The Forklift Driving Permit in Switzerland: The Complete Guide

The term "forklift licence" is everywhere in day-to-day operations – but in Switzerland the correct designation is forklift driving permit (Staplerfahrausweis). This clarification is not merely a matter of wording: anyone who wants to make an impression in job applications or in correspondence with the authorities should know the official term.

The legal basis is the Ordinance on the Prevention of Accidents and Occupational Diseases (VUV), in particular Art. 8 VUV on special hazards and the duty to instruct under Art. 6 VUV. The training itself is set out in EKAS Guideline No. 6518 "Forklifts", which defines the content, scope and requirements for training providers. EKAS Guideline 6512 on work equipment applies in addition, governing operator duties, inspection obligations and maintenance.

The driving permit certifies that the holder has completed recognised training and passed the associated examination. Without this proof, operating a forklift in a professional environment is not permitted – irrespective of whether the vehicle is owned or rented.

Please note: the driving permit applies to company use on company premises and private traffic areas. As soon as a forklift travels on public roads, the requirements of the Road Traffic Act (SVG) and the Ordinance on the Admission of Persons and Vehicles (VZV) apply in addition.

In principle, every person who operates a forklift, reach truck, high-lift pallet truck, pedestrian-controlled stacker with a standing platform or any other self-propelled industrial truck with a lifting function as part of their job. This applies to:

• warehouse and logistics staff in industry, retail and e-commerce

• machine operators on construction sites with telehandlers and reach stackers

• production and assembly staff

• staff in agriculture (yard loaders, telehandlers in field use)

• drivers in cold-chain logistics, food retail and the beverage industry

The employer bears the primary responsibility. Under the VUV and EKAS Guideline 6518, the employer must ensure that only trained and expressly authorised persons operate forklifts. Instruction under Art. 6 VUV is mandatory and must be verifiably documented in the company. An employee who drives without a valid permit, and an employer who tolerates it, bear the responsibility in the event of damage; where rules are breached, Suva can impose premium increases or reduce benefits.

The admission requirements for the training are clearly regulated:

Minimum age: 18 years. A special in-company arrangement applies to apprentices: as part of their training and under the direct supervision of an experienced specialist, they may be familiarised with the equipment before the age of 18. Operating a truck independently in the company remains prohibited until they come of age; the requirements of the Youth Labour Protection Ordinance (ArGV 5) must be observed.

Physical fitness. Adequate eyesight and hearing are a basic requirement. Impaired vision must be corrected by visual aids; certain medications or medical conditions can restrict fitness to drive. An occupational medical fitness assessment is recommended; Suva provides information sheets and checklists for this. The examination covers eyesight and hearing tests, a reaction test and a general assessment of physical fitness. Employers who cover the cost of training generally require it as a precondition. Cost: 80–150 CHF at occupational physicians or company medical services.

Prior knowledge. Technical prior knowledge is not a formal requirement, but it noticeably shortens the training time. Anyone who has already worked in a logistics environment can often manage with a one-day course.

Stage 1: Theory and Practice

Under EKAS Guideline 6518, the training is divided into a theoretical and a practical part, which are usually completed in combination. Only training providers that meet the requirements of the guideline may deliver it.

Theoretical training content:

• Legal bases: VUV, EKAS Guidelines 6518 and 6512, ArGV 3

• Design, function and components of the forklift (lifting mast, forks, hydraulics, battery/engine)

• Stability and load centre (stability triangle, tipping line, load moment diagram)

• Operational hazards: risk of tipping, uncontrolled load drop, cornering with a raised load

• Traffic rules for in-company traffic (walking pace, right of way, safety clearances)

• Operating instructions and instruction under Art. 6 VUV

Practical training content:

• Daily check before starting work (visual inspection, fluid check, brake test)

• Driving without a load (straight ahead, cornering, reversing)

• Picking up and setting down loads (entering the pallet, positioning, lifting and lowering)

• Driving with a load (transport travel, unloading, high stacking on racking)

• Behaviour in the event of accidents, technical defects and operational interruptions

The Examination

The training concludes with a two-part final examination:

Theory examination: as a rule 25–30 questions from the examination catalogues covering the legal position, technology and operational safety. Depending on the training provider, the pass mark is 70–80 % of the questions.

Practical examination: a standardised practical course with prescribed tasks (picking up a load, placing it in racking, cross travel, reversing, parking). Safety, precision and compliance with operating rules are assessed.

