How to hire a lead forklift operator

How to hire a lead forklift operator, step by step

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

Post a lead forklift operator job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a lead 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 lead 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 lead forklift operator that fits the bill.

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

   Type of Lead Forklift Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Lead 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	$16-24
   Material Handler Lead	A material handler lead, also known as a package handler, warehouse associate, or hand laborer, manually moves products, merchandise, stock, and other materials. This role tends to be found within supply chains, manufacturing, production, shipping, storage, or customer receiving... Show more	$13-22
   Warehouse Lead	Warehouse leads are responsible for supply chain management in distribution centers. Their duties and responsibilities include supervising employees and evaluating their performance, meeting safety regulations, and monitoring deliveries and shipments... Show more	$12-29

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Pallets
   • Safety Committee
   • Electric Pallet Jack
   • Forklift Operators
   • Inventory Control
   • RF Scanner
   • Inbound Shipments
   • Customer Service
   • Clamp Truck
   • Safety Procedures
   • WMS
   • Warehouse Equipment
   • Cycle Counts
   • Outbound Shipments

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Use automate systems and RF units to pull, put away and load customer product, in addition to managing inventory
   • Used WMS and bar code scanning systems to insure order and inventory accuracy for shipping, receiving and warehousing.
   • Locate and relocate and pallets throughout warehouse facility.
   • Perform specialized production line and quality control duties in a professional production environment specializing in plastic extrusion.
   • Schedule LTL'S for pick ups of loads for shipping.
   • Load and unload LTL and TLD trailers in the most optimal way without damaging the freight.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your lead forklift operator job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A lead forklift operator can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, lead forklift operators' average salary in north carolina is 30% less than in hawaii.
   • Seniority. Entry-level lead forklift operators 30% less than senior-level lead forklift operators.
   • Certifications. A lead forklift operator with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a lead forklift operator's salary.

   Average lead forklift operator salary

   $42,633yearly

   $20.50 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level lead forklift operator salary

   $35,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing a lead forklift operator job description

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

   Lead forklift operator job description example

   Join a team of more than 32,000 team members, comprised of our home office and over 229 clubs and 7 distribution centers. We're committed to delivering value and convenience to our Members, helping them save every day on everything they need for their family and home. BJ's Wholesale Club offers a collaborative, team-oriented environment where all team members can learn, grow and excel.
   $1000 Sign On Bonus!
   
   Job Summary
   
   Oversees the stocking, rotation, and storage of general merchandise and/or food in the club. Ensures that all merchandise is clearly labeled and fully stocked. Oversees, trains, and coaches Stock Clerks on club policies and procedures and best merchandising practices.
   
   Leadership:
   
   + Know their business/business acumen. Exhibit strategic thinking and sound decision-making thorough knowledge and utilization of business data.
   
   + Lead through change. Model leadership competencies, build credibility and act as a champion for business growth.
   
   + Communicate effectively. Provide the information teams require to be successful.
   
   + Build high performing teams by creating a culture of collaboration. Provide honest and timely direction, follow up and feedback that will drive business results and support team member engagement.
   
   + Deliver results. Execute business expectations within expected timeframes by setting clear expectations, utilizing follow up and accountability.
   
   Team Members:
   
   + Teach, coach and lead through the club level training process. Support team member engagement within all areas of responsibility to enable the application of policies, procedures and compliance.
   
   + Drive a culture of development, strategic thinking and acting, ethical decision making and engagement. Lead with the team member and member in mind to address any and all concerns and to escalate any concerns, as appropriate.
   
   + Ensure a safe and positive environment and experience for the team members.
   
   + Embrace inclusion and diversity, by working together with collaboration and respect. Acknowledge team member success, work as a team to achieve goals, identify and retain top talent.
   
   Members:
   
   + Guarantee service excellence through all points of contact.
   
   + Set service standard expectations for all team members. Provide team support and empowerment to resolve every member concern.
   
   + Ensure a safe and positive environment and experience for the members.
   
   + Daily commitment to GOLD Member Standards
   
   + Greet, Anticipate, Appreciate (GAA)
   
   + Fast, Friendly Full, Fresh, Clean
   
   Club Standards: Lead teams to deliver GOLD club standards daily.
   
   + Define and model GOLD- Grand opening look daily
   
   + All items stocked and promotional plans executed
   
   + Maintain visible accurate signage
   
   + Clean and organized, inside and out
   
   + Perishable areas stocked and rotated with cold chain maintained
   
   Know Your Business:
   
   + Acquire a deep knowledge of key metrics and reporting for total club and department performance
   
   + Drive performance and profitability by using reporting to identify trends and areas of opportunity
   
   + Have the foresight to see a breakdown in process and correct it before it negatively impacts club performance metrics
   
   + Communicate a simple message to your team on the connection between consistent operational performance and achieving club financial targets
   
   Major Tasks, Responsibilities, and Key Accountabilities
   
   + Oversees the stocking, rotation, and storage of general merchandise and/or food. Ensures that all merchandise is fully stocked.
   
   + Oversees, trains, and coaches Stock Clerks on merchandising policies and procedures.
   
   + Verifies received shipments to ensure that all items are delivered.
   
   + Maintains display signage for all products. Creates labels and/or applies merchandise sales tags to items. Ensures all product labels and price tags are clear and visible.
   
   + Ensures the club is neat, clean, and organized. Performs general housekeeping duties, including removing trash and cardboard from the club.
   
   + Handles damaged goods and spoiled products in accordance with company policies and procedures.
   
   + Oversee the processing of deliveries.
   
   + Completes and maintains necessary training and annual safety re-certifications to effectively operate a forklift.
   
   + Execution of daily drop list, hot list and zero sales reports.
   
   + Participates in club opening and closing hand off walks.
   
   + Responsible for responding to Alarm calls in accordance with Emergency Flip chart and Alarm response training
   
   + Maintains all club policies and procedures.
   
   + Performs other duties as assigned, including working in other departments as needed.
   
   + Regular, predictable, full attendance is an essential function of this job.
   
   Qualifications
   
   + Previous supervisor experience preferred.
   
   + Previous grocery/stock experience preferred.
   
   + Big box/wholesale retail experience preferred.
   
   + Forklift experience required.
   
   + At least 18 years of age.
   
   Environmental Job Conditions
   
   + Most of the time is spent moving about continuously on hard surfaces. There may be a need to frequently position oneself to examine and/or scan merchandise, including bending, climbing, crawling, handling, pulling, reaching, and stooping.
   
   + Continuously requires lifting objects up to 30 pounds. May require lifting and moving heavy and/or awkward objects more than 30 pounds with assistance.
   
   + Usually in a comfortable environment surrounded by moving machinery and/or loud equipment that may require shouting in order to be heard. There could be exposure to temperature extremes from freezers, ovens, and/or coolers.
   
   + There may be occasional exposure to cleaning agents.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find lead 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 lead forklift operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level lead 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 lead forklift operator job on Zippia to find and recruit lead forklift operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting lead 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 lead forklift operator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the lead forklift operator position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   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.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a lead forklift operator?