MHE Training UK delivers on-site counterbalance forklift training for employers across mainland UK. Choose a novice, experienced-operator, refresher or conversion course, matched to your truck, candidates and workplace.
Counterbalance course prices and dates
£300 per training day. No VAT added. Prices below are for the course, for up to three candidates on a suitable programme.
- Typical refresher: £300 for one day.
- Typical novice course: £1,500 for five days.
We confirm the final duration, candidate suitability, truck category and site requirements before booking. See all course routes and durations.
Check weekday and weekend datesRequest a counterbalance quote
The counterbalance truck is the machine most people recognise as a forklift truck. MHE Training UK can carry out courses in B1 (up to 5 tonnes), B2 (5 to 15 tonnes) and B3 (over 15 tonnes), subject to suitable equipment and site conditions. The theory side will cover the basic principles of stability, pallet and load assessment and also associated risks. Training also explains the consequences of operating outside the truck’s safe working parameters. The pre-use check covers the important components of a counterbalance truck and what to look for when identifying damage. Candidates also learn the correct procedure for reporting a defective truck. Practical training progresses from familiarisation with the controls and basic steering exercises to operation in confined areas and stacking and de-stacking at various heights.
B1, B2 & B3 counterbalance forklift training at your site
Counterbalance forklift training is delivered at the customer’s workplace using a suitable truck and safe operating area. Courses are available for novice operators, experienced operators without formal training, and previously trained operators needing refresher or conversion instruction.
What the counterbalance course covers
- Operator responsibilities and workplace hazards
- Truck stability, capacity plates and load-centre principles
- Pre-use inspection and defect-reporting procedures
- Safe mounting, starting, travelling and steering
- Load assessment, pallet handling and correct fork positioning
- Stacking and de-stacking at different heights
- Operating in confined areas and around pedestrians
- Safe parking, shutdown and practical assessment
MHE Training UK can provide training on B1 Counterbalance trucks up to 5 tonnes, B2 Counterbalance trucks from 5 to 15 tonnes and B3 Counterbalance trucks over 15 tonnes, subject to the correct machine, operating area and facilities being available. Please tell us the truck capacity and fuel type when requesting a quotation.
J1 Rough-Terrain Counterbalance Masted training
J1 Rough-Terrain Counterbalance Masted trucks are used on construction sites, agricultural yards and other firm but unmade surfaces where a conventional warehouse counterbalance truck may not be suitable. Training is matched to the actual truck, terrain, loads and workplace.
J1 training includes terrain and route assessment, tyre and traction checks, mast verticality, slope limits, pothole and edge hazards, capacity on uneven ground and safe pick-and-carry technique. We treat the rough-terrain configuration as a distinct training requirement rather than assuming competence automatically transfers from a conventional B1, B2 or B3 counterbalance truck.
How long does counterbalance forklift training take?
The normal programme is selected from the candidate’s previous lift-truck experience, the truck category and the work they will perform. These are typical on-site course plans for rider-operated counterbalance trucks:
| Candidate route | Typical duration | Normal maximum | Course price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novice | 5 days | 3 candidates | £1,500 |
| Experienced but untrained | 3 days | 3 candidates | £900 |
| Refresher | 1 day | 3 candidates | £300 |
| Conversion | 1–2 days | 3 candidates | £300–£600 |
Prices are for the course, based on the published MHE instructor rate of £300 per day with no VAT added. The final duration is confirmed after checking candidate history, the machine and the training area.
Site requirements
- A safe, serviceable counterbalance truck of the type candidates will use.
- A segregated practical area with representative loads, pallets and racking or stacking space.
- Truck documentation and a suitable room or quiet area for theory and assessment.
See forklift refresher training, read the employer training guides, or meet the instructor.
Information to send before booking
- Send the site postcode and exact counterbalance truck make/model.
- Confirm whether training is for B1, B2, B3 or J1 Rough-Terrain Counterbalance.
- Provide candidate numbers and whether each operator is novice, experienced, refresher or conversion.
- Confirm the attachments, representative loads and practical area available for training.
- Use the live availability page to select every suitable weekday or weekend before requesting the written quotation.
- B1, B2 or B3 truck category and rated capacity
- Truck make, model and fuel or power type
- Candidate numbers and previous operating experience
- Representative loads, stacking heights and workplace duties
- Site postcode and preferred weekday or weekend dates
For common workplace applications, see our manufacturing forklift training and warehouse forklift training.
Duration depends on previous experience, group size and the work required. A novice course involves more theory and supervised practice than refresher or conversion training. We confirm the suitable course type after discussing each candidate’s experience and normal duties.
Assessment and certification
This is an in-house MHE training course, with theory and practical assessment. Your quotation confirms the training route, equipment covered and certificate arrangements before you book.
After training, the employer must complete any required workplace familiarisation and authorise the operator to use the equipment. See HSE guidance on lift-truck training.
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Check weekday and weekend dates or request a counterbalance forklift quotation.
Training at your workplace: view local course information for Derby and Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, or Leicestershire and Loughborough. You can also see city training information for Wolverhampton, Stoke-on-Trent, Norwich, Exeter, Plymouth, Brighton and Hove, Aberdeen, Dundee and Portsmouth. For every location, use our nationwide training directory.
