{"id":8044,"date":"2015-10-06T06:10:44","date_gmt":"2015-10-06T11:10:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/?p=8044"},"modified":"2023-11-14T21:16:25","modified_gmt":"2023-11-15T03:16:25","slug":"hiring-forklift-drivers-part-ii-sourcing-interviewing-training-candidates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/forklifts\/hiring-forklift-drivers-part-ii-sourcing-interviewing-training-candidates\/","title":{"rendered":"Hiring Forklift Drivers \u2013 Part II: Sourcing, Interviewing, and training Candidates"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Training<\/a>
Training should include classroom sessions.
(Courtesy: Ken Pretell at flickr.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In my first installment of Hiring Forklift Drivers \u2013 Part I: Targeting the Right Candidate<\/em>, I discussed the process of targeting applicants such as identifying and seeking applications from experienced, skilled forklift operators.<\/p>\n

In Part II I will discuss how you can identify possible forklift operators from a reservoir of skilled individuals who have no experience driving forklifts.<\/p>\n

To find a potential forklift driver who may not have experience with forklifts specifically, you need to consider workers who do jobs that require the same skills and knowledge. This could include:<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Armed Forces veterans who have experience driving large vehicles.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Construction workers who operate large vehicles and\/or equipment.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Non-traditional workers including the long-term unemployed, former convicts, and people who are looking to re-enter the workforce after a bout and recovery with substance abuse.<\/p>\n

To help in your search, you may want to check out The National Association of Workforce Development Professionals<\/a>. They list community colleges and training non-profit organizations that help the non-traditional candidates prepare to join the workforce. You might find a source through them that trains people for forklift jobs.<\/p>\n

Of course, the interview process is essential. This gives you an opportunity to get to know the candidate on a one-on-one basis and seek additional information about his skills that may not appear in a resume or filled-out application form. Your interview can also focus on safety habits and whether or not the prospect is a team player.<\/p>\n

Possible questions include:<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have you ever suggested how to improve an activity or operation at a previous job? If, he answers yes, ask for details.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have you gone beyond the standards in assisting a customer?
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have you shown a concern with safety that has made a difference with fellow workers or to the company you worked for?<\/p>\n

You should also ask experienced forklift operators job specific questions like: Explain what a stability triangle is, etc.<\/p>\n

Of course, the hiring process must include a training program the prospective driver must go through before starting the job.<\/p>\n

The course should emphasize safety and can cover such things as:<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How a forklift engine works.<\/p>\n

\"Training<\/a>
Training should also include hands-on sessions.
(Courtesy: 25th Combat Aviation Brigrade at flickr.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How to steer a lift.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How to use forklift attachments.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Vehicle capacity and stability.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How to power up the vehicle.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Troubleshooting operational problems.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Maintaining a forklift
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What the differences are between a forklift and other vehicles.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How to deal with pedestrians in the work area.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How to negotiate narrow aisles and uneven surfaces.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Unsafe surfaces the driver should avoid.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hands-on activity that includes performing the picking routine.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Location of and how to use controls and instruments.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How to refuel the lift.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How to charge its batteries.
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Operation limitations
\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How to deal with load stacking, unstacking, and transport.<\/p>\n

The new employee training should not be the only training curriculum available. You should also include a refresher course in how to operate a forklift and you should create a policy for when the refresher course is administered to all working forklift employees. For example forklift operators who have been on the job for 3 to 4 years should be required to take the course. In addition, forklift operators who have been observed operating a lift in an unsafe manner, who has been involved in an accident or has received a bad evaluation should be required to take the refresher course.<\/p>\n

For more information on developing a training program, refer to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) training program handout<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In my first installment of Hiring Forklift Drivers \u2013 Part I: Targeting the Right Candidate, I discussed the process of targeting applicants such as identifying and seeking applications from experienced, skilled forklift operators. In Part II I will discuss how you can identify possible forklift operators from a reservoir of skilled individuals who have no … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,8,13,1067],"tags":[6,1078,15,1079],"class_list":["post-8044","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-forklifts","category-material-handling","category-safety","category-warehouse-management","tag-forklift","tag-forklifts","tag-industrial-equipment","tag-material-handling"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8044","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8044"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8044\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12186,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8044\/revisions\/12186"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8044"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8044"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahrns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8044"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}