Fork Lift driving?

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Discussion

Big Stevie

Original Poster:

594 posts

23 months

Thursday 19th January 2023
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Anyone have knowledge on the current situation surrounding fork lift truck driving?

What training is needed to be licensed, how long does this take, what does this cost, what are the job prospects and pay like etc?

I'm getting close to retiring and may choose to take up some part time work, but it would have to be stress free, being the opposite of what I do now, so I don't want to be public facing, or have to deal with ambiguity etc. For some reason fork lift driving appeals to me, working in a factory environment with a bunch of folk doing roles of a similar level etc.

I won't be chasing the money, just want to work in an environment where you can have a laugh with others, pick up work when I want it etc, or is this just a pipe dream?

Chipstick

335 posts

47 months

Thursday 19th January 2023
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I took a FLT 'test' about 15 years ago. It was an afternoon session I believe. A Health and Safety video to start, followed by a number of us being shown how to use the truck and practice manoeuvring. Employer paid for the training.

I suspect as it's not particularly skilful, I imagine the wages to be similar to a warehouse operative itself, unlikely to be paid a premium - but I'm sure someone in the industry will know more about the pay in todays market.

MBVitoria

2,505 posts

230 months

Thursday 19th January 2023
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In my experience, every job has the potential for stress and I can imagine FLT driving is no different, particularly if you end up with a nobhead for a boss.


Hammersia

1,564 posts

22 months

Thursday 19th January 2023
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So long as you're aware that you may meet people who are working class.

Big Stevie

Original Poster:

594 posts

23 months

Thursday 19th January 2023
quotequote all
MBVitoria said:
In my experience, every job has the potential for stress and I can imagine FLT driving is no different, particularly if you end up with a nobhead for a boss.

I guess it depends on what some people class as stress. I'm used to having to make instant decisions which can get scrutinised weeks later, with a tonne of sh** being thrown at me if my decision was wrong. Working for a nobhead wouldn't worry me. Plus I'll be retired, and can jack it in whenever I want.

However, is it a role where employers demand experience, that new starters just can't get?

Big Stevie

Original Poster:

594 posts

23 months

Thursday 19th January 2023
quotequote all
Hammersia said:
So long as you're aware that you may meet people who are working class.
That would be part of the attraction, being away from the office backstabbing PC woke type. Just me, my fork lift, and my packed lunch smile

JayRidesBikes

1,312 posts

136 months

Thursday 19th January 2023
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Chipstick said:
I took a FLT 'test' about 15 years ago. It was an afternoon session I believe. A Health and Safety video to start, followed by a number of us being shown how to use the truck and practice manoeuvring. Employer paid for the training.

I suspect as it's not particularly skilful, I imagine the wages to be similar to a warehouse operative itself, unlikely to be paid a premium - but I'm sure someone in the industry will know more about the pay in todays market.
This is exactly how my training went, videos then a little course laid out between some pallets during the afternoon. I got a whopping 50p an hour more than warehouse staff for having the licence.

DickyC

51,740 posts

205 months

Thursday 19th January 2023
quotequote all
Big Stevie said:
I guess it depends on what some people class as stress. I'm used to having to make instant decisions which can get scrutinised weeks later, with a tonne of sh** being thrown at me if my decision was wrong. Working for a nobhead wouldn't worry me. Plus I'll be retired, and can jack it in whenever I want.

However, is it a role where employers demand experience, that new starters just can't get?
When I did it, a farzand years ago, everyone started in the warehouse as a labourer and anyone showing 2oz of common sense was trained to be a fork truck driver. Two hours training (at most) then the newest recruit is given the oldest, slowest truck. A microcosm of life really.

One Amp Andy

1,462 posts

197 months

Thursday 19th January 2023
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Hammersia said:
So long as you're aware that you may meet people who are working class.
I know I shouldn't really rise to this obvious bait, but how do you define working class?
Do you not work at all?
I've met, and had a good business relationship with many warehouse blokes / FLT drivers. Speak to / treat them the same as you would expect in return.
Some of the people you meet on the FLT's actually own the warehouse. I own the company but can often be seen flying about on a forklift.

Hammersia

1,564 posts

22 months

Thursday 19th January 2023
quotequote all
One Amp Andy said:
Hammersia said:
So long as you're aware that you may meet people who are working class.
I know I shouldn't really rise to this obvious bait, but how do you define working class?
Do you not work at all?
I've met, and had a good business relationship with many warehouse blokes / FLT drivers. Speak to / treat them the same as you would expect in return.
Some of the people you meet on the FLT's actually own the warehouse. I own the company but can often be seen flying about on a forklift.
It was a scene from The Office...


One Amp Andy

1,462 posts

197 months

Thursday 19th January 2023
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Never watched it. Apologies if I've taken it out of context!

One Amp Andy

1,462 posts

197 months

Thursday 19th January 2023
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Big Stevie, whereabouts are you? If in the NW I could probably give you some work.

