Skills of a Stand Up Forklift Driver
A forklift or a powered industrial truck is a piece of heavy machinery found in factories and in warehouses. They are used to move and transport bulk things which are too heavy to lift or carry manually. There is some specific training complete so as to be able to utilize a forklift safely. Most employers prefer a high school degree. Because the forklift is a heavy piece of machinery it can be dangerous if not properly handled, therefore, the operator's skills are very necessary.
Good Judgment
The forklift driver has to have good judgment to be able to estimate how much a load weighs. They need to be able to judge the height and width of the cargo in order to ensure that it would fit in a designed area. It is very essential to have proper judgement to be able to negotiate tight turns and move the forklift around obstacles in order to be able to competently drive the machinery in reverse.
Concentration and Reflexes
Driver skills that come in handy are quick reflexes and good hand-eye coordination. For example, if a stack of things in a pallet or load is off balance and about to fall, the operator should be able to quickly respond and try to fix the issue. In order to avoid accidents, a high level of concentration is required when utilizing and working near these machines.
Adaptability
Depending upon the job, amongst the top skills of a forklift driver is to be able to adapt to their specific work surroundings. Depending on each job, this could change on a continuous basis. Some forklift tasks require drivers to be exposed to harmful materials, dangerous machines, loud noises, fumes or odors. Warehouses and work surroundings can be very busy places. The operator of the forklift should be able to keep an eye toward safety and a cool head overall. Additionally, many forklift jobs require being outdoors to unload goods or move items; thus, the operator needs to be ready at the possibility of working in poor weather conditions.
Machine Maintenance
Forklift drivers have to understand how heavy mobile machine works and have to be able and willing to follow directions. Operators need to learn how to double check an OSHA safety checklist and can ensure that the horn, the lights, the steering, the forks and the brakes, along with other parts are functioning at an optimal level.
Forklift truck drivers need to also understand how to correctly maintain the vehicles and need to know when something is not working correctly. An important part of forklift truck training is also being able to explain machine problems to mechanics.