26 Safe Operation & Traveling Practice Questions & Answers

1. 1. Under 29 CFR 1910.178(m)(5), when is a powered industrial truck treated as 'unattended'?

   • A.When the operator is 25 ft or more away from it, even if the truck stays in view✓ Answer
   • B.When the operator is more than 10 ft away from it, whether or not it is in view
   • C.Whenever the operator steps off, even while standing beside the truck and watching it
   • D.Only when the operator leaves the building or the whole work area where the truck sits

   1910.178(m)(5)(ii) fixes the threshold at distance, not at whether the operator can see the truck: 25 ft or more away counts as unattended even when the truck is in plain view, and so does any distance once the truck is out of view. The distinction matters because the unattended case is the one that also requires the power to be shut off.

   Ref QB-NAXY7BSource: 29 CFR 1910.178(m)(5)(ii)Report a problem with this question

2. 2. An operator dismounts 10 ft from the truck to read a pallet label and keeps the truck in view. What does 1910.178(m)(5)(iii) require?

   • A.Set the parking brake alone; lowering the forks is required only for an unattended truck
   • B.Fully lower the load-engaging means, cut the power, and set the brakes before stepping off
   • C.Fully lower the load-engaging means, neutralize the controls, and set the brakes✓ Answer
   • D.Cut the power and chock the wheels, because any dismount at all counts as unattended parking

   Within 25 ft and still in view the truck is not 'unattended', so 1910.178(m)(5)(iii) requires only that the load-engaging means be fully lowered, the controls neutralized and the brakes set. Shutting off the power is the extra step that 1910.178(m)(5)(i) adds once the truck does become unattended.

   Ref QB-5TRTMASource: 29 CFR 1910.178(m)(5)(iii)Report a problem with this question

3. 3. A truck must be left unattended on a ramp. Which set of steps does 1910.178(m)(5)(i) require?

   • A.Lower the forks, leave the engine idling so the truck restarts easily, set the brakes, and chock it
   • B.Lower the forks, neutralize the controls, cut the power, set the brakes, and block the wheels✓ Answer
   • C.Raise the forks clear of the ramp surface, cut the power, set the brakes, and chock the wheels
   • D.Neutralize the controls, cut the power, and set the brakes; chocks are needed only on gravel

   1910.178(m)(5)(i) lists four steps for any unattended truck — load-engaging means fully lowered, controls neutralized, power shut off, brakes set — and adds wheel blocking whenever the truck is parked on an incline. Raised forks and an idling engine both leave stored energy on a slope, which is exactly what the paragraph is written to remove.

   Ref QB-MAKN2ASource: 29 CFR 1910.178(m)(5)(i)Report a problem with this question

4. 4. A pre-use check finds the horn and the back-up alarm both dead. The supervisor says to finish the shift and report it in the morning. What is correct?

   • A.The truck may be used because a horn is a convenience item rather than a required safety device
   • B.The truck may be driven at a walking pace if the operator shouts a warning at blind corners
   • C.The truck may be used away from pedestrian aisles until the shift ends, then tagged for repair
   • D.The truck is taken out of service now and stays out until authorized personnel repair it✓ Answer

   1910.178(p)(1) and (q)(1) make removal from service mandatory rather than discretionary: a truck found to be in need of repair, defective or in any way unsafe must be taken out of service until it has been restored to safe operating condition, and repairs may be made only by authorized personnel. The operator's duty is to stop and report; a supervisor cannot waive the rule for the rest of a shift.

   Ref QB-4TDGF9Source: 29 CFR 1910.178(p)(1) y (q)(1)Report a problem with this question

5. 5. Which items belong to the key-off walk-around inspection of a battery-electric forklift?

