How to hire a dock worker/forklift operator

How to hire a dock worker/forklift operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step dock worker/forklift operator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a dock worker/forklift operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new dock worker/forklift operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a dock worker/forklift operator, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a dock worker/forklift operator to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a dock worker/forklift operator that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of dock worker/forklift operators.

   Type of Dock Worker/Forklift Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Dock Worker/Forklift Operator	Material moving machine operators use machinery to transport various objects. Some operators move construction materials around building sites or excavate earth from a mine... Show more	$18-22
   Driver/Warehouse Worker	A driver/warehouse worker is responsible for transporting goods and services from the warehouse or distribution center to specific destinations based on the delivery details. Driver/warehouse workers assist in loading and unloading items from delivery trucks, storing merchandise to the appropriate warehouse areas, operating various warehouse tools and equipment, and inspecting the delivery vehicle for any engine defects that might cause delays... Show more	$12-21
   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... Show more	$13-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Basic Math
   • Math
   • Load Trailers
   • Pallets
   • Work Ethic
   • Electric Pallet Jack
   • Safety Procedures
   • LTL
   • Load Freight
   • Hazardous Materials
   • Load Trucks
   • Unload Trucks
   • Outbound Trailers
   • RF Scanner

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Move LTL freight from one trailer to other trailers.
   • Load and unload LTL and full truckload freight operating a forklift.
   • Load various HAZMAT and non-HAZMAT material/freight onto company trucks, utilizing forklift/pallet jack.
   • Scan and repair damaged pallets to make the necessary preparations need for a timely delivery.
   • Loaded/Unload freight, sort and distribute to its proper destinations utilizing forklift, clamp trucks, dollies or manually.
   • Unload and load truck trailers by using a variety of work tools such as dollies, forklifts, and pallet jack.

   More dock worker/forklift operator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the dock worker/forklift operator job description is a good way to get more applicants. A dock worker/forklift operator salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a dock worker/forklift operator in Mississippi may be lower than in Hawaii, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level dock worker/forklift operator. Additionally, a dock worker/forklift operator with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average dock worker/forklift operator salary

   $42,876yearly

   $20.61 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level dock worker/forklift operator salary

   $38,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average dock worker/forklift operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Colorado	$46,732	$22
   2	North Dakota	$46,311	$22
   3	Kansas	$44,930	$22
   4	Minnesota	$44,824	$22
   5	Missouri	$44,469	$21
   6	Iowa	$44,119	$21
   7	Wisconsin	$43,846	$21
   8	Kentucky	$43,588	$21
   9	Ohio	$43,249	$21
   10	Illinois	$43,195	$21
   11	Indiana	$42,864	$21
   12	Pennsylvania	$42,773	$21
   13	Tennessee	$42,393	$20
   14	Michigan	$42,205	$20
   15	Nebraska	$41,853	$20
   16	North Carolina	$37,155	$18

   Average dock worker/forklift operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Career Company in Silicon Valley	$43,256	$20.80	2
   2	CrossCountry Freight Solutions	$42,789	$20.57	7
   3	Holland	$42,420	$20.39
   4	Dayton Freight	$42,182	$20.28	78
   5	ArcBest	$41,512	$19.96	10
   6	Randstad North America, Inc.	$40,092	$19.27	14
   7	YRC Freight	$38,175	$18.35
   8	Allegiance Staffing	$36,131	$17.37	9
   9	Old Dominion Freight Line	$35,627	$17.13	45

4. Writing a dock worker/forklift operator job description

   A dock worker/forklift operator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a dock worker/forklift operator job description:

   Dock worker/forklift operator job description example

   Old Dominion Freight Line is currently looking for a Dockworker to join our OD Family Culture. Our Dockworkers successfully load and unload freight throughout the shift using a forklift or manually in a safe, efficient manner. Will perform work associated with warehousing, material handling, and other related duties as assigned. Would have flexible scheduling availability to include third shift, evening, weekend, and some holidays. Dockworkers are critical members of our OD Family; they help to accurately deliver our customer's freight and help keep our promises.
   Responsibilities
   
   + Load and unload freight on trailers using a motorized forklift, pallet jack or manually in compliance with state and federal DOT guidelines. Use various loading techniques, such as loading tight or cross loading.
   
   + Transport self and/or freight continuously throughout the service center in a forklift on non-forgiving surfaces.
   
   + Utilize Dock Yard Management System to consistently monitor freight shipment locations throughout the service center.
   
   + Read and interpret shipping labels. Familiarity with, and in some cases ability to complete the various forms utilized in freight movement such as shipping orders, city stripping manifests, freight bills, overage/damage movement reports and exception forms.
   
   + Hand load, rewrap or stack freight as necessary.
   
   + Secure freight inside trailers using appropriate tools and supplies (e.g. pallets, straps, rope).
   
   + Frequent contact with service center personnel; fast-pace and deadline oriented.
   
   + Perform other duties as assigned.
   
   Qualifications
   
   + High School Degree or equivalent preferred.
   
   + Must be able to read, write and speak English
   
   + Previous forklift experience a plus
   
   + Able to complete company and governmental forms and comprehend written company policies and governmental regulations.
   
   + Ability to properly operate hand held mini-computer when needed.
   
   + Must be able to have a flexible work schedule in order to meet customer pickup and delivery schedules
   
   Join the OD Family Today!As a Full Time member of our Family, you are eligible to receive:
   
   + Health, Dental & Vision Benefits
   
   + Short Term & Long Term Disability
   
   + Flex Spending Accounts
   
   + 401(k) Retirement Plan
   
   + Wellness Program
   
   + Credit Union access, Vacation & Holiday
   
   + "Birthday Holiday" who doesn't love some extra attention on their Birthday?
   
   Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity, and/or gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, military status, Vietnam Era and/or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law(s).

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find dock worker/forklift operators for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any dock worker/forklift operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level dock worker/forklift operators with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your dock worker/forklift operator job on Zippia to find and recruit dock worker/forklift operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting dock worker/forklift operators requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new dock worker/forklift operator

   Once you've found the dock worker/forklift operator candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new dock worker/forklift operator. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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