Forklift Truck Operator
Job facts
- Load and unload goods from vehicles like lorries or aircraft
- Over 100,000 operators employed in the UK
- Earning potential of over £20,000 a year
Forklift Truck Operators transport heavy goods around premises such as factories and warehouses. They load and unload goods from vehicles such as lorries and aircraft. They place the goods on storage racks or on the floor, singly or on top of each other.
Operators carry out daily maintenance checks on their trucks. They may have to charge the battery, refuel, identify defects and report them to the service engineer.
There are over 100,000 Forklift Truck Operators employed in the UK. Some operators work normal daytime hours (9.00am to 5.00pm), from Monday to Friday. Others may work shifts, including evenings and weekends. Part-time work is possible. Operators may work indoors or outdoors.
Salaries range from around £12,000 to £20,000 or more a year.
A Forklift Truck Operator should:
- be able to work efficiently and safely at all times, even during busy periods
- have a responsible and mature approach to work
- be meticulous about following safety rules
- have good physical co-ordination
There are no set entry requirements, but many employers like evidence of ability in basic maths and English. Operators must be at least 18 years of age to drive a lift truck unsupervised, although it is possible to start training earlier. Apprenticeships are available in warehousing and storage.
Training takes place in a training centre or on an employer’s premises and lasts around three to five days. It combines theory with practical exercises and includes theory and practical tests.