   • A.Cable and connector insulation, battery restraints, electrolyte level, and the hood latch✓ Answer
   • B.Engine oil level, radiator coolant, air filter, and the condition of all drive belts and hoses
   • C.Fuel cylinder mounting, relief valve position, and the fuel hose with all its fittings
   • D.Service brake travel, steering response, horn, and back-up alarm with the motor running

   The walk-around is the key-off half of the examination required by 1910.178(q)(7), and on an electric truck it covers the power source itself: frayed or exposed cable and connector insulation, the battery restraints that keep the battery from shifting, electrolyte level, and a hood latch that holds the compartment closed. Engine fluids and fuel cylinders belong to combustion trucks, and brakes, steering and alarms are checked with the motor on.

   Ref QB-KA8BV8Source: 29 CFR 1910.178(q)(7); OSHA Powered Industrial Trucks eTool, Pre-Operation inspectionReport a problem with this question

6. 6. 1910.178(n)(1) sets how far a truck stays behind another truck traveling ahead of it. What is that distance?

   • A.About one truck length, which is enough at the low speeds normally used inside warehouse aisles
   • B.About three truck lengths, and in any case far enough to stop safely at the speed traveled✓ Answer
   • C.A fixed 20 ft in every aisle, measured from the fork tips to the truck ahead of it
   • D.No distance is set, because the following truck simply slows down before each aisle

   1910.178(n)(1) requires a distance of approximately three truck lengths from the truck ahead under all travel conditions, and 1910.178(n)(8) independently requires a speed that allows the truck to be brought to a stop in a safe manner. A forklift has no crumple zone and far weaker braking than a car, so the gap is stated in truck lengths rather than feet.

   Ref QB-3T26A8Source: 29 CFR 1910.178(n)(1) y (n)(8)Report a problem with this question

7. 7. The load on the forks blocks the operator's view of the path ahead. What does 1910.178(n)(4) require?

   • A.Travel forward with a coworker walking ahead of the truck and guiding the operator
   • B.Travel forward at a walking pace, leaning out to the left to see past the load edge
   • C.Travel with the load trailing, driving in reverse while looking the way the truck moves✓ Answer
   • D.Raise the load above eye level so the operator can see the aisle beneath the pallet

   1910.178(n)(4) states that if the load being carried obstructs forward view, the driver shall travel with the load trailing — the truck is driven in reverse so the operator faces the direction of travel, which 1910.178(n)(6) also requires. Leaning out of the compartment violates 1910.178(m)(4), and raising the load raises the combined center of gravity and makes the truck less stable.

   Ref QB-JAVYP7Source: 29 CFR 1910.178(n)(4)Report a problem with this question

8. 8. A truck approaches a cross aisle and then a doorway where vision is obstructed. What does the standard require?

   • A.Stop fully at every doorway and wait for a spotter to wave the truck through
   • B.Sound the horn steadily from 50 ft back and hold the same speed through both of them
   • C.Slow down and sound the horn before entering, then move on once the way is clear✓ Answer
   • D.Rely on the back-up alarm and warning light, which give an equivalent warning

   1910.178(n)(4) requires the driver to slow down and sound the horn at cross aisles and other locations where vision is obstructed. Both parts matter: the horn warns people the truck cannot see, and the reduced speed is what actually leaves stopping distance if someone steps out. A back-up alarm only sounds in reverse and is routinely tuned out in a noisy building.

   Ref QB-2TPT47Source: 29 CFR 1910.178(n)(4)Report a problem with this question

9. 9. Under 1910.178(m)(4), how must the operator's arms and legs be kept while operating the truck?

   • A.Pass them through the mast to free a chain with the mast fully down
   • B.Rest them on the overhead guard frame whenever the truck backs up
   • C.Extend them outside the running lines only while traveling in reverse
   • D.Keep them inside the running lines, never between the mast uprights✓ Answer

   1910.178(m)(4) requires arms and legs to be kept inside the running lines of the truck, and specifically not placed between the uprights of the mast. The mast is a shear point: the carriage and chains move under hydraulic force and will amputate a hand that is inside when the mast settles, which is why chain tension is checked with a stick rather than by reaching in.

