Quick facts
| Who enforces in Tennessee | TOSHA (state plan) — OSHA State Plans |
|---|---|
| Rule that applies | TOSHA's powered industrial truck rule is the same as federal 29 CFR 1910.178 (Tennessee Dept. of Labor). |
| Nearest listed office | TOSHA Nashville (official list) |
| Local jobs | 6,000 operators, mean $21.99/hr, Nashville metro (BLS, May 2025) |
| Where | Online, available to workers and employers in Nashville. No local classroom or office. |
| Price | $69 per operator; team seats $49, $45, $42, $39 or $35 by volume |
| Certificate | Same day after you pass the final exam |
| Wallet card | Printed and mailed to you |
| Spanish | Yes — full course, exam and certificate in Spanish |
What are the forklift rules in Nashville?
TOSHA enforces workplace safety for private and public employers in Tennessee under an OSHA-approved state plan (OSHA State Plans).
TOSHA's powered industrial truck rule is the same as federal 29 CFR 1910.178 (Tennessee Dept. of Labor).
What is specific to Nashville?
Nashville is TOSHA's main office location; TOSHA also has offices in Knoxville, Memphis and Chattanooga. Tennessee runs a state plan, and its forklift rule is the same as federal 29 CFR 1910.178.
The Nashville metro area employs about 6,000 industrial truck and tractor operators, with a mean wage of $21.99 an hour (BLS May 2025).
Source for the job figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025, Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators (53-7051).
How do you get forklift certified in Nashville?
OSHA says employers "must certify that each operator has been trained and evaluated," and that formal instruction may include "interactive computer learning" (OSHA eTool). That is how the four steps below fit together for Nashville operators.
- 1. Take the online course: formal instruction on forklift classes 1–6, stability, loads, inspections and site hazards, at your own pace, in English or Spanish.
- 2. Pass the final exam: free retakes, and a digital certificate the same day you pass.
- 3. Complete the hands-on evaluation with your employer, on the trucks and at the site where you will work. We provide the evaluation form.
- 4. Your employer certifies the training and evaluation; your wallet card arrives by mail.
How can Nashville employers train a team?
Nashville employers can buy team seats at $49, $45, $42, $39 or $35 per seat depending on volume, assign workers from an employer dashboard, and track self-paced progress, exam results and certificates in one place.
Crews can take the course in Spanish or English, and the employer dashboard keeps records you can download. The employer still conducts and documents the hands-on evaluation at your site.
Start forklift training online
Self-paced forklift operator training for classes 1–6 is $69 per operator, with team pricing from $49 per seat at 50+ seats. Pay with just your email, sign in, and start in minutes.