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Forklift driver

Forklift drivers move, load and unload goods in warehouses, depots, ports and airports.

Annual Salary

£23,000 to £32,000

Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

40 to 48 a week

You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; on shifts

0.3%
Future employment

There will be 0.3% fewer Forklift driver jobs in 2029.

Day to day tasks

As a forklift driver, you would:

  • carry out safety checks on equipment at the start of a shift
  • load and unload goods from lorries, ships or aircraft
  • use radio equipment to keep in touch with other staff on site
  • move and stack goods in storage bays
  • pick and pack orders
  • complete paperwork for delivery notes and stock control

Working environment

You may need to wear protective clothing.

You could work in a warehouse, on a construction site, at a port, at an airport or in a factory.

Your working environment may be physically demanding.

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly
College

You could do a forklift truck operations training course at a college, which would teach you some of the skills you need in this job.

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do a Supply Chain Warehouse Operative Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.

You should check with the company you apply to whether their apprenticeship includes forklift training.

Direct application

You can apply directly for jobs. Some employers may ask for GCSEs, including English and maths.

You'll have an advantage if you've completed forklift training, though your employer may put you through training when you start work.

Experience of loading and unloading goods and materials in a warehouse, in freight transport or on a building site would be useful.

More information

Career tips

Make sure you get a copy of your forklift training completion certificate so you can use it for job applications. Unlike a driving licence, there is no forklift licence as such, though some job adverts may refer to the completion certificate as a 'licence'.

Further information

You can find out more about working as a forklift driver in construction from Go Construct.

You can find details of approved forklift training providers through the Accrediting Bodies Association - Workplace Transport.

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Your employer may put you through training to operate other types of lifting equipment like telescopic handlers.

With experience and further training, you could become a:shift supervisor, team leader or warehouse manager; forklift driver instructor; maintenance engineer

You could also move into other industries, like construction, and train to be a plant operator, or logistics, to work as an HGV driver.

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • the ability to operate and control equipment
  • concentration skills
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to work well with others
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • practical skills for repairing and maintaining equipment
  • knowledge of public safety and security
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
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