In warehouses all over Australia, pallets of product are moved by forklift drivers day and night. Have you ever
wondered what it is like to drive a forklift? How do you become a forklift driver and what makes one driver better than another?
Devanshi Patel, one of our Account Managers, caught up with Sumit, a Trojan Forklift Driver to learn what the job is really like. Sumit, along with many other forklift drivers are an essential part of a constant supply chain necessary for everyday life.
How do you become a forklift driver?
To become a forklift driver, you need to obtain a high-risk work licence which can be obtained after completing a training course.
What is the first thing you do at work each day?
I start my work with doing the pre-start check of my forklift and make sure every function of the forklift is working well, and ensure there are no oil leaks etc.
What's fun about driving a forklift?
Driving a forklift is fun. You get to move around the whole warehouse, which is great. I like to keep moving and working in a fast-paced environment; forklift driving provides me with both of them.
What makes a good forklift driver?
A good forklift driver is always aware of their surroundings, must have attention to detail. As we sit for a long periods, fitness is another important thing to being a good forklift driver.
What is the most difficult thing you have had to move with a forklift?
If you like what you do, then there is no such thing as difficult. I enjoy forklift driving, so far, I haven't come across any difficult thing, some just give me more of a challenge than others!
Have you had any big spills? What happened?
Luckily no!
What advice would you give to someone wanting to become a forklift driver?
First of all, get an experience of the warehouse environment and then get appropriate training through a certified centre and obtain your license. Once you start driving, stay aware and focused. Never rush as this machine is very dangerous.
Trojan Recruitment Group is leaders in contract, permanent and labour-hire recruitment across many industries including blue-collar sectors such as rail, building and construction and manufacturing. If you are looking to recruit top talent for the warehousing and logistics industry or would like to consider a career in logistics talk to the Trojan team about the various options available for you.
Courtesy of Jason Everett
Jason Everett is the Senior Human Resources Advisor for Trojan Recruitment Group who has worked in HR roles for the past 20 years servicing many industries including the blue-collar sector. As a passionate HR professional, Jason loves helping candidates find the perfect role and become essential to the business and industries to which they are hired.