   Ref QB-HAHNH6Source: 29 CFR 1910.178(m)(4)Report a problem with this question

10. 10. A worker stands with his back to the aisle, facing a workbench. How must the truck operator behave?

    • A.Stop short of him, get his acknowledgment, and pass with room to spare✓ Answer
    • B.Sound the horn once and keep going at normal speed, since he was warned
    • C.Ease up behind him and wait there until he notices the truck and moves
    • D.Pass close behind him, since the back-up alarm warns anyone standing near

    1910.178(m)(1) forbids driving a truck up to anyone standing in front of a bench or other fixed object, because the person has nowhere to retreat and can be pinned by a truck that rolls or is bumped forward. Establishing eye contact or another acknowledgment before passing is what confirms the pedestrian actually knows the truck is there; a horn blast alone does not.

    Ref QB-S6W255Source: 29 CFR 1910.178(m)(1)Report a problem with this question

11. 11. A sit-down counterbalanced truck turns at the end of an aisle. Which describes correct practice?

    • A.Hold speed through the turn so momentum steadies the load, and cut the wheel hard
    • B.Slow down, keep the load low, and allow for the rear swinging opposite the turn✓ Answer
    • C.Raise the load first to clear stored pallets, then lower it after the turn is done
    • D.Make the turn on the ramp instead, where there is more room for the rear wheels

    1910.178(n)(15) requires the driver to slow down and turn the steering wheel in a smooth sweeping motion. A counterbalanced truck steers with its rear wheels, so the tail swings wide to the outside of the turn, and cornering adds a lateral force that acts through the combined center of gravity — which is why the load stays low and why turning on a grade or with a raised load invites a lateral tipover.

    Ref QB-AP38Q5Source: 29 CFR 1910.178(n)(15)Report a problem with this question

12. 12. A loaded truck must descend a ramp with a grade steeper than 10 percent. How is it driven?

    • A.Forward, with the forks raised high enough to clear the ramp lip
    • B.Forward, with the load pointing downgrade so the operator can see it
    • C.In reverse, with the load pointing upgrade and the mast tilted back✓ Answer
    • D.In reverse, with the forks pointing downgrade as on an empty truck

    1910.178(n)(7)(i) requires loaded trucks on grades in excess of 10 percent to be driven with the load upgrade, so going down the ramp the truck travels in reverse. Pointing the load downhill puts the load's weight on the downhill side of the front-wheel tipping axis, which is how loads slide off and how trucks pitch forward. Unloaded trucks do the opposite: forks downgrade.

    Ref QB-R6JQX3Source: 29 CFR 1910.178(n)(7)(i)Report a problem with this question

13. 13. Training materials teach carrying a load 4 to 6 in above the floor. What does 1910.178(n)(7)(iii) itself say about load height on grades?

    • A.The load is carried at axle height on grades so the center of gravity stays lower
    • B.The load must be carried exactly 4 to 6 in above the surface, a figure fixed in the rule
    • C.The load is tilted back if applicable and raised only enough to clear the road surface✓ Answer
    • D.The load is lowered onto the ramp surface so that it cannot shift while climbing

    1910.178(n)(7)(iii) says only that on all grades the load and load-engaging means shall be tilted back if applicable and raised only as far as necessary to clear the road surface. The familiar 4 to 6 in figure is manufacturer and industry training practice, not text in the standard, so an item asking what the regulation requires must be answered from the regulation.

    Ref QB-9PQVH4Source: 29 CFR 1910.178(n)(7)(iii)Report a problem with this question

14. 14. An operator is about to pick up a loaded pallet from a floor stack. Which approach is correct?

