OSHA groups powered industrial trucks into seven classes based on power, tires, and design. Here's what each class covers — and how to get free quotes on the right one for your operation.
Get Free Quotes 👑The forklift class system, defined by OSHA, sorts every powered industrial truck into one of seven categories. Understanding these classes helps you choose the right machine for your environment and loads, and it matters for safety: OSHA operator certification is specific to the class and type of truck a person is trained on. Below is a breakdown of all seven classes.
Electric-powered sit-down and stand-up rider forklifts with cushion or pneumatic tires, used for indoor warehousing, loading docks, and general material handling. Clean and quiet, they are a staple of modern indoor operations.
Explore & get a quote →Electric narrow-aisle trucks including reach trucks, order pickers, and turret trucks, engineered to maximize storage density in tight-aisle, high-bay warehouses and distribution centers.
Explore & get a quote →Electric walk-behind and walk/ride trucks such as electric pallet jacks and walkie stackers, ideal for short moves, dock work, and retail stockrooms where a full rider forklift is not needed.
Explore & get a quote →Sit-down internal-combustion forklifts with solid cushion tires, typically LPG-powered, built for smooth indoor floors and tight aisles. Popular for indoor manufacturing and warehousing.
Explore & get a quote →Sit-down internal-combustion forklifts with pneumatic tires, running on LPG, gas, or diesel, suited to outdoor and mixed indoor-outdoor use on rougher surfaces, lumberyards, and docks.
Explore & get a quote →Electric and internal-combustion tow tractors and tuggers used to pull loads rather than lift them, common in manufacturing, assembly lines, airports, and large distribution facilities.
Explore & get a quote →Rugged, high-clearance forklifts with large pneumatic tires and powerful diesel engines, built to handle mud, gravel, and slopes on construction sites, farms, and outdoor yards.
Explore & get a quote →Tell us your job and environment — we'll match you with dealers who quote the right forklift class.
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OSHA classifies powered industrial trucks into seven classes (Class I through Class VII), based on their power source, tires, and design. The classes range from electric indoor rider trucks to rough-terrain outdoor machines.
The class system helps buyers and operators match the right truck to the job and environment, and it is tied to OSHA operator training, since certification is specific to the type of truck a person is trained to operate.
It depends on your environment and loads. Indoor smooth-floor work often points to Class I, IV, or narrow-aisle Class II; outdoor and rough surfaces point to Class V or VII. Tell us your needs and we will match you with dealers who can recommend and quote the right class.