Forklift Operator: What is the cost of hiring?
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Forklift Operator: What is the cost of hiring?
As of April 2022, the average number of job seekers per forklift operator job in Australia is 11.
a forklift operator: What is the cost of hiring?
As of April 2022, the average number of job seekers per forklift operator job in Australia is 11.
Why hire a forklift operator?
Mainly working in logistics and manufacturing, a forklift operator uses various types of forklift to transport goods and materials around work sites. A well-trained forklift operator can help your business to run smoothly and help get your products to your customers efficiently.
Contributions of a great forklift operator:
- Manoeuvre forklifts with skill and precision to move goods and materials around efficiently and safely
- Safely perform a range of material handling tasks, such as loading, unloading, lifting, transporting and stacking goods
- Perform stocktaking and administrative tasks associated with inbound and outbound logistics
- Track the movement of goods and check stocks
Deciding between a full-time vs freelance forklift operator
Before you start your search for a forklift operator, decide whether you need to hire someone on a full-time, part-time, casual or temporary contract.
If you run a large warehouse or manufacturing facility and need to move large amounts of stock every day, you might want to hire a full-time forklift operator. A part-time or casual forklift operator may be a better option if your needs are constantly changing, for example if you only occasionally receive large consignments. If you run an agricultural business, you might consider hiring a forklift operator on a temporary contract to help get your crop into storage or onto trucks during harvest season.
What are the different types of forklift operator?
The main distinction between forklift operators is the type of licence they hold. In Australia, you are legally required to have a forklift licence before you can operate a forklift. The type of licence determines which forklifts you are allowed to operate. There are two types of forklift licence: LF licence and LO licence.
- LF forklift operator: An LF forklift licence allows operators to use the most common forklift types: counterbalance, reach, truck-mounted, all-terrain and side-loading forklifts. In all of these vehicles, the driver sits in a cab and moves loads mechanically.
- LO forklift operator: With an LO licence, you are only allowed to operate an order-picking forklift and turret truck, also known as a very narrow aisle (VNA) truck. The main difference with these types of vehicle compared to LF forklifts is that the operator is raised into the air on a platform beside the vehicle’s forks and loads or unloads goods on the forklift either mechanically or manually.
Where to find a forklift operator
To find the right forklift operator for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:
- Ask for referrals: Ask your current employees, colleagues, friends and family if they can recommend someone who would be interested in joining your business. They might know people in other industries with transferrable skills, for example, construction workers with experience operating heavy machinery.
- Hire from within: Does someone in your business have excellent manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination? Consider asking them if they would like to become a forklift operator. Forklift courses usually take one to three days to complete, so your
employee
could be trained up quickly and inexpensively.
- Put up a help wanted sign in your window: If your business gets a lot of foot traffic, putting up a help wanted sign in your business’s window is a great way to let people know you are currently hiring.
- Advertise on your vehicles: If your business doesn’t get much foot traffic, putting a short ad on your vehicles is also an effective way of getting the word out and finding suitable forklift operators.
Post your job online: Try posting your forklift operator job on Indeed to find and attract quality forklift operator candidates.
Skills to look for in a great forklift operator
A great forklift operator candidate will have the following skills and attributes as well as work experience that reflects:
- a current valid forklift licence
- a strong understanding of forklift safety
- good hand-eye coordination
- flexibility and a willingness to do shift work
- strong communication skills
Writing a forklift operator job description
A thoughtful description is important for finding qualified forklift operator candidates. A forklift operator job description includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities and the required and preferred skills for the position.
When writing your job description for a forklift operator, consider including some or all of the following keywords to strengthen the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on forklift operator jobs, according to Indeed data:
- forklift driver
- forklift operator
- forklift
- warehouse
- driver
- high reach forklift
- warehouse worker
- packer
- machine operator
- truck driver
Interviewing forklift operator candidates
Strong candidates for forklift operator positions will be confident answering questions regarding:
- forklift safety, including steps to prevent accidents and the consequences of incorrect operation
- previous experience operating forklifts
- how radio frequency scanners are used
- working as part of a team
Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of forklift operator interview questions for examples (with sample answers).
*Indeed provides this information as a courtesy to users of this site. Please note that we are not your recruiting or legal advisor, we are not responsible for the content of your job descriptions, and none of the information provided herein guarantees performance.
