Telehandler Training Built Around Your Site
Telehandlers do a little of everything on Utah job sites: unloading trucks, setting trusses, lifting block to upper floors and, with the right attachment, handling suspended loads. Our telehandler operator training in Utah prepares operators for the NCCCO Telehandler Operator (THO) written and practical exams and is delivered on site for employers.
Open-enrollment dates for the Telehandler Operator Program have not been announced yet. If you want a seat in the first public class, or want us to train a crew at your location, use the form on this page and the office will follow up.
What the THO Credential Covers
NCCCO's THO certification checks that an operator understands load charts, stability, attachments and safe operating practice. Candidates pass a written exam and a practical exam on either a fixed or rotating telehandler. Like other NCCCO credentials, it is valid for five years.
The Crane School trains candidates and its staff include NCCCO accredited practical examiners for telehandlers. NCCCO, not The Crane School, issues the certification.
Rules That Apply in Utah
Federal OSHA treats a telehandler used with forks as a powered industrial truck, which carries its own operator training requirements. When a telehandler is set up to hoist and move a suspended load with a winch or hook, OSHA's crane rules in 1926 Subpart CC can apply instead.
Utah has state-level crane operator requirements in addition to OSHA — confirm current rules with the state agency and NCCCO's state licensing information before you work there. Utah also operates its own OSHA-approved state plan. Whether those state rules reach your telehandler work depends on how the machine is used, so check before assuming either way.
Topics Covered in Training
- Reading telehandler load charts at different boom angles and extensions
- Stability: frame leveling, outriggers and the effect of slopes
- Attachments: forks, buckets, jibs and work platforms
- Pre-use inspection and daily checks
- Suspended loads, tag lines and working with a signal person
- Power line clearance and travel with a load
Training combines classroom review with time in the seat so operators can apply what they learn on real equipment.
Elevation, Slopes and Winter
Utah work brings conditions telehandler operators have to plan for. Sites along the Wasatch Front often sit on grades, and an unlevel frame quickly reduces the safe load. Winter brings snow, ice and frozen ground, while southern Utah around St. George sees intense summer heat. Training covers how ground conditions and weather affect stability so operators make better calls in the field.
Recertifying an Existing THO Card
Operators who already hold an NCCCO THO card need to renew it every five years. The best time to start is the final year before the card expires, which leaves room to schedule exams without a lapse. The same program covers recertification, and on-site sessions can combine new and renewing operators in one group. For background on the credential, read our guide to NCCCO telehandler certification.
Getting Your Crew Scheduled
For on-site training, tell us:
- How many operators need training and whether they are certifying or recertifying
- Fixed or rotating telehandlers, and the attachments you use
- Your site location in Utah and preferred timeframe
Submit the form or contact our office and we will follow up with options. Employers sending crane operators as well can review our Utah crane operator training page.
