Forklift operators need to be well-organized and always put safety first. Your role will involve driving through the warehouse or construction area to move goods, and materials around the site. You will perform routine maintenance on your forklift, help load and unload trucks, and assist with other special projects. Depending on your employer you may also have a customer service component to your job. You will need to have good physical stamina and be willing to work shifts.
Forklift operator roles can be physically demanding. You’ll spend the majority of your shift operating your machine in a sitting or standing position. Most roles involve shift work. These shifts can last up to 12 hours in length. You may be expected to work evenings, nights, weekends, and overtime during busy periods of the year. You will report to a warehouse or site supervisor to get the instructions for your daily tasks.
Forklift operators traditionally stay in a similar role for the duration of their career. As you gain more experience it’s common to work on larger or more complex lifts. There is also the opportunity to move into operations or warehouse management if you are interested. Additional training may be required for those positions.
Forklift operators in Pointe-Claire can expect to make about $40,000 per year on average. This works out to about $19 per hour. With a number of years experience on the job you can make more than $22 per hour. Learn more about the salary scale below.
annual: $39,520
monthly: $3,040
weekly: $760
hourly: $19
lowest salary: $17 per hour
average salary: $19 per hour
highest salary: $22 per hour
junior salary: $17-$19 per hour
intermediate salary: $18-$20 per hour
senior salary: $19-$22 per hour
As a forklift driver your responsibilities are more far-reaching than just driving a forklift. Here are the top tasks that will be included as part of your job description.
Forklift operators typically work in a manufacturing, industrial or transportation environment.It is common for forklift operators to work for retailers, distribution centres, and many other manufacturing facilities.
There is a lot more skill to being a good forklift driver than operating your lift. You need to be well organized, a great communicator and operate efficiently. Forklift operators should have the following skills:
Forklift operators are required to have forklift certification. You may need additional types of certification depending on the type of lift you operate. Employers will also require you to have a high school diploma or equivalent. Previous work experience is an asset.