Verify a Warehouse / Forklift CV against official standards
Warehouse and forklift CVs (ISCO 8344 lifting truck operators, ISCO 4321 stock clerks) look interchangeable on paper. "Forklift experience, 5 years" says nothing about which truck class the candidate is trained for, whether the training was documented, or whether a reach truck or high-rack truck was ever involved. With international candidates you also get certificates in several languages and under different national names — Staplerschein in Germany, NPK in Slovenia.
The reference points are clear: national forklift licences grounded in Directive 2009/104/EC on work equipment, ISO 3691-1 for the safety requirements of industrial trucks, and ADR chapter 1.3 awareness where dangerous goods are handled. A rigorous check maps each claim on the CV to a document, a date and an issuer — and treats reach truck and high-rack work as separate competences, not as extras.
What a strong CV must contain
The CV should state the exact certificate (e.g. Staplerschein, NPK), the issuing body and the date of training. Documented training is what Directive 2009/104/EC expects before a worker is allowed to use work equipment.
Ask for the specific trucks: counterbalance, reach truck, high-rack truck. Reach trucks and high-rack trucks are separate competences, so a general licence does not cover them by default.
A strong CV shows the candidate knows the trucks' safety requirements under ISO 3691-1, not only how to drive. Pre-shift forklift inspections (an ESCO skill for the role) should appear as a routine task.
If the warehouse handles dangerous goods, the CV should mention ADR ch. 1.3 awareness training with a date. Without it, the candidate can only be assigned to non-ADR areas.
"Computer literate" is not evidence. Look for named systems such as SAP WM or SAP EWM, and for tasks that show the candidate can follow stock control instructions and apply company policies.
Ask for picking accuracy figures, inventory or stocktaking duties and who confirms them. These records also indicate the ability to maintain concentration for long periods, which the role requires.
⚠️ Red flags to watch for
Questions to ask the candidate
- 01Which national forklift licence do you hold (for example Staplerschein or NPK), who issued it, and when was your last training or refresher?
- 02Which truck types have you operated under that licence — counterbalance, reach truck, high-rack truck — and do you have separate evidence for the reach and high-rack work?
- 03What do you check during a pre-shift forklift inspection, and how do you report a defect that affects the truck's safety requirements under ISO 3691-1?
- 04Have you completed ADR chapter 1.3 awareness training, and how do you handle goods covered by procedures for substances hazardous to health?
- 05Which WMS did you work in (SAP WM, SAP EWM or another), which transactions did you use for picking and stock control, and what picking accuracy was recorded for you — and by whom?
The official standards behind the score
WorkerProof checks every CV against this verified matrix.
- National forklift licence (Staplerschein / NPK)
- ISO 3691-1 (industrial trucks)
- Directive 2009/104/EC (work equipment)
- ADR ch. 1.3 awareness
- WMS (SAP WM/EWM…)
- High-rack / reach truck
- Picking accuracy records
Frequently asked questions
Which standards apply to a forklift operator's CV in the EU?
The key references are the national forklift licence (Staplerschein in Germany, NPK in Slovenia), Directive 2009/104/EC on the use of work equipment, and ISO 3691-1 for the safety requirements of industrial trucks. Where dangerous goods are involved, ADR chapter 1.3 awareness training is also relevant.
Does a forklift licence from another EU country count as valid here?
WorkerProof does not decide that — we verify that the document exists, who issued it, what it covers and when. Legal recognition and any conversion remain a matter for the competent national authority and for your own compliance check under Directive 2009/104/EC.
Is a general forklift licence enough for reach truck or high-rack work?
No. Reach trucks and high-rack trucks are treated as separate competences, so the candidate needs evidence specific to those trucks. A basic licence alone is not proof of high-rack or reach truck training.
How do I check WMS experience on a warehouse CV?
Ask for the system by name (SAP WM, SAP EWM or another), the transactions or modules used, and the tasks performed — picking, put-away, stock control. Then confirm it with the employer named on the CV, together with any picking accuracy records.
What does "verified 3× per CV" mean at WorkerProof?
Each CV goes through three verification passes: the claims are matched against the standards matrix for the trade, the supporting documents are examined for issuer and date, and the result is reviewed before it reaches you. We verify documents and claims — nothing beyond that.
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