What will you do?
The role is also known as forklift driver, warehouse forklift driver or reach truck driver. You load and unload trucks, transport goods internally and stack and unstack pallets safely. You check the condition of your internal transport equipment, register data, report any discrepancies and follow up first-line maintenance.
- Check the condition of the internal transport vehicle
- Load and unload goods with a forklift
- Transport goods internally with a forklift
- Stack and unstack pallets safely
- Register data on movements and stock
- Report any discrepancies
- Follow up first-line maintenance
Skills to develop
- Careful and safety-conscious way of working
- Good spatial awareness for stacking loads
- Comfortable registering data in a warehouse system
Your foundation for this occupation
Understand load charts, load centres and stability. Forklift work combines vehicle control with stock recording and awareness of pedestrians sharing the warehouse.
From preparation to your first day
Develop the practical skills
Practise collecting, moving and placing different pallets under supervision. Develop clear sight lines, correct fork positioning and controlled manoeuvres near racking, docks and narrow passages.
Check your work
Complete the prescribed pre-use checks and report damage. Verify pallet identification, storage position and load stability; speed cannot compensate for incorrect placement.
How can you grow?
Additional instruction can prepare you for other equipment, such as reach trucks. Inventory work and team coordination also require scanner skills and an understanding of goods flow.
Frequently asked questions
Does forklift experience qualify me to use a reach truck?
Not automatically. Steering, driving position, visibility and lifting movements differ. List the equipment you have used and request machine-specific instruction before changing trucks.