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Posted by Forklift Tire Company on 29th Jul 2026
Every forklift carries a small metal plate that answers the questions operators argue about most: how much this truck can actually lift, with which attachment, on which tires. That's the data plate — also called the nameplate or capacity plate — and OSHA doesn't treat it as optional paperwork. The user is required to keep every nameplate and marking in place and legible under 29 CFR 1910.178(a)(6), and a truck that's unsafe in any way must come out of service until it's made right.
Yet most people read exactly one line on it — the big capacity number — and misread even that, because the number is only true at the stated load center. This guide decodes every field, shows why the capacity line means less than it seems, and explains the line almost everyone skips: the tire specification your rated capacity quietly depends on.
A generic forklift data plate, field by field. Layouts vary by manufacturer, but these lines appear in some form on nearly every plate.
In this guide
What the Data Plate Is (and Why OSHA Requires It)
The data plate is the manufacturer's official record of what a specific truck is built to do. Per OSHA's powered-industrial-truck guidance, it lists the model and serial number, truck weight, fuel or power type, rated capacity at a stated load center, attachment information, and the tire specification. It's usually mounted where the operator can see it — typically on the cowl or dash area near the operator's compartment — and it's tied to that one serial number, not to the model in general.
Two OSHA rules give the plate its teeth. First, 29 CFR 1910.178(a)(6): “The user shall see that all nameplates and markings are in place and are maintained in a legible condition.” Second, 1910.178(p)(1): a truck found to be in need of repair, defective, or in any way unsafe comes out of service until it's restored to safe operating condition. A missing or unreadable data plate isn't a cosmetic problem — it removes the operator's only authoritative reference for what the truck can safely lift. Checking that the plate is present and legible belongs on your daily pre-shift inspection.
Field by Field: The Common Data-Plate Lines
| Line on the plate | What it tells you | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Model & serial number | Exactly which truck this plate belongs to | Parts, tires and service specs can change across serial ranges within one model — the serial number is what confirms fitment |
| Truck weight | Approximate service weight of the empty truck — on electric trucks, check whether it includes the battery (practice varies by manufacturer) | Floor loading, ramps, dock plates, and trailer floors are rated in pounds — a loaded forklift is often the heaviest thing that crosses them |
| Fuel / power type | Electric, LP, gasoline, or diesel — and any designation for the environment the truck is approved for | Some work areas restrict which power types and designations are allowed |
| Rated capacity @ load center | The most misread line — net capacity at a stated load center, not a flat number | See the next section — real capacity falls as the load's center of gravity moves out |
| Attachments | Which front-end attachments the rating covers, with the combined truck-plus-attachment weight | OSHA 1910.178(a)(5): trucks with non-factory front-end attachments must be marked to identify them — an attachment changes the truck's effective capacity |
| Tire specification | The tire size and type (cushion, pneumatic, solid) the truck was rated on | The line everyone skips — and the one that starts a correct replacement order. See below |
Plates vary by manufacturer and truck type — yours may also list lift height, battery weight and voltage, fork dimensions, or a vertical load center, and some plates don't carry a tire line at all. Read what's actually there; the fields above are the core that most plates share.
Reading “Rated Capacity @ Load Center” Correctly
The capacity line reads something like “5,000 lb @ 24 in. load center.” Both halves matter. Per OSHA's load-handling guidance, the load center is the horizontal distance from the vertical face of the forks to the load's center of gravity, and forklifts are commonly rated at a 24-inch load center — which matches a centered 48-inch pallet. The rating is also net, under the manufacturer's stated conditions — the load back against the fork faces, the mast at the position the plate specifies (often mast vertical), and at the rated lift height. Many trucks lift less at full height than the headline number, which is why taller masts often come with a supplemental capacity chart.
Load center is measured from the fork face to the load's center of gravity. A centered 48-inch pallet puts it at 24 inches — the distance most plate ratings assume.
Move the load's center of gravity farther out — a longer load, a deep crate, material that can't sit flush against the carriage — and the truck's real capacity drops below the plate number, because the load's leverage over the front axle grows. A load that is unusually tall or shifted forward has the same de-rating effect even at the same weight. The plate number is the ceiling under ideal conditions, not a promise for every load. When a load doesn't match the rated conditions, the manufacturer's capacity chart for that truck — not arithmetic in your head — is the authority.
The Tire-Spec Line: the One Everyone Skips
Near the bottom of most plates sits a line listing the tire size and type the truck was rated with — for example a cushion (press-on) size on the drive axle and a smaller one on the steer axle, or a pneumatic size marked for its tube or solid variant. This line is not a suggestion. The rated capacity above it assumes that specified tire, in good condition, at correct inflation if it's a pneumatic. Fit a different size or type, or run tires that are badly worn or under-inflated, and you've quietly changed the assumptions behind the capacity number — without the plate changing at all.
Practically, that means three things when tires are due. First, replace with the size and type on the plate unless the manufacturer approves otherwise — our guide to reading forklift tire sizes decodes the numbers, and the size conversion chart handles the standard-to-metric cases. Second, match the load rating — two tires can share a size but carry different ply/load-range ratings, and the replacement should never be rated below the original; the tire's sidewall and the manufacturer's spec sheet are the final authority. Third, keep them in condition — worn or damaged tires undermine the plate's assumptions, which is why tire checks belong in the daily walkaround. Our guide on when to replace forklift tires covers the triggers. And if the sidewall on the truck disagrees with the plate, resolve the conflict before ordering — the tires on it now may be the wrong ones.