    • A.Square up, tilt the mast forward, and enter the pallet with the mast still forward
    • B.Come in at an angle, keep rolling, and lift once the fork tips touch the pallet
    • C.Square up, stop about 8 to 12 in short, level the forks, then run them fully in✓ Answer
    • D.Spread the forks to the pallet's outer edges and enter with the tips tilted up

    OSHA's load-handling guidance is to approach the load slowly and squarely, stop 8 to 12 in in front of it, level the forks and run them under the load as far as possible, which 1910.178(o)(5) states explicitly. Forks that are only partly inserted put the load's weight on the fork tips and multiply the load moment, and entering at an angle drags the pallet out of position.

    Ref QB-U6MQF7Source: 29 CFR 1910.178(o)(5); OSHA Powered Industrial Trucks eTool, Load HandlingReport a problem with this question

15. 15. Under 1910.178(o)(6), when may the mast be tilted forward with the load-engaging means elevated?

    • A.Only to pick up a load, or with an elevated load in a deposit position over a stack✓ Answer
    • B.Whenever the operator needs to see the fork tips, as long as the truck is stopped
    • C.At any point while traveling, because forward tilt holds the load on the backrest
    • D.Only on a level floor, and only when the load is under half of rated capacity

    1910.178(o)(6) prohibits tilting forward with the load-engaging means elevated except to pick up a load, and permits an elevated load to be tilted forward only when it is in a deposit position over a rack or stack. Forward tilt pushes the load's center of gravity farther from the front axle, enlarging the load moment at exactly the height where the truck has least margin against a forward tipover.

    Ref QB-CPSV28Source: 29 CFR 1910.178(o)(6)Report a problem with this question

16. 16. An operator finds a pallet with a cracked stringer and a load that has shifted to one side. What is correct?

    • A.Run the forks fully under and lift from the middle, since the stringer bears none
    • B.Lift it slowly and carry it to the repair area at a walking pace with forks spread
    • C.Tilt the mast fully back so the load presses the backrest, then move it a short way
    • D.Set it down where it is, report the condition, and have the load restacked first✓ Answer

    1910.178(o)(1) permits only stable or safely arranged loads to be handled, and 1910.178(o)(3) requires loads that may affect capacity to be adjusted. A cracked stringer can drop the pallet the moment it leaves the floor, and a load already offset to one side has moved the combined center of gravity toward the edge of the stability triangle, so the fix is to stop, report and restack rather than to carry it carefully.

    Ref QB-T69DA6Source: 29 CFR 1910.178(o)(1) y (o)(3)Report a problem with this question

17. 17. A load has just been set down on top of a stack. What is the correct order for pulling out?

    • A.Lower the forks first while still under the load, then back straight out of it
    • B.Back the forks clear, stop, bring the mast upright, then lower to travel height✓ Answer
    • C.Bring the mast upright, lower the forks to the floor, then back away from it
    • D.Back away and lower the forks at the same time to save a step in the cycle

    The truck backs clear of the stack first, then stops, then the mast is returned to vertical, and only then are the forks lowered to travel height. Lowering while the forks are still under the load drags them on the deck boards and can pull the load off the stack, and lowering while still rolling means the forks are moving in two directions at once with no clear view of what is beneath them.

    Ref QB-BPEJV6Source: OSHA Powered Industrial Trucks eTool, Load Handling (stacking and unstacking)Report a problem with this question

18. 18. A data plate reads 5,000 lb at a 24 in load center. A uniformly loaded crate measures 60 in from front to back. What is the most that crate may weigh?

    • A.4,000 lb, from 120,000 in-lb of moment divided by a 30 in load center✓ Answer
    • B.5,000 lb, since the plate capacity applies to any load the forks can lift
    • C.2,500 lb, since the crate is more than twice as long as the rated center
    • D.6,250 lb, since a longer crate spreads its weight over a wider fork span

    A uniformly loaded crate has its center of gravity at its middle, so a 60 in crate has a 30 in load center. Rated capacity times rated load center gives the maximum allowable load moment, 5,000 x 24 = 120,000 in-lb, and dividing by the actual 30 in load center gives 4,000 lb. This is the derating method worked through in Appendix A to 1910.178; capacity never increases because a load is longer.

