FORKLIFT CONTROLS DIAGRAM & OPERATION
Before you buy or rent a forklift from our heavy-equipment supplier, a team member can take you through the basic forklift controls and answer any questions. We also have an information page and video on our website about how to operate a forklift safely. Whether you're an experienced forklift operator or this is your first time driving a forklift, it's great to familiarize yourself with the forklift control levers and their functions.
Basic Forklift Controls
When you climb into a cab of our forklift rentals or new Genie forklifts for sale, you'll have some forklift controls that will seem familiar if you've driven a car, but there might be a few forklift controls and levers you aren't sure about.
Most forklifts will have a gas pedal, brake pedal, and steering wheel for driving the vehicle. There will also be levers mounted on or around the dashboard. The lever to the left of the steering wheel is typically the parking brake lever.
The levers to the right of the steering wheel control the fork. The forks go up and down, but they also tilt. The lever nearest the steering wheel is typically the Lift Control Lever that raises and lowers the forks. The lever to the right of that lever often controls the tilt of the forks. After you lift something with your forklift, you'll want to tilt the forks backward to ensure the object you're lifting doesn't slide off the end.
A few other functions on our forklift controls diagram worth noting are the turn signal stalk and horn on the steering wheel. If you have a forklift with a manual transmission, you'll have a shift lever on the floor to the right of the steering column and a clutch pedal, similar to a manual transmission car.
Forklift Safety Tips
A quick reminder for safely operating a forklift is to always drive with the forks in the low position. Only raise the forks when you're removing/placing an object on a high shelf. Once you've picked up the object you're moving, lower the load to a low position. This will maintain a safe center of gravity for your vehicle, so you don't tip over, and also prevent you from hitting someone in the head.
Anytime you're done operating a forklift, be sure the vehicle is parked with the parking brake set and the forks in the down position. If the forks are left in an elevated position, they can cause an injury.
Rough Terrain Forklift Controls
If you are looking through our refurbished equipment for used forklifts for sale, you may be interested in rough terrain forklift controls to help around your next job site. A forklift is a handy tool when setting up or breaking down a job site, but construction sites don't always offer the smooth conditions of a warehouse. Thankfully, the AWD forklifts for sale at our construction supply store provide the rough terrain capability to lift heavy objects.
Along with completing an OSHA training program on safely operating a forklift, be sure to know the load capabilities of any forklift you're using before operating a forklift. Every forklift will have a load capacity that is not to be exceeded.
Forklift Controls Operation
Whether you're operating a remote control forklift or in the cab, pulling the levers yourself, you'll want to familiarize yourself with the common forklift controls.
- Ignition switch
- Acceleration and brake pedals
- Steering wheel
- Horn button
- Parking brake
- Lift and tilt levers for the forks
After purchasing one of our new forklifts for sale, our heavy-equipment store is here to offer equipment repair for forklifts, scissor lifts, personnel lifts, boom lifts, and reach forks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the button on the tilt lever on a forklift for?
If your forklift is equipped with a button on the tilt lever, pressing this button will automatically return the forks to a level position. This helps the operator quickly prepare the forks for the next lift and eliminates the guesswork of ensuring the forks are flat and level. Contact our supply company with any other forklift control questions.
Why do forklifts have two brake pedals?
Most forklifts have one brake pedal, but some are equipped with two pedals. If you're operating a forklift with two brake pedals, the left pedal is an inching pedal, and the right pedal is the service brake pedal. The inching pedal is a convenient feature that disengages the transmission, so the operator doesn't need to shift into neutral before each lift.
What are the most basic forklift controls?
The most basic forklift controls mirror the controls you'll find in a car, such as the ignition, steering wheel, horn, accelerator pedal, brake pedal, and parking brake. Other basic forklift controls include the lift and tilt levers for the forks, the light on/off switch, and the gauge cluster with the speedometer, oil level, battery life, and maintenance reminders.