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CACES 1A and 1B: ride-on pallet trucks and stackers
Twenty questions geared to order picking and stacking, drawn from the R489 bank: the theory test is the same as for the other categories.
Independent site, not linked to the French Health Insurance (Assurance Maladie), the INRS, testing bodies or training centres.
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Questions written by Radif Partners from the French Health Insurance recommendations. This is not the official test, which is sat at a certified testing body and is in French. Your answers stay in this browser.
Category 1 of recommendation R489 covers ride-on pallet trucks and stackers, those the operator stands or sits on. It is split in two. Category 1A covers machines lifting no higher than 1.20 m: electric pallet trucks with a platform, low-level order pickers. Category 1B covers stackers lifting above 1.20 m. A 1B holder can also be authorised on a 1A machine. The theory test is shared by all of R489 and has 100 questions; only the practical test changes, lasting 0.50 test unit in 1A and 0.75 in 1B. As of 23 October 2026, the median initial course costs €702 for 1A and €708 for 1B in the Mon Compte Formation catalogue. Pedestrian pallet trucks, driven on foot with a tiller, are not covered by R489 but by R485 or by simple in-house training.
Which R489 CACES category?
R489 CACES
Category 3
| Valid for | 5 years |
| Theory test | the same for every category |
Questions, explanations and calculations by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method
Which machine for which category
| Machine | Category | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Electric pallet truck with platform, standing or seated | 1A | Also covered by 1B |
| Low-level order picker, lift up to 1.20 m | 1A | Also covered by 1B |
| Order picker with raising platform, floor up to 1.20 m | 1A | Extra training on lifting people |
| Ride-on stacker, lift above 1.20 m | 1B | |
| Ride-on double-deck stacker | 1B | Extra training on the load chart |
| Pedestrian pallet truck or stacker with tiller | Not R489 | See R485 or employer training |
The line between 1A and 1B is lift height, and the line between R489 and R485 is where the operator stands: riding the machine or walking beside it. The R485 CACES page covers pedestrian stackers.
Prices for the two categories
| Category | Median initial price | Median length | Median refresher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1A | €702 | 21 hours | €525 |
| 1B | €708 | 21 hours | €564 |
How long is the R489 test?
Full test
2 TU
| Theory | 1 TU (1 h ± 10 min) |
| Practical | 1.00 TU |
| Median course (CPF) | 21 h, €784 |
At most 7 test units per candidate per day.
What the theory test asks of an order picker
An order picker sits the same test as a counterbalance forklift driver: they must read a capacity plate, know how a loaded machine stays stable and follow warehouse traffic rules. The set above puts forward questions on pallets, stacking and picking, then fills up from the rest of the bank. To practise in test-day conditions, move on to the R489 mock exam.