    Ref QB-SXECFTSource: 29 CFR 1910.178 Appendix A (stability and load centers)Report a problem with this question

19. 19. A truck is fitted with a carton clamp. Under 1910.178(o)(4), how must it be operated when nothing is held?

    • A.As an empty truck, since the rated capacity applies only when cargo is held in the clamp
    • B.As a partially loaded truck, because the clamp adds weight and shifts the load center✓ Answer
    • C.At full rated capacity, provided the clamp came from the truck's own maker
    • D.As a partially loaded truck only while the clamp arms are closed on a pallet

    1910.178(o)(4) states that trucks equipped with attachments shall be operated as partially loaded trucks when not handling a load. The attachment is permanent weight hung out in front of the drive axle, so it consumes part of the load moment the truck has available and pushes the effective load center forward, which is why an attachment always derates the truck.

    Ref QB-AFMH2USource: 29 CFR 1910.178(o)(4)Report a problem with this question

20. 20. Why does raising a load reduce a counterbalanced truck's margin against a side tipover?

    • A.The load center distance grows with height, which is what the rating measures
    • B.The counterweight loses mass as hydraulic oil moves into the lift cylinder
    • C.The steer axle pivot locks when the mast rises, turning the triangle into a line
    • D.The combined center of gravity rises, so a small lean puts it outside the triangle✓ Answer

    Appendix A to 1910.178 explains that a counterbalanced truck has three-point suspension — the two front wheels plus the centre pivot of the steer axle — and stays upright while the combined truck-and-load center of gravity stays inside that stability triangle. Raising the load raises that combined center of gravity, so the same few degrees of lean, camber or cornering force move its line of action outside the triangle.

    Ref QB-RT56MESource: 29 CFR 1910.178 Appendix A (stability triangle)Report a problem with this question

21. 21. A forklift is about to drive from the dock into a parked highway trailer. What must be done first?

    • A.Sound the horn twice, switch on the headlights, and enter slowly with forks down
    • B.Set the trailer brakes, chock its wheels, secure the dockboard, and check the floor✓ Answer
    • C.Have the driver wait in the cab with the engine running in case the trailer moves
    • D.Weigh the first pallet and confirm it is under the trailer's posted axle limit

    1910.178(k)(1) and (m)(7) require the brakes of a highway truck to be set and wheel chocks placed under the rear wheels before boarding, and the flooring of trucks, trailers and railcars to be checked for breaks and weakness before they are driven onto. 1910.178(n)(11) adds that dockboards are secured before use and never loaded past their capacity. Trailer creep and a rotted deck are the two ways this move kills operators.

    Ref QB-8BYYZDSource: 29 CFR 1910.178(k)(1), (m)(7) y (n)(11)Report a problem with this question

22. 22. Batteries are changed and charged in a designated area. Which set of facilities does 1910.178(g) require there?

    • A.A closed room without vents, a dry chemical extinguisher, and a two-person entry limit
    • B.Ventilation for battery fumes, means to flush and neutralize spills, and fire protection✓ Answer
    • C.Ventilation, a first-aid kit with burn gel, and a supervisor watching every charge
    • D.A grounded floor mat, a hoist rated at twice the battery weight, and ear protection

    1910.178(g)(2) requires facilities for flushing and neutralizing spilled electrolyte, fire protection, protection of the charging apparatus from trucks, and ventilation adequate to disperse fumes from gassing batteries; 1910.178(g)(10) prohibits smoking in the area. A charging battery gives off hydrogen, which is explosive in a closed space, and the electrolyte is dilute sulfuric acid, so the operator also wears a face shield, rubber gloves and an apron when handling it.

    Ref QB-QTSTEDSource: 29 CFR 1910.178(g)(2) y (g)(10)Report a problem with this question

23. 23. A worker must be lifted on a forklift to reach an overhead valve. Which conditions apply?

