Forklift Operator Job Description

A job description you can copy and adapt, with versions for order picker and reach truck roles. Plus what job seekers should read into "must be forklift certified."

The short answer

A forklift operator uses a powered industrial truck to load, unload, move, stack and store materials in a warehouse, plant, yard or job site. The job also includes checking the truck before use and following the site's traffic rules. Before driving on their own, every operator must be trained, evaluated and certified by the employer under OSHA's rule, 29 CFR 1910.178(l).

What does a forklift operator do?

They move materials with a truck instead of by hand. O*NET, the Department of Labor's occupation database, lists these tasks for industrial truck and tractor operators (SOC 53-7051), in plain words:

  • Operate the forks, mast and other lifting controls to load, unload, move and stack material.
  • Drive the truck between loading, processing and storage areas.
  • Load and unload material, by hand or with the truck, from pallets, skids, platforms and transport vehicles.
  • Position the forks under pallets, skids or boxes and secure loads for transport.
  • Check each load for accuracy and deliver it safely and on time.
  • Weigh materials and record weights or other data on tags or labels.
  • Do routine care such as cleaning, recharging batteries, fueling or changing propane tanks.

OSHA's rule adds a few duties that belong in every description. Trucks must be examined before being placed in service, at least daily ((q)(7)). A truck that is unsafe must be taken out of service ((p)(1)). Operators must follow plant speed limits and keep about three truck lengths from the truck ahead ((n)(1)). The forklift inspection checklist covers the daily check.

Forklift operator job description template

Copy this, then replace everything in [brackets] with your details. Delete any line that does not fit your site.

Forklift Operator

[Company name] · [City, State] · [Full-time, shift, schedule]

About the role

We are looking for a forklift operator to move product through our [warehouse / plant / yard]. You will load and unload trucks, put away and pull pallets, and keep material moving safely between receiving, storage, [production] and shipping.

Responsibilities

  • Operate [sit-down counterbalance / stand-up / reach truck / order picker / electric pallet jack] forklifts to load, unload, move and stack material.
  • Load and unload trailers [and railcars], checking trailer floors and wheel chocks before driving in.
  • Put away and retrieve pallets at racking up to [height] feet.
  • Check loads against [pick tickets / the WMS / bills of lading] and scan or record each move.
  • Complete the pre-shift truck inspection and report any defect before driving.
  • Follow site speed limits, pedestrian walkways and the horn rule at intersections and blind corners.
  • [Change propane cylinders / charge batteries] as trained.
  • Keep aisles, docks and staging areas clear and orderly.

Requirements

  • 18 years of age or older.
  • Forklift experience on [truck types] preferred, not required. We train and evaluate every operator on our trucks before they drive.
  • Prior forklift training certificate a plus. Bring it to your interview.
  • Able to read labels and paperwork in [English / English or Spanish].
  • [High school diploma or GED, if you require it.]
  • [Valid driver's license, only if the job drives on public roads.]

Physical demands and work environment

  • Sit or stand on the truck for most of a [length]-hour shift.
  • Lift up to [weight] pounds when hand-stacking or rewrapping loads.
  • Work in [heated / unheated / refrigerated / outdoor] areas.
  • Wear required safety gear: [safety shoes, high-visibility vest, other].

Pay and schedule

[$ per hour], [shift differential], [overtime], [benefits]. Schedule: [days and hours].

Training

All operators complete forklift training and a hands-on evaluation on our equipment, as OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178(l) requires, before operating on their own.

Fill in the physical demands honestly. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. 12111(8), a written job description prepared before you advertise or interview is considered evidence of the job's essential functions.

Order picker job description

First, decide which "order picker" you mean. In some warehouses the title means a person who picks items to fill orders, by hand or with power equipment. O*NET lists "Order Picker" as a job title under stockers and order fillers, noting they "may operate power equipment to fill orders." In others it means the operator of an order picker truck, which OSHA describes as a Class II narrow aisle truck "designed to lift the operator to retrieve items." OSHA lists falling as its hazard and calls for properly fitted fall protection.

If the job runs an order picker truck, start from the template above and swap in these lines:

Order Picker Operator

Responsibilities (replace or add)

  • Operate an order picker truck to pick cases and units from racking up to [height] feet.
  • Build stable, correctly labeled pallets that match each order in [the WMS / on the pick list].
  • Wear the fall-protection harness and tie off to the truck's anchor point every time the platform leaves the floor [if your trucks use one].
  • Keep the aisle clear of people before raising, and never climb off the platform while it is raised.
  • Meet pick rate and accuracy targets of [numbers].

Requirements (add)

  • Comfortable working at height.
  • Order picker experience preferred; we train and evaluate on our trucks.

For what training an order picker operator needs, see order picker certification.