Big Stevie

Original Poster:

594 posts

23 months

Thursday 19th January 2023
quotequote all
One Amp Andy said:
Big Stevie, whereabouts are you? If in the NW I could probably give you some work.
Thanks Andy, kind offer, and that must have been the quickest and easiest job interview I've ever had smile

I'm in South Yorks, but won't be retiring for a little while yet, so not ready to actually do anything yet. I'm just thinking ahead for when the day comes. But I appreciate your contact.

One Amp Andy

1,462 posts

197 months

Thursday 19th January 2023
quotequote all
Big Stevie said:
Thanks Andy, kind offer, and that must have been the quickest and easiest job interview I've ever had smile

I'm in South Yorks, but won't be retiring for a little while yet, so not ready to actually do anything yet. I'm just thinking ahead for when the day comes. But I appreciate your contact.
Would be a bit of a commute! I have a few contacts around South Yorks, Notts area. When, or indeed, if you decide you want something like that, give me a shout and I'll see what I can do.
Have you thought about doing your HGV C+E and shunting? We have contracts around your area who need shunters.

Big Stevie

Original Poster:

594 posts

23 months

Thursday 19th January 2023
quotequote all
One Amp Andy said:
Would be a bit of a commute! I have a few contacts around South Yorks, Notts area. When, or indeed, if you decide you want something like that, give me a shout and I'll see what I can do.
Have you thought about doing your HGV C+E and shunting? We have contracts around your area who need shunters.
Thank you.

I already have my HGV Class 1 (or LGV??) licence from my Army days, but being honest I wouldn't want to take up HGV driving. When you refer to shunting, do you mean just manoeuvring trailers around a yard?

Bungleaio

6,395 posts

209 months

Thursday 19th January 2023
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I managed to get counterbalance and reach licenses when I was working in warehouses before getting my career off the ground. I had a fantastic time of very stress free work. There's a lot to be said for being able to get to the end of your shift and just walking out without a care.

rambo19

2,811 posts

144 months

Thursday 19th January 2023
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I drive a lorry for a living, and deal with forklift drivers every day.
It IS a skilled job, a good forkie can load me in under 30 minutes, the bad ones?, 60-90 minutes.

A regular place I load from, the drivers are on £16 per hour, more at weekends/nights.
They have just got a $1000 cost of living bonus( in dollars because they are a global company).

When I get fed up with driving the lorry, i'll end up doing the fork truck test.

About £700 for training and test.

r3g

3,750 posts

31 months

Thursday 19th January 2023
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rambo19 said:
I drive a lorry for a living, and deal with forklift drivers every day.
It IS a skilled job, a good forkie can load me in under 30 minutes, the bad ones?, 60-90 minutes.

A regular place I load from, the drivers are on £16 per hour, more at weekends/nights.
They have just got a $1000 cost of living bonus( in dollars because they are a global company).

When I get fed up with driving the lorry, i'll end up doing the fork truck test.

About £700 for training and test.
£16/hr for standard CB or Reach FLT driving is bonkers money! That's definitely a unique case and not the norm. Not even the agencies are paying that and it's even more than most experienced class 1 drivers get. In W Yorks you'll struggle to get more than £9/hr (via agency) and I doubt S Yorks would be any different.

Bendy ticket tends to get a bit more as they're specialised vs CB and Reach tickets, but check the demand in your area before going for that ticket. In general though, it's a job any muppet can do hence why it pays so poorly.

Be careful with the job ads as they are full of shysters. They advertise that it's just a FLT role, but once you're there you find that you're expected to pick stock, stack pallets, break down pallets, wrap pallets, in addition to your FLT driving, so you're a stock picker, warehouse labourer and FLT driver all for a single FLT wage of £9/hr. And, as you've got a class 1 ticket, that will slip out at some point and then it'll be "can you just pull that trailer off bay 5 and put us an empty on?", soon followed by "Dave the shunter has rung in sick - can you just take that load across to ABC Logistics opposite for us? It'll only take you 5 minutes". hehe

Yard shunting might be worth a look if you're sick of the open road and no idea what time you'll be finished. Fixed start and finish times, go home, switch off, forget about it all for 12 hours until you're back in 6am the following day. Just check that the Terberg has got a heater in it and it works if you're planning to work through the winter time wink .

Bungleaio

6,395 posts

209 months

Thursday 19th January 2023
quotequote all
A quick look and FLT jobs are around £12 per hour. I was earning £6.50 back in 2005 so it's not gone up a massive amount.

r3g

3,750 posts

31 months

Thursday 19th January 2023
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Bungleaio said:
A quick look and FLT jobs are around £12 per hour. I was earning £6.50 back in 2005 so it's not gone up a massive amount.
Lots of RDCs in the Midlands so more demand and hence more competition on the rates to get bums on seats. Away from the RDC hubs and big industrial areas, rates are pretty dismal.