What does a forklift truck operator do?
Forklift truck operator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real forklift truck operator resumes:
- 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.
Forklift truck operator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 20% of Forklift Truck Operators are proficient in Pallets, Pallet Jack, and Safety Rules. They’re also known for soft skills such as Alertness, Communication skills, and Coordination.
We break down the percentage of Forklift Truck Operators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Pallets, 20%
Operate 5+ lanes, equipped to move freight around the warehouse using forklift to Load pallets on trucks.
- Pallet Jack, 8%
Make sure the forklift/pallet jack is in good running condition and report anything that is wrong to the forklift mechanic.
- Safety Rules, 7%
Performed housekeeping duties, followed all safety rules and regulations.
- Clamp Truck, 7%
Maintained clamp truck safety and orderly conditions in the roll storage area and press room.
- Production Lines, 6%
Retrieved part bins, delivered bins to high speed production lines, pulled and stored finished product.
- Load Trucks, 6%
Load and unload trucks, stack and move raw materials and finished products, used forklift
Common skills that a forklift truck operator uses to do their job include "pallets," "pallet jack," and "safety rules." You can find details on the most important forklift truck operator responsibilities below.
Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling forklift truck operator duties is communication skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "material moving machine operators signal and direct workers to load and unload material." According to a forklift truck operator resume, here's how forklift truck operators can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "inventory control, use of rf scanner team player operate a sit down/stand up forklift follow verbal/written communication"
Coordination. forklift truck operators are also known for coordination, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to forklift truck operator responsibilities, because "material moving machine operators must have steady hands and feet to guide and control heavy machinery precisely." A forklift truck operator resume example shows how coordination is used in the workplace: "warehouse coordination inventory controls feed assembly line"
Mechanical skills. forklift truck operator 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 forklift truck operators do with mechanical skills on a typical day: "check machinery to ensure optimal operation,mechanical failures .unload inbound shipments safely and relocating products to appropriate areas. "
Visual ability. A commonly-found skill in forklift truck operator job descriptions, "visual ability" is essential to what forklift truck operators do. Forklift truck operator responsibilities rely on this skill because "material moving machine operators must be able to see clearly where they are driving or what they are moving." You can also see how forklift truck operator duties rely on visual ability in this resume example: "helped bring some ideas learned at gm to costco, including visual management and some of gm safety standards/procedures. "
The three companies that hire the most forklift truck operators are:
- Novolex13 forklift truck operators jobs
- International Paper2 forklift truck operators jobs
- Trane2 forklift truck operators jobs
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Forklift truck operator vs. 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. 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.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between forklift truck operators and forklift. For instance, forklift truck operator responsibilities require skills such as "pallet jack," "safety policies," "cdl," and "quality checks." Whereas a forklift is skilled in "basic math," "shipping receiving," "math," and "warehouse environment." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Forklifts really shine in the transportation industry with an average salary of $34,824. Comparatively, forklift truck operators tend to make the most money in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $39,013.On average, forklifts reach similar levels of education than forklift truck operators. Forklifts are 0.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.7% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Forklift truck operator vs. 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. They are also responsible for the maintenance and repair of the machine, and they should be able to troubleshoot problems and provide remedies to them. They must be knowledgeable about the different parts of the machine and how to mitigate any challenges that may arise. Operators should be alert, detail-oriented, and familiar with safety and health guidelines.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, forklift truck operator responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "pallets," "clamp truck," "production lines," and "rf scanner." Meanwhile, an operator has duties that require skills in areas such as "safety procedures," "emergency calls," "preventative maintenance," and "dozer." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Operators may earn a higher salary than forklift truck operators, but operators earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $41,321. On the other hand, forklift truck operators receive higher pay in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $39,013.operators earn similar levels of education than forklift truck operators in general. They're 1.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Forklift truck operator vs. Terminal operator
A terminal operator is responsible for assisting daily operations within the transportation or manufacturing agencies. Terminal operators inspect the stability and efficiency of equipment and machinery to ensure its optimal performance during operational processes. They conduct quality control tests to determine inconsistencies in terminal functions and strategize techniques to enhance distribution policies. A terminal operator must have excellent organizational and mechanical skills to maintain terminal equipment and assist the team in performing duties to achieve business goals and objectives.
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 truck operator resumes include skills like "pallets," "pallet jack," "clamp truck," and "production lines," whereas a terminal operator is more likely to list skills in "ladders," "loaders," "cranes," and "customer service. "
Terminal operators earn the best pay in the construction industry, where they command an average salary of $43,138. Forklift truck operators earn the highest pay from the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $39,013.When it comes to education, terminal operators tend to earn similar degree levels compared to forklift truck operators. In fact, they're 2.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Forklift truck operator vs. Mill operator
Mill operators are skilled employees who are responsible for operating and maintaining milling machines that grind materials such as rocks or chemicals at a milling facility. These operators must gather raw materials for production and assist with the inventory of all materials. They must operate a wide variety of equipment such as power saws, sanders, drill press, and basic hand tools while performing regular maintenance and troubleshooting on the milling machines. Mill operators must also attend safety meetings that are held weekly and monthly to ensure machine operators are following safety procedures.
Types of forklift truck operator
Updated January 8, 2025











