1910.178(n)(7): Driving Forklifts on Grades
Powered industrial truck operators must go up and down grades slowly. On grades in excess of 10 percent, loaded trucks must be driven with the load upgrade, and on all grades the load must be tilted back if applicable and raised only as far as needed to clear the road surface.
Key takeaways
- 1910.178(n)(7) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart N).
- OSHA cited it 16 times in the last 3 years, in 16 inspections, with $57,693 in current penalties.
- Most citations: WI (4), TN (3), MA (1).
- Related part: 1910.178(n) Traveling (242 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.178(n)(7) is one requirement inside 1910.178 Powered industrial trucks, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart N). It includes 3 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(7) Grades shall be ascended or descended slowly. 16 citations
(i) When ascending or descending grades in excess of 10 percent, loaded trucks shall be driven with the load upgrade. 1 citations
(ii) [Reserved]
(iii) 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. Open (n)(7)(iii) 14 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.178.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Top states: WI (4), TN (3), MA (1), PA (1), NJ (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| WD FLOORING LLC | LAONA, WI | $8,873 |
| OXFORD AIRPORT TECHNICAL SERVICES | BOSTON, MA | $8,000 |
| HAWAII PLANNING MILL LTD | KAPAAU, HI | $7,405 |
| NC CARPORTS AND GARAGES LLC | MECHANICVILLE, NY | $6,620 |
| TAYLOR FARMS TENNESSEE INC. | SMYRNA, TN | $6,000 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.178(n)(7), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.178(n)(7).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.178(n) Traveling 242 citations
- 1910.178(n)(6) 95 citations
- 1910.178(n)(4) 76 citations
- 1910.178(n)(1) 26 citations
- 1910.178(n)(7)(iii) 14 citations
- 1910.178(n)(8) 12 citations
- 1910.178(n)(15) 3 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
How should a forklift go up or down a grade?
Slowly.
Which way should the load face on steep grades?
On grades in excess of 10 percent, loaded trucks must be driven with the load upgrade.
How high should the load be on a grade?
Tilted back if applicable and raised only as far as necessary to clear the road surface.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.178 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.