    • A.The truck may travel with the worker up as long as it creeps on a level floor
    • B.A pallet with a rail tied on, the worker holding the mast, and a spotter on the floor
    • C.Any platform will do if the worker's harness is tied off to the overhead guard
    • D.A secured platform with guardrails, forks kept from tipping up, operator at the controls✓ Answer

    OSHA's guidance for elevating personnel on a powered industrial truck requires a platform with standard guardrails or the equivalent, firmly secured to the lifting carriage or forks with the forks prevented from pivoting upward, and the operator must remain at the controls the whole time. The truck is not driven with a person elevated, and a harness tied to the overhead guard does not make a pallet an acceptable work platform.

    Ref QB-7BMNUCSource: OSHA Powered Industrial Trucks eTool, elevating personnel with a lift truckReport a problem with this question

24. 24. Fuel spills onto the housing while a diesel truck is being refuelled. What does 1910.178(p) require?

    • A.Fill with the engine off; wash or evaporate the spill and replace the cap first✓ Answer
    • B.Fill with the engine idling to keep the fuel pump primed, then wipe the spill off
    • C.Restart at once so exhaust heat dries the spilled fuel from the housing
    • D.Fill right up the neck to leave no vapor space, cap it, and then drive on

    1910.178(p)(2) forbids filling fuel tanks while the engine is running and requires spillage to be avoided, and (p)(3) requires spilled fuel to be carefully washed away or completely evaporated and the tank cap replaced before the engine is restarted. Hot exhaust and electrical arcing at startup are ignition sources sitting right beside the spill, and an over-filled tank pushes fuel out as it warms.

    Ref QB-PTEG9CSource: 29 CFR 1910.178(p)(2) y (p)(3)Report a problem with this question

25. 25. An operator changes the LP-gas cylinder on a forklift. How is the cylinder set and the job done?

    • A.Seat it on the locating pin with the relief valve up, in a ventilated spot, no flames✓ Answer
    • B.Seat it with the relief valve down so liquid propane drains away from the valve
    • C.Seat it in any rotation, since the locating pin holds the cylinder either way
    • D.Seat it valve-first toward the mast for a short hose, and change it in any bay

    The cylinder is aligned on its locating pin so that the pressure relief valve sits at the top, in contact with vapor rather than liquid: a relief valve that vents liquid propane discharges far more fuel and freezes everything it touches. LP-gas vapor is heavier than air and pools in low spots, so the change is made in a well-ventilated place with no smoking or open flame, by trained personnel wearing gloves and eye protection.

    Ref QB-6B9BPBSource: 29 CFR 1910.178(f) y 1910.110 (almacenamiento y manejo de gas LP)Report a problem with this question

26. 26. Electrolyte is mixed and a battery is charged in the charging area. Which practice is correct?

    • A.Pour water into acid, open the cover, and take the vent caps off to vent gas faster
    • B.Pour water into acid slowly, close the cover to trap the fumes, and leave tools on
    • C.Pour acid into water, close the compartment to hold the heat in, charge while running
    • D.Pour acid into water, leave the vent caps on, open the cover, keep tools off the top✓ Answer

    1910.178(g)(7) requires that acid be poured into water, never water into acid: the reaction is strongly exothermic, and adding water to concentrated acid boils it at the surface and throws acid out of the container. 1910.178(g)(9) requires vent caps to be kept functioning and the battery or compartment cover to be open to dissipate heat, and (g)(12) keeps tools and metal objects off uncovered batteries, since one dropped wrench shorts a cell.

    Ref QB-NT364BSource: 29 CFR 1910.178(g)(7), (g)(9) y (g)(12)Report a problem with this question

Practice questions modeled on the OSHA Powered Industrial Trucks standard (29 CFR 1910.178). Not affiliated with or endorsed by OSHA. Passing this practice test does not certify you to operate a forklift — federal law requires your employer to provide formal training and a hands-on evaluation. Always follow OSHA rules and your workplace procedures. Study the official standard at osha.gov. OSHA standard →