, puts them in place in the rack and fetches them down again. But a truck with a load at height is also one of the most dangerous machines at the workplace, and that is why the Danish Working Environment Authority's rules on occupational health and safety training require a driver's certificate. The main rule is simple: If you drive a forklift truck or self-propelled pallet stacker, you must have a certificate — unless the lifting height is locked to at most 1 metre with a key switch or similar (BEK 1978/2021 § 7, subsection 5).

There are two types of certificate, and the dividing line is the support legs (BEK 1978/2021 § 7). Certificate A covers pallet stackers — machines that have support legs under the load, also when the driver stands on a platform. Certificate B covers forklift trucks that do not have support legs under the load, e.g. counterbalance trucks and reach trucks — and B also gives the right to operate pallet stackers. If you plan to work broadly in warehousing, B is the obvious choice, because it covers both machine types and is asked for in by far most job ads.

The certificate can be issued when you have turned 18 — or from 15 if it is a necessary part of vocational training (BEK 1978/2021 § 23). Your health is documented with your driving licence or the health declaration given when a driving licence is issued (§ 22, subsection 2). The certificate course for B itself is offered as an AMU course (no. 47592) and lasts 7 days. The course alternates between theory and practical driving: you learn to operate electric and gas/diesel trucks, to stow and stack correctly in different rack types and containers, and to drive safely on ramps, in narrow aisles and among colleagues on foot — all according to the principles of the Road Traffic Act and the applicable safety rules.

• 01Truck's construction operating handles and daily inspection
• 02Stability: centre of gravity, load chart, and what makes a truck tip
• 03Correct handling, transport and placement of loads at various heights
• 04Driving on ramps and in areas with pedestrian traffic
• 05Selection of lifting gear and load carriers for different types of goods
• 06Rules: when is a certificate required and what can the machine be used for

The most important thing the course hammers home is the truck's stability. A counterbalance truck balances the load on the forks against the machine's own weight — and the balance point shifts when you lift tilt or turn. Therefore always drive with forks lowered close to the ground and mast tilted slightly back never turn with raised load. The load diagram (capacity plate) on the truck shows how much you can lift at a given load center of gravity and lift height — if exceeded you risk the truck tipping forward. On ramps the principle is that the load should face the incline: with load you drive forwards up and backwards down.

The test has two parts, theory and practice. They are independent of each other, and both must be passed within 6 months. The theory test is taken electronically in TUR's Multitest:

From 3 August 2026, the Danish theory test for certificate B has new and revised questions. The English, German and Polish versions are on the way. The practical test and the rules for resits are described in the forklift trade's article on the certificate test.

The course concludes with a test in both theory and practical driving, and if you pass, you get the certificate, which is valid without an expiration date. However, the certificate is just a ticket: the routine that makes you a safe and efficient driver comes from hours behind the wheel. Many companies supplement with local traffic rules for the warehouse — speed limits, one-way aisles and fixed rules for who gives way to whom. The combination of truck certificate and warehouse courses in, for example, warehouse management with IT is among the most sought-after in the transport and warehouse labour market.

“A truck never tips over by itself — it tips over because the driver asked it to do more than physics could deliver.”

— Old truck course instructor truism