Reach truck operator job description

OSHA describes reach trucks as Class II electric narrow aisle trucks "used for high tiering," meaning storing material in multiple tiers high off the ground. Use the main template and swap in these lines:

Reach Truck Operator

Responsibilities (replace or add)

  • Operate a [stand-up] reach truck in [width]-foot aisles to put away and retrieve pallets at up to [height] feet.
  • Carry loads low while traveling, and travel with the load trailing when it blocks forward view.
  • Replenish pick locations and move pallets between reserve and forward locations.
  • Verify locations and pallet labels by scanner before placing or pulling a load.

Requirements (add)

  • Reach truck experience preferred. Sit-down forklift experience does not replace reach truck training; we train and evaluate on our reach trucks.

That last line matters. OSHA requires refresher training when an operator is assigned to a different type of truck ((l)(4)(ii)(D)). See reach truck certification for the details.

What skills does a forklift operator need?

Safe truck handling first, then accuracy and stamina. O*NET places the job in its lowest preparation bands: it usually needs a high school diploma or GED, and on-the-job training ranges "from a few days to one year." Its survey of workers in the job shows what the work is like:

Work condition (O*NET, SOC 53-7051) Share of workers
Wear safety gear every day 100%
Work in an open vehicle or operate equipment every day 85%
Face time pressure every day 75%
Typical work week over 40 hours 74%
Exposed to very hot or cold temperatures every day 68%

Skills that matter on the floor:

  • Load judgment: knowing the truck's capacity and when a load is too heavy, too high or off center. The load capacity calculator shows how fast capacity drops.
  • Spatial awareness: working close to racking, people and other trucks.
  • Accuracy: right pallet, right location, right count.
  • Scanner and WMS use: at sites that track each move by scan.
  • Reliability: showing up on time for every shift.

What does "must be forklift certified" mean in a job posting?

Usually, that the employer wants someone who has already finished forklift training and can show proof. It cannot mean the employer skips its own step. Under 1910.178(l)(6), the employer that puts you on its trucks must certify that you were trained and evaluated, and a new employer still evaluates you on its equipment.

So a certificate from a past job or a course can get you past the filter, and the employer's evaluation finishes the job. An online course like ours covers the formal instruction part only; it is not full certification on its own. "Certification preferred" means you can apply without one. And no federal forklift license exists to ask for; see do you need a license to drive a forklift.

For the full path from no experience to a job offer, read how to become a forklift operator. To list your training and truck types on paper, see the forklift operator resume guide.

How much do forklift operators make?

The national median is $46,420 a year, or $22.32 an hour, for industrial truck and tractor operators (SOC 53-7051), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics for May 2025. The middle of the range runs from $19.24 an hour at the 25th percentile to $26.33 at the 75th.

Pay varies a lot by state and industry. Our forklift operator salary by state page breaks it down so you can price a posting or an offer.

What should employers put in a forklift job description?

  • The truck types. Training covers the types of truck the operator will be authorized to run ((l)(3)(i)(A)), so naming them tells applicants what they will be evaluated on.
  • The age floor. 18 or older for non-farm work under 29 CFR 570.58. See our forklift age requirements guide.
  • Who trains. Say you train and evaluate on site. It tells applicants without a certificate they can still apply, and it matches what the rule requires of you anyway.
  • Temp and agency workers. OSHA's Temporary Worker Initiative bulletin says the staffing agency and the host employer are typically joint employers. Generally the agency covers generic training, and the host is in the best position to provide site-specific training and evaluation.

Our online course handles the formal instruction for a new hire in under an hour. Team seats run $50 per operator for 2 to 4, $40 for 5 to 9, and $30 for 10 or more. Then give practical training on your trucks and run the hands-on evaluation with the free forklift operator evaluation form.

Certify Your Operators

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a forklift operator and a material handler?
The equipment. The federal occupation list (O*NET) describes industrial truck operators as people who operate trucks to move materials, while laborers and material movers "manually move freight, stock, luggage, or other materials." A warehouse job can mix both, which is why a job description should name the trucks the person will drive.
Does a forklift operator need a driver's license?
Not under OSHA's rule. Some employers ask for one as their own policy, for example when the job also drives on public roads. Our guide on whether you need a license to drive a forklift covers driver's licenses, CDLs and the one state rule that works differently.
Can I hire a forklift operator who is not certified yet?
Yes. Certification is something you do as the employer: train, evaluate, and certify before the person drives on their own, 29 CFR 1910.178(l). Until then they can operate only as a trainee under direct supervision.
How old does a forklift operator have to be?
At least 18 for any non-farm job, under federal child labor law (Hazardous Occupations Order No. 7, 29 CFR 570.58). Putting "must be 18 or older" in the posting saves time for both sides.

Last updated:

More free forklift tools

See all resources

Applying for Forklift Jobs? Show Up Trained

Finish the classroom part of forklift certification online in under an hour and bring your certificate to the interview.

Get Certified

Hiring operators? Certify your whole team