Forklift Operator

Who We Are:
Plain Dealing Lumber is a harvesting and lumber manufacturing company in Plain Dealing, LA, committed to sustainable forestry and producing high-quality wood products. Our fast-paced, hands-on environment prioritizes safety, teamwork, and opportunities for continuous growth and long-term skill development.

Job Summary:
The Forklift Operator plays a key role in keeping materials and production moving safely and efficiently throughout Plain Dealing Lumber’s mill, yard, and shipping operations. This position operates forklifts and material-handling equipment to load, unload, stack, stage, and transport lumber and other materials. Working closely with supervisors and mill personnel, the Forklift Operator helps maintain an organized material flow and ensures trucks and railcars are loaded safely, accurately, and on schedule.

This is a shift position based out of our Plain Dealing, LA facility, with 1st shift (6:00 am–6:00 pm) and 2nd shift (6:00 pm–6:00 am) options available. 

Hourly rate: $18.50

Essential Responsibilities:

• Safely operate forklifts and other material-handling equipment to load, unload, move, and stage lumber and other materials.
• Stack, sort, and organize lumber and finished products according to grade, size, and order requirements.
• Transport materials between production areas, yard storage, and shipping and receiving areas to support efficient production flow.
• Load and unload trucks and railcars, verifying product type, quantities, and destinations against shipping and production documentation.
• Complete pre-shift and post-shift forklift inspections, checking tires, forks, fluids, and safety equipment and reporting maintenance needs promptly.
• Maintain accurate material and inventory placement and assist with cycle counts and physical inventory as needed.
• Follow all forklift and workplace safety requirements, including speed limits, load capacities, pedestrian right-of-way, and required PPE.
• Keep forklift travel paths, yard areas, and workspaces clean, organized, and free of hazards.
• Communicate with supervisors, equipment operators, and production teams to coordinate material movement and prevent delays.
• Assist with general yard, mill housekeeping, and manual material-handling tasks as needed.
• Promptly report accidents, near-misses, safety concerns, and equipment malfunctions to a supervisor.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Valid forklift certification or ability to obtain PDL certification upon hire; training provided.
• Prior forklift or similar industrial equipment experience preferred.
• Ability to read basic shipping documents, labels, and product specifications with strong attention to detail and safety.
• Ability to work in outdoor and industrial conditions, including varying weather, noise, and dust, with flexibility for rotating shifts, overtime, and weekends.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in a sawmill, lumber yard, or manufacturing environment.
• Experience operating multiple types of material-handling equipment (sit-down forklift, reach truck, etc.).

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements:

• Work is performed primarily in mill yard, shipping, and receiving areas with regular exposure to heat, cold, rain, noise, dust, moving equipment, and varying weather conditions.
• Regularly work in physically demanding conditions around forklifts, industrial equipment, lumber, and active production and shipping areas.
• Prolonged operation of a forklift throughout the shift, with regular sitting, standing, walking, and climbing on and off equipment.
• Frequent lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling of materials and equipment weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Regularly twist, bend, crouch, stoop, reach, push, pull, and perform other repetitive tasks associated with forklift and material-handling operations.
• See, hear, communicate, and perform tasks requiring manual dexterity and visual acuity to safely operate equipment and navigate active production, yard, and shipping areas.
• Required use of personal protective equipment (PPE), including hard hats, safety glasses, steel-toed boots, hearing protection, and high-visibility vests, in designated production and yard areas.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

Plain Dealing Lumber is committed to cultivating a workplace where diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences help drive our innovation and success. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. Plain Dealing Lumber is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.