Interested In Becoming A Forklift Driver? These Are The Skills You Need
Considering a career as a forklift truck driver but don’t know if it’s right for you?
It’s important to make sure you’re equipped to take on the role, as well as seeking out the best forklift truck training possible. This is a fulfilling career packed with variety and provides a feeling of satisfaction every time you complete a job.
Here are four skills essential to the success of a forklift operator:
Teamwork
Teamwork is a great skill to have for any job, but it comes in particularly handy for a forklift truck driver. Most of the time, you’ll be working with others to move multiple loads or pallets, often in environments with lots of different people. This means that collaborative skills are absolutely crucial to avoid mishaps and accidents.
Teamwork really does make the dream work!
Flexibility
You don’t have to be a gymnast to be a forklift truck driver, but it does help to be flexible. Adapting to new challenges and environments is part and parcel of the job. You’ll be loading an aircraft on one contract, manoeuvring around a busy warehouse on another.
The ability to adapt quickly to any given situation is a core skill required to make sure the job’s done quickly – and well.
The Ability to Cope Under Pressure
How do you react under pressure?
If you get easily flustered and don’t work well under stress or deadlines, being a forklift driver might not be the job for you.
The amount of work expected of you will vary from industry to industry, and each day is often completely different. Some jobs will ask you to push for tight deadlines, requiring you to complete challenging tasks in a short time frame.
Of course, health and safety are always paramount. Even when you’re working under pressure, you’ll be expected to follow through on your jobs with safety in line with HSE guidelines.
If you’re a consistent worker who can function well (and safely!) when the heat is on, forklift truck driving may well be a great career choice.
Stay Disciplined
Many associate self-discipline with meditation or exercise routines, but it’s a skill applicable to so many aspects of life, including working as a forklift operator.
As we mentioned, working under pressure requires consideration for health and safety. Discipline is the skill that makes sure you can do this, avoiding hazardous situations that put yourself, and others, at risk.
Every time you use your truck, you’ll be expected to carry out an inspection to make sure it’s safe to use. You should also constantly monitor your surroundings without becoming complacent.
Self-discipline allows us to stay on the ball – a skill every good forklift driver should have in their locker.
So, Do You Have What it Takes?
If you’re living in the Wirral or the surrounding area and are wondering how to get started in your forklifting career, get in touch! We offer comprehensive training that will give you the foundations you need to get started.
We’ll drive you all the way to success in your new career.