If the Plate Is Missing, Illegible, or the Truck Has Changed
Because the plate is required equipment, its absence is an action item, not a shrug. Under 1910.178(a)(6) the user is responsible for keeping nameplates in place and legible, The separate out-of-service rule, 1910.178(p)(1), applies to a truck that is defective or unsafe — and keeping a plate-less truck out of normal service until its replacement plate arrives is the prudent response, required outright whenever the truck is otherwise unsafe. If a plate is gone or unreadable, the fix is a replacement plate from the manufacturer or dealer for that serial number — not a guess, and not a plate borrowed from a similar truck.
The same discipline applies to changes. OSHA 1910.178(a)(4) prohibits modifications and additions that affect capacity and safe operation without the manufacturer's prior written approval — and when a change is approved, the capacity, operation, and maintenance plates must be updated to match. In a 2004 letter of interpretation, OSHA described a narrow enforcement position: where the manufacturer doesn't respond — or says no, and a qualified registered professional engineer then performs a safety analysis addressing the manufacturer's objections — OSHA may treat the missing manufacturer approval as a de minimis matter (a technical finding carrying no penalty). That is limited enforcement guidance, not a general substitute for manufacturer approval. Adding an attachment triggers the marking rule in (a)(5): the truck must be marked to identify the attachment and show the approximate combined weight of the truck and attachment. If your truck's plate no longer describes the truck in front of you, that's the thing to fix first.
From the Plate to the Right Tire
Here's the payoff for reading the whole plate: the tire-spec line, the model, and the serial number together are the starting point a tire supplier needs to match your truck correctly. Start with the size and type from the plate, confirm it against the sidewall of the tires on the truck now, then match it in the right construction: cushion press-on tires for smooth-floor trucks, pneumatic tires for outdoor work, or resilient solids where flats aren't acceptable. Our forklift tire buying guide walks the whole decision, and the tire sizes by make and model guide covers common fitments — including make-specific guides like our Hyster fitment guide, which show how OEM tech-guide values are confirmed. Verify exact tire size and fitment before ordering.
Not sure? Send us your data plate.
Snap a photo of the plate (and a tire sidewall if you can) and we'll confirm the correct size, type, and load rating for your truck before you order.
Email Your Data-Plate Photo Contact UsSave 7.5% on 2–3 items or 15% on 4+ items, automatic in cart. Free ground freight to commercial addresses in the contiguous U.S. Questions? Call 1 (866) 313-2180.
Frequently Asked Questions
What information is on a forklift data plate?
A forklift data plate lists the model and serial number, the approximate truck weight, the fuel or power type, the rated capacity at a stated load center, information on approved attachments with the combined truck-plus-attachment weight, and the tire specification the truck was rated with. Layouts differ by manufacturer, but those fields appear in some form on most plates.
What does “rated capacity at 24-inch load center” mean?
It means the truck can lift that weight only when the load's center of gravity is no more than 24 inches from the vertical face of the forks — the distance that matches a centered 48-inch pallet. Load center is the horizontal distance from the fork face to the load's center of gravity. When a load is longer, deeper, or shifted forward, its center of gravity moves out and the truck's real capacity drops below the plate number. The manufacturer's capacity chart governs those cases.
Can a forklift be operated without a data plate?
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178(a)(6) requires the user to keep all nameplates and markings in place and legible, and 1910.178(p)(1) requires a truck that is in any way unsafe to be taken out of service until restored. A missing or unreadable plate removes the operator's authoritative capacity reference, so the practical answer is: get a replacement plate for that serial number from the manufacturer or dealer before the truck goes back to normal service. This is general scoping information, not legal advice.
Where is the data plate located on a forklift?
Manufacturers typically mount the data plate where the operator can read it from the seat — commonly on the cowl or dash area of the operator's compartment. The exact spot varies by make and model. If the plate on your truck is painted over, damaged, or missing, treat that as a maintenance item, not a detail.
Do new tires or an attachment change what the data plate says?
Replacing tires with the same size, type, and adequate load rating keeps the plate's assumptions intact — that's the goal. Changing to a different tire size or type, or making any modification that affects capacity and safe operation, requires the manufacturer's prior written approval under OSHA 1910.178(a)(4), and the plates must be updated to match. Adding a non-factory front-end attachment triggers 1910.178(a)(5): the truck must be marked to identify the attachment and show the approximate combined weight. No tire adds rated capacity to a truck.
Why does the data plate list a tire size?
Because the truck's rated capacity was established on that tire. The tire specification records the size and type — cushion, pneumatic, or solid — the manufacturer rated the truck with, and the capacity number assumes that tire in good condition at correct inflation. It is also the fastest way to order correctly: read the tire line, confirm it against the sidewall of the tires on the truck, and match both size and load rating in the replacement.
Trademarks: Hyster and all other equipment names and model designations are trademarks of their respective owners. Forklift Tire Company is an independent aftermarket supplier and is not affiliated with, authorized by, sponsored by, or endorsed by any equipment manufacturer. Make references are used solely to identify the equipment replacement tires are commonly used on.
This article is general educational information from Forklift Tire Company, not a substitute for OSHA-compliant, employer-provided operator training, a formal compliance review, or your equipment's data-plate ratings and the tire manufacturer's specifications. Always follow your data plate, the tire sidewall, and 29 CFR 1910.178.