The training certificate itself does not expire. What decides whether someone may drive a forklift in your company is the written authorisation you issue and the safety briefing you repeat at least once a year. Here is what German rules require, and what staffing agencies and warehouses need to track.
Last updated · ExpiryEdge editorial team
A German forklift licence (Staplerschein) has no statutory expiry date. To drive in a company, the operator must be at least 18, suitable, trained to DGUV Principle 308-001 and authorised in writing by the employer (DGUV Regulation 68 section 7). That authorisation applies only to the issuing company, and the safety briefing must be repeated at least once a year.
Three things are about the person, one about the truck. Only the training is a one-off.
| Requirement | How often | Basis | Who is responsible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Training with theory and practical test (the "Staplerschein") | Once - no statutory expiry | DGUV Principle 308-001 | Training provider; employer checks the certificate |
| Age 18+, physically and mentally suitable, competence shown | Before authorisation; re-check if there is reason | DGUV Regulation 68 § 7 | Employer |
| Written authorisation (Fahrauftrag) | Per employer; not transferable to another company | DGUV Regulation 68 § 7 with implementation notes | Employer |
| Safety briefing (Unterweisung) | At least once a year, and before new equipment | DGUV Regulation 1 § 4; ArbSchG § 12 | Employer or a competent person on its behalf |
| Inspection of the forklift itself | At most 1 year apart | DGUV Regulation 68 § 37 | Competent person (Sachkundiger) |
| G 25 medical (driving and operating tasks) | Only if agreed in the company - not a legal duty | DGUV recommendation, not binding | Employer / company doctor |
The training certificate is not renewed. What recurs is the annual safety briefing and, when someone changes employer or has not driven for a long time, a new written authorisation - often after a short practical refresher.
The employer is responsible. The briefing can be delivered by a supervisor, a safety specialist or an external trainer who knows the trucks, the site and the risks. What matters is that content, date and participants are documented and signed.
When a staffing agency places a forklift driver, the client must brief the worker on site before work starts (AÜG section 11 (6)). Because the authorisation is company-specific, agree in writing who issues it, and keep the training certificate, the authorisation and the briefing record together for each placement.
Not by law. The former G 25 is now a non-binding DGUV recommendation for driving and operating tasks. It becomes binding only if it is agreed, for example in a works agreement. If your company has agreed it, track the repeat dates like any other deadline.
Collect a copy of the training certificate from every operator, including agency workers, before the first shift.
Authorise each operator in writing for your company and the truck types they may drive, after confirming age, suitability and competence.
Brief the operator on your site, trucks, routes and rules, and document it with date and signature.
Schedule the next briefing 12 months ahead for every operator and send reminders before it is due.
Withdraw the authorisation when someone leaves, changes role or has not driven for about a year, and re-authorise after a refresher.
Each operator gets their training certificate, written authorisation and annual briefing as records with dates. The briefing renews every 12 months, and reminders reach the operator and the warehouse manager 60, 30 and 7 days before. The forklift's own annual inspection sits on the truck's record.
Annual briefing rolls forward automatically
Operator and manager reminded together
Truck inspections tracked alongside
Send the new operator or the staffing agency a link to upload the training certificate, without an account. The briefing record can be signed electronically on the same request, and a blurry upload can be rejected and re-requested on its own.
No-login upload link
E-signature for the briefing record
Reject and re-request a single document
The training certificate has no statutory expiry. The employer's written authorisation applies only to that company, and the safety briefing must be repeated at least once a year.
Yes. Under DGUV Regulation 1 section 4 and section 12 of the German Occupational Safety Act, employees must be briefed at least once a year, and additionally before new trucks, attachments or changed working conditions.
The training certificate can be used as proof of training. The written authorisation from the previous employer cannot; your company must issue its own after checking suitability and competence.
Do not let the operator drive until the briefing has been repeated and, where needed, a new authorisation issued. Document both. If the operator has not driven for about a year, a practical refresher is advisable first.
Not by law. G 25 is now a non-binding DGUV recommendation. It becomes binding only if agreed in the company, for example in a works agreement.
The client company where the work is done must brief the agency worker before work starts (AÜG section 11 (6)). Agree in writing who issues the forklift authorisation and keep the records with the placement.
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