Posted By Martin Taylor What is peoples experience of driving styles for ride on powered pallet trucks. In our workplace it is considered that they be driven in either direction - forks leading OR forks trailing. We have started using some new training material that suggests that it should always be forks trailing which I think has some benefits but what happens in the big wide world. What do your drivers do - for trainers what instructions do you give? thanks Martin

Posted By Martin Taylor thanks Dave - I am getting very confused with this. My in house trainer believes that drivers can operate in either direction but Dave's view and the published training material I have seems to differ I would much prefer for the practice to be driving forks trailing if this is practical but I am not experienced on the machines and custom and practice is inbred in our workforce that I can not get an appropriate opinion from there. Is there anybody else that can help on an opinion on this matter - or a source of independent advice thanks again Martin

Posted By Adrian Clifton Martin It really depends on the type of truck being driven. The operating controls of some trucks require the driver to face the forks when being driven with the steering wheels located underneath the driver. To drive this type of truck with forks trailing would require the driver to adopt a twisted posture to look in the direction of travel. This will have an adverse effect on the spine, particularly in the neck area, which could be made worse if the floor surface is uneven, causing vibration. If the controls face away from the forks, then they should trail when being driven except for the shortest distance practicable to place or collect a load. This will require the driver to twist for the shortest period of time possible. If the controls require the driver to sight at right-angles to the forks, then drive with the forks trailing as the truck is easier to manoeuvre round corners (like driving your car), again only travelling with forks forward to place or collect the load. Does this help? Adrian

Posted By Steve Butler Martin Many years ago i used to teach the RTITB course for FLTs CBs and the like. It is most definitely forks trailing on the pallet trucks. They are easier to control, stop and direct. They are also less deadly if you do happen to hit an object as opposed to wiping someone or something out with the fork ends and not to mention the energy that has to be released upon impact, i.e. The DRIVER straight over the body of the truck (battery box) and forks. In the real world at slow speeds when manouevering to locate a pallet then forks forward is no problem. Hope this helps. Steve

Posted By John C Remember, driving into a trailer located on a loading bay and therefore over a dock leveller will require the pallet vehicle to be driven with the forks forward.

Posted By Mitch Fork trucks-wheely bins, forwards or reverse?

Posted By Jason911 We have a similar problem in that we usually operate stand up FLT's which of course should always be driven with forks trailing. However we do operate a smaller number of sit down trucks in which the driver is facing forwards rather than side on. When i asked the manufacturer of the FLT's whether they should also be driven forks facing their response was that it was a subject of much debate. Well I don't mind telling you that I'm stuck! Currently the trucks are driven in reverse because if they are driven with a loaded pallet you cannot see around them properly. My issue is that this means that the operator constantly has to crane their neck around (which can't be good) and also this still does not provide full visibility. i don't have much experience of sit down trucks so would appreciate any others experience of using them.

Posted By Steve Clark Hello all, there have been some very interesting comments in this debate, i would like to add some of my own if i may. As mentioned, there are several types and designs of PPT: fold-down footplate; fixed-enclosed footplate and pedestrian being the typical designs. One contributor mentioned that when driving onto a vehicle, the operator should drive forks forward - please note that fold-down footplate PPTs should never be riden off from a vehicle as this risks severe injuries to legs and ankles from impact with a rising dock leveller plate as the vehicle air suspension compresses. I have experience of at least three accident investigations with this cause. one contributor stated that MSD issues were a problem when looking 'over the shoulder' when driving in reverse, whilst another stated that some trucks have a side seated position. These good and accurate comments all indicate that a proper risk assessment of the particular truck in question, refering to the manufacturers instructions/handbook will help identify the particular operating procedures for each. I would say that there is no one rule fits all. BT rolatruc/HSE used to have an excellent video on PPTs which demonstrate their view on this topic - i suggest that it is worth while investing in. Regards Steve Clark Deputy Chair - IOSH Retail & Distribution Group.