What does a lift driver do?

A lift driver is responsible for operating warehouse machines and vehicles, especially on loading and unloading items from distribution trucks and transporting the merchandise to different parts of the warehouse. Lift drivers inspect the efficiency and reliability of the machines, ensuring its operational and optimal performance to avoid production delays. They also verify the number of products for distribution according to the order requests and shipment details. A lift driver must be highly-organized, as well as having excellent time-management skills to perform duties and meet strict production schedules.
Lift driver responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real lift driver resumes:
- Install and repair automobile hoists in the Michigan and Indiana area for various auto dealerships.
- Demonstrate problem solving activities by handling problem pallets to final resolution.
- Warehouse safety, operation/inspection of RR truck, replenishing/pulling/putting away pallets of merchandise, problem solving and cleaning
- Utilize hi-lo truck and dollies to move and distribute product to designate warehouse areas or line side.
- Put away merchandise using forklifts while utilizing WMS for location verification.
Lift driver skills and personality traits
We calculated that 24% of Lift Drivers are proficient in Fork-Lift, Pallets, and Safety Standards. They’re also known for soft skills such as Alertness, Communication skills, and Coordination.
We break down the percentage of Lift Drivers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Fork-Lift, 24%
Used fork-lift to stock and collect orders.
- Pallets, 20%
Demonstrated problem solving activities by handling problem pallets to final resolution.
- Safety Standards, 8%
Worked independently following policies and procedures to stock products Maintained safety standards while operating the Fork Lift
- Load Trucks, 7%
Operated hydraulic jacks to transport material through plant printed labels for packages, load and unload trucks, general maintenance duties.
- Electric Pallet Jack, 6%
Performed routine preventative maintenance on assigned equipment and industrial equipment such as order pickers, forklifts, and electric pallet jacks.
- Hand Trucks, 6%
Transport packages to and from storage areas using hoists and hand trucks fork lifts.
"fork-lift," "pallets," and "safety standards" are among the most common skills that lift drivers use at work. You can find even more lift driver responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling lift driver 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 lift driver resume, here's how lift drivers can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "processed customer orders loaded and unloaded trucks in a timely manner skilled at dispatch communication"
Coordination. lift drivers are also known for coordination, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to lift driver responsibilities, because "material moving machine operators must have steady hands and feet to guide and control heavy machinery precisely." A lift driver resume example shows how coordination is used in the workplace: "maintained good communication with supervisors, managers, and co-workers for proper safety procedures and coordination of various shipments. "
Mechanical skills. A big part of what lift drivers do relies on "mechanical skills." You can see how essential it is to lift driver responsibilities because "material moving machine operators make minor adjustments to their machines and perform basic maintenance on them." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical lift driver tasks: "worked with fabrication mechanical engineers to establish a blueprint for the departmental storage locations of parts. "
Visual ability. Another common skill required for lift driver responsibilities is "visual ability." This skill comes up in the duties of lift drivers all the time, as "material moving machine operators must be able to see clearly where they are driving or what they are moving." An excerpt from a real lift driver resume shows how this skill is central to what a lift driver does: "verify through visual check, that correct material is in place to support production schedule. "
The three companies that hire the most lift drivers are:
- Sheridan25 lift drivers jobs
- International Paper4 lift drivers jobs
- Gillette
4 lift drivers jobs
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Lift driver vs. Warehouse labour
Warehouse labour workers are responsible for organizing shipment details by processing the correct quantity of orders, ensuring that the items are free from any defects and mislabeling. Warehouse labourers prepare the items for packaging efficiently, update the inventory records, and escalate production discrepancy to the management for immediate resolution. They should also strictly adhere to the production area's safety regulations, especially on loading and unloading items, and moving each package to appropriate shelves using warehouse equipment.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, lift driver responsibilities require skills like "fork-lift," "rf scanner," "selector," and "storage locations." Meanwhile a typical warehouse labour has skills in areas such as "customer service," "basic math," "osha," and "cleanliness." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Warehouse labours earn the highest salaries when working in the technology industry, with an average yearly salary of $33,085. On the other hand, lift drivers are paid more in the automotive industry with an average salary of $38,145.The education levels that warehouse labours earn slightly differ from lift drivers. In particular, warehouse labours are 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a lift driver. Additionally, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Lift driver vs. Warehouse machine operator
Warehouse machine operators perform various tasks for their employers. These include setting up, operating, monitoring, and troubleshooting machinery, inspecting parts for specifications and any potential damage, and reading and interpreting diagrams and blueprints to position and secure the machines. They are expected to communicate with other team members and provide support for continuous production. Most employers are looking to hire someone with knowledge of production and safety procedures, previous experience as a machine operator, and analytical skills.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, lift driver responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "fork-lift," "pallets," "safety rules," and "selector." Meanwhile, a warehouse machine operator has duties that require skills in areas such as "basic math," "shipping receiving," "forklift operation," and "warehouse operations." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, warehouse machine operators earn a lower salary than lift drivers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, warehouse machine operators earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $36,642. Whereas lift drivers have higher pay in the automotive industry, with an average salary of $38,145.In general, warehouse machine operators achieve similar levels of education than lift drivers. They're 0.4% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Lift driver vs. Pallet jack operator
A machine operator/forklift operator is responsible for operating industrial trucks to move merchandise around the warehouse facilities and other assigned areas. Machine operators/forklift operators also assist with inventory tasks by scanning orders and ensuring the correct merchandise for shipment. They manage the stability of the vehicles, ensuring its efficiency and optimization during operations, performing engine repairs for any inconsistencies to avoid delays on deliveries. A machine operator/forklift operator should strictly follow the safety protocols of the business, as well as have knowledge of the mechanical industry.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a lift driver is likely to be skilled in "fork-lift," "safety standards," "safety rules," and "unload materials," while a typical pallet jack operator is skilled in "basic math," "warehouse environment," "quality standards," and "safety procedures."
Pallet jack operators earn the best pay in the manufacturing industry, where they command an average salary of $36,680. Lift drivers earn the highest pay from the automotive industry, with an average salary of $38,145.Most pallet jack operators achieve a similar degree level compared to lift drivers. For example, they're 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Lift driver vs. Machine operator/forklift operator
Types of lift driver
Updated January 8, 2025











