About Forklift Trucks

An industrial-powered lift pallet truck, more commonly known as a forklift, can efficiently and safely move cargo and merchandise throughout the logistical supply chain. From warehouse to transportation to stocking, the forklift is a critical part of inventory movement and management.
Types of Forklifts
Forklifts come in all shapes and sizes depending on the job they are intended to do. There are narrow aisle trucks, side loaders, sit-down units and reach forklift truck. Each is designed to perform a specific task in a specific environment.
Forklift Safety
More than 100 people are killed each year in the United States in forklift accidents. An additional 20,000 people are seriously injured. This comes to more than 385 serious injuries every week.
Types of Power
Forklifts can be powered by propane, gasoline, diesel or electricity. Each has its advantages, and the type of truck used will generally depend on the environment and unique conditions of the facility.
Special Attachments
Most forklifts will have heavy metal forks used to lift the cargo. Depending on the cargo, lifts can be equipped with clamps, buckets and a variety of hoists.
Space Utilization
he narrower the travel isle required, the more space a warehouse or distribution center can dedicate to merchandise. For this reason, many forklifts are designed to operate in very narrow isles and have extremely tight turning radius.

How to Find a Forklift Job?

There are certain jobs that are easier to find then others these days and manufacturing and warehousing forklift jobs are some of them. There are industrial parks in almost every city across the United States. A job as a forklift driver can be a temporary solution to quickly earn income as well as permanent employment.
Update your resume to concentrate on your forklift driving experience. List all previous companies where you drove a forklift and your responsibilities. Provide as many details as possible regarding warehouse size and inventory system used. Make sure to include all different functions such as receiving, shipping and inventory control. Third party logistics companies really focus on individuals with positive attitude and great attendance record. Also mention related functions such as stocking retail shelves or performing physical inventories. Most warehouse related companies have their own in house fork lift training and certification. They are looking for someone self motivated, flexible and able to follow directions.
If you do not have forklifts experience emphasize your attendance record and flexibility with previous positions.
Start searching employment ads in your local paper. Typically large companies post employment advertising for warehouse clerks. Warehouse clerks usually perform all functions such as mailroom, receiving, shipping, and inventory control. These positions are usually hard to find because the manufacture hires from within. Also, look for ads for forklift drivers. These positions are usually posted by third party logistics companies that specialize in forklift operator positions. Third party logistics companies typically have night, weekends and day shifts. All new employees usually stay on night shift due to seniority.
Find the location of your local temporary service. Temporary services concentrate on providing employees to third party logistic companies during busy times. Third party logistic companies require hundreds of forklift drivers to move freight for their contracted manufacturer. They have contracts with local temporary services that provide many people quickly. Sometimes they bring in temporary employees to do special projects then watch for people with potential to drive a forklift. Find your local industrial area and investigate around their entry gates. Temporary services that provide employees for these third party logistics companies will have signage posted.

How To Obtain a Forklift License in Arkansas?

Have you ever watched a forklift driver and thought it would be an easy job? Not so, according to David Carter, the heavy equipment training instructor for the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM). Although there's no such thing as a forklift license, instructors like Carter do teach an eight-hour class that'll give you a certification upon completion. Any class that is approved by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will certify a person in all 50 states.
Find a class for forklift training that's approved by OSHA. According to Carter, many companies contact UAM for training, because UAM instructors will go to the company's location and the Arkansas Highway Department will pay for the training. If you're an employer, you can also contact Wiese Forklift training, whose consultants also give forklift training at companies, as well as Safety is Us, whose consultants train a company crew to evaluate employees. (Employers use the program to help make an informed decision on whether to certify an employee.)
Take the four to five hours of classroom training for running a forklift truck. The classes from each company teach forklift design, safe handling of the lifts, and basic maintenance. After the classroom training, take the written test.
Learn how to conduct a safety inspection of the forklift, what to watch for while driving, and practice safely using the forklift during the two to three hours of hands-on instruction after the test. After you take the classes, pass the written test, and do the hands-on training, you will be certified.

How to Jack Up a Forklift?

Making sure your forklift truck tires are in great shape is crucial because forklifts are made to lift very heavy objects and any wear, cracks or low pressure could cause a major accident. The tires can be polyurethane, solid or pneumatic; you need to know which type you have before you jack up the forklift to replace them. Since the forklift picks up heavy things, the forklift itself is very heavy. A special forklift jack is required to raise the forklift.
Park the forklift on a level location.
Lower the forklift head flush to the ground and shut off the forklift.
Engage the parking brake on the forklift.
Slide the special high-weight forklift jack under the axle directly behind the forklift wheel you want to remove.
Pump the handle on the forklift jack up and down until the forklift wheel is several inches off the ground.

How to Drive a Forklift

Driving a forklift takes a bit of practice and is nothing like driving a car. Forklifts are steered by their rear wheels, have unwieldy weight distribution, and often have counter-intuitive controls. Depending on where you operate, you may need a license or specialized training, but here is a brief example of how to drive a forklift.

Complete the pre-operations checklist. Look around the vehicle for any damage or malfunction that might prevent the fork lift from operating as it is intended. Pay special attention to hydraulic mechanisms and tire conditions.
2

Familiarize yourself with all controls and meter readings. This can be done by reading the operator's manual.
3

Note the size and shape of what you are lifting, and make sure the fork you are using is set to the proper width.
4

Observe your working environment, make sure it's clean and clear of obstacles. Do not operate a forklift in an area of heavy foot or vehicular traffic, nor in slippery or otherwise unsafe working conditions.
5

Start the forklift using the key and start button. Move it through basic operations. There will be knobs and levers that move the forks up and down, steer the vehicle and control the speed.
6

Practice driving the forklift in an open area. Try lifting empty pallets or bags of sand to get used to the controls. Once you are comfortable, you can begin your intended chore.
7

Park the forklift with the fork completely on the ground when you are finished.

Tips & Warnings

Keep the load as close to the ground as possible and don't drive any faster than you need to. The forklift is designed to lift heavy objects, and is not a racecar.

Practice with the controls in an open space. All forklifts have rear-wheel steering, but have different instrumentation. Familiarize yourself with the controls of your forklift by asking an experienced operator about the specific model you'll be using.

Operating heavy machinery is not something to be taken lightly. If you've never used a forklift before, make sure you're with someone who is experienced.

If you start to operate this machine with no knowledge beforehand, it's likely you could injure yourself or someone else.

Do not attempt to lift any weights until you are confident and consistent in your abilities to safely and articulately operate the machine.