Forklifts are the huge trucks which contain two power-operated prongs at front. These forked prongs help to lift the targeted goods or loads, hence the name forklift! The forklift drivers are appointed to move and stack materials in shipping depots and warehouses using this vehicle efficiently. If you want a job as a forklift driver, read on to know the essentials.
- Things you should include in your forklift driver resume
- Salary range and job growth
- Full resume sample (downloadable in PDF)
Things you should put in a Forklift Driver Resume
1. Objective
Since the objective is the first point on any resume, you must highlight all your strong points here. An easy way to do that studies the job post or description itself carefully and then incorporating their highlighting points in the objective.
A forklift driver resume objective should typically mention the number of years you have been in this profession, your soft skills and the technical areas you are proficient at.
Also, if you do have a lot experience, you can change the heading objective into the summary. The objective is a better heading for the newbies since it is meant to represent the candidate’s career aspirations.
2. Technical knowledge
You must know how to safely and efficiently work with the forklifts. This includes moving, stacking, locating and relocating it without letting the balance off at any point. You should be able to pick and move packaged good from storage to delivery pallets safely. Other parts of this job will need you to examine products for verifying quality standards and maintain the condition of forklifts.
3. Practical experience
The recruiters will expect you to be familiar with operating various kinds of forklifts. Their settings differ a lot just like their structures. So you must have real experience driving them around in an industrial surrounding like a warehouse. Mention your practical experiences with forklift driving within the highlighting points under your resume’s work history section.
4. Education and Training
Your educational qualifications need to be at least having a high school diploma or GED. Some companies will ask for some additional certificates or licenses depending on the nature of its warehouse.
As per the rule of OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), no matter the level of experience the driver has, he needs to be evaluated every 3 years. So whatever company you have worked for, mention the training they gave you on the resume.
5. Time management
It is necessary for a forklift driver to keep track of the time so that the clients don’t receive their products late. You should have a good speed of loading and unloading packaged goods. Besides, you must be good at figuring out how much time to assign to which job.
6. Proficiency in math
You should be good at basic mathematics to figure out the distances you need to cover. You will also need those skills for calculating loads, bills and freight quotes.
7. Inventory control
A forklift driver will need to work with the inventory frequently. So, being the candidate, you must know how to operate computerized and automated processes for inventory control.
8. Physical endurance
Though the job mainly consists of you sitting inside and driving the forklift between places, you still have to endure some physically difficult tasks regularly. For instance, you will need to be in extremely hot or cold temperatures driving them. Sometimes, you will be around stagnant odors, loud noises or harmful chemicals. You might also need to kneel, crouch, stoop or crawl in awkward positions.
9. Safety knowledge
The Fair Labor Standards Act has already listed operation or driving of a forklift as a hazardous occupation. So it is no surprise, that there will be a lot of safety issues on this job. All of them can be avoided if the driver has ample amount of knowledge on how to operate the huge vehicle safely. That is why the recruiters expect the applicants to mention if they know about the standard operating procedures and safety practices.
Salary range and job growth
The median pay for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers like the forklift operators is $19.87 per hour or $41,340 per year according to the May 2016 report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bottom 10% earn less than $26,920 while the top 10% earn more than $63,140. The jobs in this area are expected to grow by 6% which is just as average as any other occupation’s growth rate.
A Full Forklift Driver Resume Template Example
John Williams
(214) 748-3647 | johnwilliams@gmail.com
Summary
Focused, strong and certified forklift driver with six years of experience operating various forklifts. Calm personality and familiar with transporting various raw materials and finished goods safely. Proficient at loading and unloading the goods efficiently. Punctual individual who can carry on accurate calculation of freight costs.
Skill Highlights
• Warehouse operations
• Airgas Standard operating procedures
• Lift up to 70 pounds
• Powered pallet jack
• Inventory control
• Freight cost calculation
• Knowledge of job site safety
• Strategic planning
• Physical endurance
Professional Experience
KING’S MERCHANDISING COMPANY
Albany, NY
Forklift Driver
2013-2016
• Efficiently moving products between storage and delivery vehicles
• Managed to receive and unload of almost 4 trucks per hour
• Ensured safety of shoppers and associates on warehouse
• Pulled products for worldwide shipment
FLORIDA CIVIL FACILITIES
FLORIDA CLOTHING SUPPLY
Miami, FL
Forklift Driver
2017-Present
• Reorganized warehouse cold storage expanding footprint
• Removed perishable goods and reduced waste by 12%
• Calculate estimated bills and freight costs
• Implement safety training initiatives on sites
• Supervise and train new recruits efficiently
Accomplishments
• OSHA certified forklift operator
• Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)
• DOT Hazmat Ground Shipper Certification
• Earned Best Forklifter award for highest productivity rating
Education
High School Diploma
2012
California Vocational High School
San Francisco, USA
Make sure your resume objective does not sound generalized and add in more headings if you want. But maintain the standard length of one or two pages for the resume. Adding some reference from a past employer or higher professionals in the area can also help a lot to prove your reliability.