Forklifts! is there much manual lifting involved?

Vince M

There ARE some forklift driver jobs where little or no lifting is involved, but, just becaus a job description says "forklift driver," it does not mean that the driver won't be expected to do some lifting. ( I remember one massive warehouse where pedestrian traffic was absolutely forbidden.)

For example, a driver may be asked to load up bins or packages ONTO a pallette. I worked in a cannery, once, where a driver was attempting to carry too many palletted, stacked too high when he dumped his load. The supervisor made him clean up his mess. That meant shoveling a LOT of mashed tomatoes!

So, before you take on one of those job offers, be sure to find out the details of ALL of your responsibilities. Have you ever seen that question on most standard applications that asks if you have any medical conditions that may prevent you from performing any duties of the job? If you say "no," and then come up with your "back problem," issue later, you could get fired for lying on your application.

I used to train forklift drivers and forklift driver trainers.

B0uncingMoonman@aol.com

It depends on the company, and how they operate etc.

There ARE fork-lift truck jobs where there is little or no lifting for sure - you just move loads about (you`d really need to ring the firm and check about this).
Remember, with the strict health and safety rules, most heavy lifting is banned anyway these days.
Good Luck. I was a forklift truck driver for many years and drove all sorts of trucks. But the rules and laws were not so strict then (you didn`t even need training or a licence) - when I started work anyone could just jump on a truck and operate it!

UCANTCME

As long as it is on a pallet but there will always be some type of lifting involved in every job where a forklift is involved....

SouthernRose

Be warned, but if you have a bad back, driving a forklift can aggravate it. My hubby drives a forklift and has had surgery (had while driving a 18 wheeler and orthopedic surgeon told us driving was one of the worst jobs for a bad back) and possible a new bulging disk and the sitting and bumping has his flared up right now (he took the job working as a helper but ended up driving a lift because he had experience). Where he works all the lifting has to be done with a lift unless they are stacking pallets (works where they store ton boxes and bags of peanuts). Driving on a floor that is not smooth can be bad on your back from the forklift hitting the bumps in the floor. Operating a forklift where you have to stand might be better for your back or if you can take frequent breaks from driving would be best too.

SVOMAN

what ever needs to be lifted can be done with the fork..

I can even lift a dime with a fork truck..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSkFB0xiSGQ

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