How to Get Forklift Experience

Forklifts are frequently used in warehouses to move heavy items.

Forklifts are commonly used to move heavy materials around on pallets. There are several different types of forklifts; the type used depends upon how much material is being transported. While it may look easy to handle one of these pieces of machinery, it's different from driving a car. Certainly, the skill can be obtained, but it takes some practice. If you're looking to move up in your company or switch jobs and need some forklift experience, there are several ways to gain that knowledge.

Instructions

1. Apply for a position at a warehouse. One of the most common places to gain forklift experience is working at a large warehouse, such as one associated with a book publisher or shipping facility. You may need to apply for an entry-level position and ask for opportunities to learn how to drive the machinery, but at a location like this, there are ample chances to get started.

2. Look into working at your local large department store. Any significant store that offers grocery, lawn and garden, clothing and any other household items in the same location is an excellent place to get forklift experience. Large pallets of items need to be regularly moved off the shipping trucks to their position for unloading. Because there is less forklift activity here than in a huge warehouse, it may be even more likely you could ask for some one-on-one training.

3. Seek experience at a hardware store with a garden center. Stores that sell landscaping items frequently use forklifts. They are necessary for transporting the heavy bags of mulch, landscaping blocks and fencing materials. Again, since these locations tend to be smaller than some warehouses, you may be more likely to gain forklift experience.

4. Volunteer at large special events. When organizations are setting up for very large conferences or events at stadiums and convention centers, forklifts are often needed to transport oversized items such as seating and tent materials. While these are typically short-term events where everyone involved is focused on tasks at hand, you can still express your interest in learning how to operate a forklift and ask someone to show you the basics when things slow down.

5. Consider taking a temporary job. If you're looking to gain some experience using a forklift but are unsure you want to commit to a position where you have access to this training, apply for warehouse-type positions through a local employment agency. Explain to the recruiters that you are interested in learning more about this skill and ask to be placed in locations where they know these opportunities will present themselves.

References

• Forklift Certification HQ: What is a Forklift?