Anyone who fails the theory examination can retake it after a waiting period (1–4 weeks depending on the provider) without having to repeat the practical examination – and vice versa.

Categories and Supplementary Training

EKAS Guideline 6518 distinguishes training categories by truck type. For certain vehicle types and fields of use, type-specific supplementary training is provided for:

• side-loader trucks

• three-wheel forklifts with increased requirements

• telehandlers and reach stackers (depending on the field of application)

• high-rack trucks (reach trucks above 4 m)

The supplementary training requires the basic course to have been passed and usually takes 1–2 days.

Course fees vary considerably depending on the training provider, region, course length and number of participants. As a guide:

Format	Price range (external, individual booking)
One-day course (1 day, for experienced staff)	350–650 CHF
Standard course (2 days)	550–950 CHF
Intensive course (2–3 days incl. examination fee)	650–1,100 CHF
In-house training (from 6–10 persons)	1,500–3,500 CHF flat rate

On top of this there may be the occupational medical fitness assessment, work equipment and travel expenses. Employers usually cover the cost; where individuals pay themselves, cantonal further-education contributions and industry association schemes are available.

→ Detailed price table: Forklift permit costs

Format	Duration	Target group
One-day course	1 day	Experienced logistics staff
Standard course	2 days	Beginners, career changers
Basic course + supplementary training	4–5 days	Special-truck qualification

→ All the details: How long does the forklift permit take?

A widespread misconception: the forklift driving permit does not expire. The permit is valid indefinitely in principle – provided the holder remains physically fit.

What does have to be renewed regularly is the instruction required under Art. 6 VUV. This obligation rests with the employer, not the driver. Instruction must be given when the activity is taken up, when the work process changes, and thereafter at appropriate intervals; in practice an annual cycle has become established and is recommended by Suva. If the instruction is missing, the basis for deploying the driver falls away – the company may not continue to deploy them without current proof. In the event of damage the employer bears the responsibility, and Suva can reduce benefits.

→ In detail, including liability consequences: Permit validity & instruction

In public traffic areas, the in-company forklift permit does not replace a driving licence under the VZV:

Category G: for agricultural motor vehicles and works motor vehicles with a maximum speed of up to 30 km/h.

Category F: for motor vehicles with a maximum speed of up to 45 km/h.

Category B or C: where the vehicle is approved as a motor car or is particularly heavy.

In addition, for travel on public roads the forklift must be approved for road use and equipped accordingly. In practice this mainly affects construction sites with transitions across open ground, cross transport over public paths, or loading onto low-loader parking areas. In pure warehouse and indoor operations, the forklift permit alone is sufficient.

Is the permit mandatory?

Yes. Under the VUV and EKAS Guideline 6518, nobody may operate a forklift professionally without recognised training. The employer is obliged to require and archive the proof and to document the instruction under Art. 6 VUV.

How old do I have to be?

The minimum age is 18. Apprentices may gain practical experience earlier under the supervision of a specialist, but may only be deployed independently once they come of age.

Is a German forklift licence valid in Switzerland?

Not automatically. Proof issued in Germany to the DGUV standard documents comparable training, but does not simply replace training to EKAS Guideline 6518. In practice, Swiss companies frequently require supplementary training or at least documented in-company instruction. For postings, the legal position must be clarified case by case.

Is the Swiss permit valid abroad?

In principle it documents recognised training and is accepted in many European countries. In practice, employers should check the national requirements for cross-border deployment – particularly in Germany (DGUV Principle 308-001), Austria (FK-V), France (CACES R489) and the Netherlands (VCA).

Can the employer require the permit?

Yes, and they must. Under the VUV, the employer has to ensure that only trained persons operate forklifts. Whether they cover the cost of training is a separate matter of employment contract.

What happens if the instruction has been forgotten?

If the instruction under Art. 6 VUV is missing, the employee formally may no longer drive a forklift. In the event of damage the company bears the responsibility, and Suva can impose premium increases or reduce benefits. The instruction can be made up, but it must be documented in writing (date, content, signatures).

As a rental partner operating across Europe, Luibl Rental delivers forklifts, telehandlers, reach trucks and electric forklifts directly to your construction site or warehouse – throughout Switzerland and throughout Europe. Short-term and long-term rental, available at short notice.

→ Rent forklifts from Luibl Rental