Forklift Operator

Job Title: Material Handler / Forklift and Crane Operator

Location: Wellsville, PA

12-hour rotating schedule

Pay: $19/hr

Job Description

This full-time role focuses on safely loading, unloading, staging, and securing materials using forklifts, overhead cranes, and related equipment in a high-volume industrial environment. You will play a key role in organizing materials for customer orders, optimizing truck space, and maintaining accurate records while working 12-hour rotating shifts.

Responsibilities

• Read work orders or follow clear verbal instructions to determine which materials or containers need to be loaded, moved, or staged.

• Load and unload materials using loading straps and forklifts to transfer items to trailers or designated staging areas.

• Stage materials in an organized manner that allows easy access for loading customer orders, collaborating with the team to establish and follow best practices.

• Calculate weights and volumes to ensure loads fit safely on trailers and that space is used efficiently and effectively.

• Make informed decisions on how to best load customer orders and stage materials to maximize safety and efficiency.

• Load materials into vehicles and install strapping, bracing, or padding to prevent shifting or damage during transit.

• Transfer materials from storage or work sites to designated areas, coordinating with team members to determine the best storage methods.

• Secure lifting attachments to materials and move loads safely to their destinations using overhead cranes, forklifts, or combi equipment.

• Count, weigh, and record the number of units moved or handled on daily production sheets to maintain accurate inventory and production records.

• Pay close attention to detail to ensure loads fit properly in trucks, optimizing truck space based on customer orders, weights, and stop sequence.

• Attach identifying tags or labels to materials or clearly mark information on containers and bundles to indicate location, weight, and other key details.

• Stack or assemble materials into bundles and band them together for staging on skids, ensuring bundle sizes and skid loads are stable and properly balanced.

• Lift heavy objects manually or with power hoists and maintain cleanliness of the work area, machines, and equipment.

• Assemble pallets and side kit structures to secure and contain products on trailers, ensuring loads are stable, protected, and compliant with safety requirements.

• Operate industrial trucks and electric hoists to assist in loading, unloading, and moving materials and finished products.

• Maintain a neat and orderly work area, performing general housekeeping after building skids and assisting with housekeeping in staging areas and overflow baskets.

• Band baskets for transfers to the York location, ensuring they are secure and properly labeled for transport.

• Consistently follow all safety procedures and guidelines, ensuring all items are loaded and handled safely at all times.

• Perform other related duties as assigned to support production, shipping, and material handling operations.

Essential Skills

• Experience operating an overhead crane in an industrial or manufacturing environment.

• Experience operating forklifts, including loading, unloading, and staging materials; occasional use of combi equipment.

• Strong spatial awareness and the ability to load and stage materials in a safe, efficient manner, optimizing available space.

• Self-motivation and a strong commitment to safety in all material handling and equipment operations.

• Basic math skills, including the ability to add and subtract two-digit numbers and multiply and divide using tens and hundreds.

• Ability to follow and adhere to established manufacturing procedures and work instructions.

• Ability to suggest practical improvements to manufacturing and material handling procedures.

• Ability to work around heat and in non-climate-controlled environments.

• Ability to stand for long periods of time and perform physically demanding tasks, including lifting and moving heavy materials.

• Comfort working in a production, industrial, and material handling setting with machinery and heavy equipment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Previous experience in production or industrial environments involving material handling and machine operation.

• Familiarity with inventory tracking, including counting, weighing, and recording units on production or inventory sheets.

• Experience using industrial trucks, electric hoists, and related material handling equipment.

• Attention to detail in labeling, tagging, and documenting materials for proper identification and storage.

• Ability to work effectively as part of a team, coordinating loading, staging, and storage methods.

• Willingness to perform general housekeeping duties to maintain a clean, safe, and organized work area.

• Comfort working 12-hour rotating shifts, including weekdays and weekends.

Why Work Here?

The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package that supports your financial security, health, and work-life balance. You can take advantage of dental and vision insurance, as well as a 401(k) retirement savings plan with a company match of 100% on up to 4% of your contributions. The benefits program includes AD&D insurance and a structured vacation plan that grows with your tenure, starting with 20 hours after six months of service and increasing quarterly as your years of service progress. After one year, you also receive personal time to support your life outside of work. All holiday hours are paid at 1.5 times your regular pay, rewarding your commitment during peak times. The company invests in your safety by providing safety glasses, hearing protection, and prescription safety glasses with a generous reimbursement every two years, along with full reimbursement for safety shoes through approved providers. You will benefit from structured training, clear opportunities for growth, and strong advancement potential as many experienced team members approach retirement, creating pathways into new roles and responsibilities.

Work Environment

This is a full-time position working 12-hour rotations. Monday through Friday shifts run from 5:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Saturday–Sunday rotations run from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The role is based in a manufacturing and staging environment that can be dirty and dusty and is not temperature controlled, which means it can become very hot during the summer months. You will work around heavy equipment, including forklifts, overhead cranes, combi units, industrial trucks, electric hoists, and various production machinery. The position requires prolonged standing, regular lifting, and frequent movement throughout the facility. Safety equipment is an integral part of the work environment: safety glasses and hearing protection are provided and required for anyone entering the manufacturing area. Prescription safety glasses are available through a contracted optical provider with a defined reimbursement plan, and safety shoes are required and reimbursed in full when ordered through approved providers. The dress code consists of jeans or work pants, a plain shirt, and steel-toe footwear appropriate for industrial work. The environment emphasizes safety, adherence to procedures, and teamwork while operating in a high-activity production setting.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Wellsville, PA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $19.00 - $19.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision

• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital

• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available

• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)

• Short and long-term disability

• Health Spending Account (HSA)

• Transportation benefits

• Employee Assistance Program

• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Wellsville,PA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 24, 2026.

About Aerotek

Aerotek® Inc. provides staffing and services solutions in manufacturing, logistics, construction, aviation, facilities and maintenance. We provide the expertise, solutions and people required to rise to the challenges of North American industry. Headquartered in Hanover, Md., Aerotek operates a unified network of over 200 offices across North America, supporting more than 18,000 clients each year. Aerotek is an Allegis Group company, the global leader in workforce and business solutions. To learn more, visit: Aerotek.com | 1-888-AEROTEK.

Aerotek offers weekly pay, employee benefits including medical, dental & vision, life insurance, health advocacy and employee assistance programs, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.