What does a Forklift Driver do?
Forklift Drivers are employed to work within warehouses, on construction sites, at airports, in ports and in many other industrial and commercial settings. Forklift Drivers use forklifts to unload goods from lorries or storage containers before moving them to their new storage location. Forklift Drivers are required to operate their machinery in line with health and safety regulations and to ensure that all goods that are moved are loaded and unloaded without damage.
Forklift Driver skills and qualifications
Forklift Drivers need industrial driving skills and the correct licences to safely and legally operate forklifts in a warehouse. Forklift Drivers also need excellent spatial awareness, attention to detail and the physical ability to perform manual labour. A successful Forklift Driver candidate will also have certain prerequisite skills and qualifications that typically include:
- Ability to work long shifts in cramped, loud and potentially hazardous industrial environments
- Ability to work well in a team with other staff, such as Lorry Drivers or Warehouse Packers, to coordinate the movement of goods
- Knowledge of warehouse health and safety requirements
- Knowledge of industrial storage procedures, such as the correct way to stack pallets on top of one another
- Ability to itemise and record stock for inventories
- Constructions Skills Certifications Scheme (CSCS) card for work on construction sites
- Accredited forklift operating licence from an industry-recognised body such as RTITB
- Ability to safely lift 20 kilogrammes unassisted
Forklift Driver experience requirements
Forklift Drivers require a minimum of two years of experience working in a warehouse or on a construction site operating forklifts, heavy goods vehicles or other industrial machinery. Employers can also consider applicants with two years of experience working in similar industrial settings, such as handling baggage at airports or unloading deliveries at supermarkets, if they also have the correct forklift licence or are working towards one.
Forklift Driver education and training requirements
Forklift Drivers require a minimum of GCSEs in English and maths. However, employers are more concerned with applicants having the correct training to safely operate forklifts in a warehouse. Look for applicants with a Level 2 Certificate in Forklift Truck Operations gained through a college course or forklift training completed through an apprenticeship scheme.
Forklift Driver salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Forklift Driver in the UK is £10.52 per hour. Individual salaries can vary based on experience, location and company.
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