CACES® R489 categories: which forklift CACES do you need?
The R489 recommendation sorts rider-operated industrial trucks into 9 categories. Pick the one for the truck you will drive: the theory test is the same for all of them, the practical test changes.
- 1A
Category 1A · Rider pallet trucks and ground-level order pickers
Rider pallet trucks and order pickers without a raising operator position, with a lift height up to 1.20 m.
267 questions
- 1B
Category 1B · Rider stackers
Rider stackers with a lift height above 1.20 m, used to stack and store pallets at height.
275 questions
- 2A
Category 2A · Platform trucks, up to 2 t
Platform trucks with a load capacity up to 2 tonnes, used to carry loads without lifting them.
267 questions
- 2B
Category 2B · Industrial tow tractors, up to 25 t
Industrial tow tractors with a towing capacity up to 25 tonnes, used to pull trailers and trains of carts.
271 questions
- 3
Category 3 · Counterbalance, up to 6 t
Counterbalance forklifts with a capacity up to 6,000 kg. Questions common to every category plus questions specific to category 3.
298 questions
- 4
Category 4 · Counterbalance, over 6 t
Counterbalance forklifts with a rated capacity above 6 tonnes, for heavy loads and outdoor work.
298 questions
- 5
Category 5 · Reach trucks
Reach trucks, used in warehouses to store and retrieve loads at height in narrow aisles.
285 questions
- 6
Category 6 · Raising operator position
Forklifts with a raising operator position, where the platform goes above 1.20 m: the operator rises with the load.
272 questions
- 7
Category 7 · Non-production driving
Driving trucks of every category outside production: moving them, loading them onto transporters, testing and maintenance, with no production handling.
269 questions
Frequently asked questions
Take the free testWhich CACES R489 category should I choose?
The one for the truck you will use at work. The most common counterbalance forklift falls under category 3 (up to 6 tonnes). In warehouses, reach trucks fall under category 5. Ask your employer or temp agency.
Can I take several categories at once?
Yes. The theory test is shared, so you take it once, then one practical test per category. 1A with 3, or 3 with 5, are common combinations.
How long is the CACES R489 valid?
The CACES R489 is valid for 5 years. To renew it you take the theory and practical tests again.