How to hire a forklift truck operator

How to hire a forklift truck operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step forklift truck 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 forklift truck operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new forklift truck operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The forklift truck operator hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect forklift truck operator also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of forklift truck operator salaries for various roles:

   Type of Forklift Truck Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Forklift Truck 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	$13-19
   Forklift	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... Show more	$12-18
   Operator	Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them... Show more	$12-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Pallets
   • Pallet Jack
   • Safety Rules
   • Clamp Truck
   • Production Lines
   • Load Trucks
   • RF Scanner
   • Inventory Control
   • Safety Policies
   • CDL
   • Rail Cars
   • Quality Checks
   • Delivery Truck
   • Unload Materials

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Transfer goods to and from different departments, organize and arrange empty pallets, and maintain baler and central vacuuming system.
   • Maintain accurate and timely documentation as is required by organization and OSHA.
   • Load and unload items from machines and dollies.

   More forklift truck operator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your forklift truck operator job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A forklift truck operator salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, forklift truck operators' average salary in tennessee is 35% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level forklift truck operators earn 32% less than senior-level forklift truck operators.
   • Certifications. A forklift truck operator with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a forklift truck operator's salary.

   Average forklift truck operator salary

   $16.61hourly

   $34,558 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level forklift truck operator salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average forklift truck operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Pennsylvania	$40,977	$20
   2	Wisconsin	$40,960	$20
   3	Maryland	$39,721	$19
   4	Massachusetts	$39,008	$19
   5	Iowa	$37,917	$18
   6	Oregon	$37,152	$18
   7	Nevada	$36,631	$18
   8	Arizona	$36,617	$18
   9	New Jersey	$36,143	$17
   10	Florida	$35,326	$17
   11	Missouri	$35,169	$17
   12	Illinois	$33,898	$16
   13	Indiana	$33,376	$16
   14	Texas	$33,337	$16
   15	Georgia	$33,249	$16
   16	North Carolina	$32,680	$16
   17	Tennessee	$29,252	$14

   Average forklift truck operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Nestlé	$44,164	$21.23	59
   2	Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co	$40,908	$19.67	10
   3	Veolia Water Tech	$39,443	$18.96	48
   4	Trane	$38,452	$18.49	3
   5	Aramark	$36,876	$17.73	25
   6	AmeriPride Services	$36,745	$17.67
   7	Novolex	$36,268	$17.44	10
   8	Quad	$34,708	$16.69	18
   9	Dollar Tree	$34,700	$16.68	10
   10	Veolia Environmental Services North America	$34,102	$16.40	23
   11	Staffmark	$33,112	$15.92
   12	Kelly Services	$33,003	$15.87	111
   13	Adecco	$32,987	$15.86	260
   14	Express Employment Indy South	$32,943	$15.84	17
   15	MAU Workforce Solutions	$32,834	$15.79	6
   16	Monroe Staffing	$32,711	$15.73
   17	ManpowerGroup	$32,561	$15.65	136
   18	Randstad North America, Inc.	$32,506	$15.63	7
   19	R.M. Schulte & Associates	$31,698	$15.24	2
   20	Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana	$28,772	$13.83

4. Writing a forklift truck operator job description

   A forklift truck 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. Below, you can find an example of a forklift truck operator job description:

   Forklift truck operator job description example

   As a Fortune 500 company, Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is an ideas and solutions company. Our corrugated packaging business seeks to be the leader in helping our customers - large and small - package, transport and display products of all kinds. Our white paper business delivers Paper With Purpose by providing the highest level of customer service and operational excellence. We have approximately 15,000 team members in more than 100 locations in the United States that strive to meet the local needs of our customers. Our mission is to serve the needs of our customers, today and tomorrow, with products and services that exceed expectations for performance and environmental responsibility.
   People • Customers • Trust
   RESPONSIBILITIES:
   
   Our Liverpool, NY facility makes corrugated board and prints and produces corrugated boxes for various industries. This plant operates various Flexo Folder/Gluers, Die Cutters, and a Corrugator.
   
   Our plant is looking for experienced sit down forklift or clamp truck drivers , preferably with experience in a manufacturing environment (will consider those with warehouse experience as well).
   
   Responsibilities:
   Work in either our Shipping Department or in the roll room delivering rolls of paper to the Corrugator Operate a sit down forklift or clamp truck Use the computer system to create bills of lading or to receive rolls of paper into inventory Use an RF scanner and tablet computer to scan finished goods to trailers or rolls of paper to the correct bin. Be able to stack boxes, clean areas of the facility, or perform other general helper duties. Other job duties as assigned
   Basic Qualifications:
   1 year of sit down forklift or clamp truck experience High school graduate or GED Be passionate about maintaining a safe work environment Able to pass pre-employment drug test & background check Must be willing to work swing shift (2 weeks on 1st shift/2 weeks on 2nd shift) or third shift Must be able to work overtime and weekends as needed Must be authorized to work in the U.S.
   Preferred Qualifications:
   2-3 years experience on a sit down forklift or clamp truck in a manufacturing environment Knowledge of inventory system for finished goods or raw manterials Experience in a packaging or other manufacturing environment is a plus with an understanding that temperatures and volumes of work may vary
   Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
   Understands basic safety concepts such as PPE and hazard awareness Must be willing to work closely on a day-to-day basis with other production personnel. Ability to share ideas with others to solve problems of essential importance. Excellent communication skills. Work with a sense of urgency to reduce downtime of machines. Self-motivated and driven to complete the assigned task with minimal supervision PCA provides a competitive comprehensive benefits package.
   All qualified applicants must apply at Careers.packagingcorp.com to be considered.
   
   PCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Veterans/Disabled and other protected categories.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right forklift truck operator for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit forklift truck operators, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   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 forklift truck operator

   Once you've decided on a perfect forklift truck operator candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new forklift truck operator. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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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