Give your career a lift; Careers in forklift truck operating.What does a career as a forklift truck operator involve? Forklift truck operators transport heavy goods around depots such as factories and warehouses. They load and unload goods from vehicles, such as lorries and aircraft, or they arrange the goods in warehouses on storage racks. Before lifting a load, the operator must make sure the truck is not overloaded and that the load is secure. They may perform daily maintenance checks of the truck. Lift truck operators may also help to load and unload trucks manually and perform other warehouse duties such as packing. What personal skills do you need? You need to have good physical co-ordination and driving skills, and to be able to work quickly and safely. You need to be able to assess weights and judge distances and to be able to follow written instructions and keep records. You need to be able to work flexible hours and be prepared to work outside in all weathers. You must be over 18. What training do you need? Most training is on the job. However, young people may be able to enter through apprenticeship schemes in wholesale, distribution, warehousing and storage. The Health and Safety Commission has approved six organisations to monitor and accredit To give official authorization or status. To recognize as having sufficient academic standards to qualify graduates for higher education or for professional practice. In International Law: training providers who train and certify operators. They are: The Association of Industrial Truck Trainers (AITT AITT Association of Industrial Truck Trainers AITT Analog Inter-Toll Trunk AITT Asset In-Transit Tracking )' CITB-Construction Skills' Lantra National Training Organisation Ltd' National Plant Operators Registration Scheme Ltd' the Road Transport Industry Training Board (RTITB RTITB Road Transport Industry Training Board ) Ltd' and the Independent Training Standards Scheme and Register (ITSSAR). You can do an NVQ NVQ n abbr (BRIT) (= national vocational qualification) → título de formación profesional NVQ n abbr (= National Vocational Qualification) → Level 2 in specialised plant and machinery operations, which can be combined with distributive operations Level 1 or distribution, warehousing and storage operations Level 2. You may need a driving licence driving licence Noun an official document authorizing a person to drive a motor vehicle Noun 1. driving licence - a license authorizing the bearer to drive a motor vehicle if the truck is used on public roads. What are the opportunities for career progression? There are opportunities for forklift truck operators to progress to supervisor level. Experienced operators can train as instructors. What is the salary? New operators start on around pounds 10,000 to pounds 12,000 a year, rising to between pounds 13,000 and pounds 20,000 with experience. If you can work safely under pressure, you may want to drive a forklift. Michelle Rushton found out more More information Skills for Logistics, www.skillsforlogistics.org Careers in Logistics, www.careersinlogistics.co.uk Association of Industrial Truck Trainers, www.aitt.co.uk Please note, companies or organisations mentioned in this feature are not advertising job vacancies - contact details are included for information purposes only |
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