What does a Forklift do?
The primary job of a forklift operator is to operate and manage forklifts used for moving, locating, relocating, stacking, and counting merchandise in various settings, such as construction sites and warehouses. As a forklift operator, you will unload shipments properly and safely, and stack and store them in their designated areas. In addition, you will need to report any quality variances and assist in physical inventories. Other duties that you may perform include ensuring that stock rotation is done properly, inspecting and performing preventative maintenance of forklift and other equipment, and ensuring that inventory security and control are maintained.
Forklift responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real forklift resumes:
- Provide a safe work environment following all company policy and OSHA safety procedures.
- Clean and maintain the warehouse in compliance with OSHA safety has their period operate forklifts and other heavy machinery safely.
- Prepare pallets by following procedures for stacking arrangement and properly tagging pallets.
- Operate forklifts, lift beams, swivel-hooks and hoists.
- Run and monitor extrusion processes of polymer products, using dip pan hoppers, x-hoppers and delivery processes.
- Move inventory in support of logistics management.
Forklift skills and personality traits
We calculated that 21% of Forklifts are proficient in Pallets, Sit-Down Forklift, and Basic Math. They’re also known for soft skills such as Alertness, Communication skills, and Coordination.
We break down the percentage of Forklifts that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Pallets, 21%
Prepared pallets by following procedures for stacking arrangement and properly tagging pallets.
- Sit-Down Forklift, 10%
Operated roll-clamp/ sit-down forklift daily transporting parts throughout warehouse.
- Basic Math, 7%
Apply basic mathematical concepts such as adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing and knowledge of weights and measures.
- Shipping Receiving, 5%
General Warehouse/Light Industrial Shipping Receiving.
- RF Scanner, 4%
Awarded outstanding performance 3 times Safety committee CPR certified Skills Used Sit down forklift RF Scanners Computer Safety Committee CPR training
- Warehouse Environment, 4%
Operate electric stand up reach truck with on board computer systems in a cold storage warehouse environment
Most forklifts use their skills in "pallets," "sit-down forklift," and "basic math" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential forklift responsibilities here:
Communication skills. Many forklift duties rely on communication skills. "material moving machine operators signal and direct workers to load and unload material," so a forklift will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways forklift responsibilities rely on communication skills: "prepare bills, receive pallets with rf scanners, verify space available, constantly in communication with supervisors. "
Coordination. This is an important skill for forklifts to perform their duties. For an example of how forklift responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "material moving machine operators must have steady hands and feet to guide and control heavy machinery precisely." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a forklift: "warehouse coordination inventory controls feed assembly line".
Mechanical skills. forklift responsibilities often require "mechanical skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "material moving machine operators make minor adjustments to their machines and perform basic maintenance on them." This resume example shows what forklifts do with mechanical skills on a typical day: "checked the mechanical state of forklift, verifying tires, fluid levels and forks. "
Visual ability. Another crucial skill for a forklift to carry out their responsibilities is "visual ability." A big part of what forklifts relies on this skill, since "material moving machine operators must be able to see clearly where they are driving or what they are moving." How this skill relates to forklift duties can be seen in an example from a forklift resume snippet: "perform visual quality part checks * load job/material per production needs * use of micrometers and calipers * load/unload trucks on dock"
The three companies that hire the most forklifts are:
- WWest Fraser70 forklifts jobs
- SSysco33 forklifts jobs
- 884 Lumber32 forklifts jobs
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Compare different forklifts
Forklift vs. Warehouse machine operator
Warehouse machine operators perform various tasks for their employers. These include setting up, operating, monitoring, and troubleshooting machinery, inspecting parts for specifications and any potential damage, and reading and interpreting diagrams and blueprints to position and secure the machines. They are expected to communicate with other team members and provide support for continuous production. Most employers are looking to hire someone with knowledge of production and safety procedures, previous experience as a machine operator, and analytical skills.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between forklifts and warehouse machine operator. For instance, forklift responsibilities require skills such as "pallets," "math," "osha," and "work ethic." Whereas a warehouse machine operator is skilled in "forklift operation," "machine operation," "warehouse equipment," and "warehouse inventory." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Warehouse machine operators tend to make the most money working in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $36,642. In contrast, forklifts make the biggest average salary, $34,824, in the transportation industry.The education levels that warehouse machine operators earn slightly differ from forklifts. In particular, warehouse machine operators are 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a forklift. Additionally, they're 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Forklift vs. Driver/material handler
Primarily, driver/material handlers help maintain the production and distribution of products through inventory pullout, production materials, and supplies delivery, and finished product staging. Material handlers manage the transport of equipment or ammunition and conduct the planning and execution functions for effective grind force training. They pick and audit hazmat materials and deliver them to their customers. Also, they develop and expedite clear and effective communication with their customers.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that forklift responsibilities requires skills like "sit-down forklift," "basic math," "math," and "warehouse environment." But a driver/material handler might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "cdl," "customer service," "safety procedures," and "straight truck."
Driver/material handlers may earn a higher salary than forklifts, but driver/material handlers earn the most pay in the automotive industry with an average salary of $37,351. On the other hand, forklifts receive higher pay in the transportation industry, where they earn an average salary of $34,824.In general, driver/material handlers achieve similar levels of education than forklifts. They're 0.5% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Forklift vs. Cherry picker operator
Cherry pickers perform a safe and efficient operation of motorized lift vehicles in pulling customer order-based products. The cherry pickers manage different warehouse operating systems and associates to support processing and internal order logistics. They perform preventive maintenance on pallet packs, machines, cherry pickers, and forklifts. It is part of their job to count, verify, and check documents for completeness and accuracy. The skills to develop for this job include warehouse environment, clamp, and pallet jack operations.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from forklift resumes include skills like "basic math," "shipping receiving," "math," and "osha," whereas a cherry picker operator is more likely to list skills in "cherry-picker," "clamp," "warehouse management system," and "quality standards. "
Cherry picker operators earn the best pay in the automotive industry, where they command an average salary of $36,820. Forklifts earn the highest pay from the transportation industry, with an average salary of $34,824.When it comes to education, cherry picker operators tend to earn similar degree levels compared to forklifts. In fact, they're 0.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Forklift vs. Reach truck operator
Ramp supervisors oversee safety procedures, ramp equipment, and company policies. They will be tasked with oversight of airport ramp operations, directing the loading and unloading of aircraft cargo and baggage, assurance of proper ramp functions, and compliance with the airport and the government's regulations. Ramp supervisors will also train and manage other staff members.
Types of forklift
Updated January 8, 2025
