Forklift Operator And Material Handler

Job Title: Forklift Operator and Material Handler

Job Description

This role operates a variety of powered industrial trucks to safely load, unload, and move materials within a paper processing and manufacturing facility. The forklift operator and material handler supports production and logistics by transporting products, maintaining accurate inventory counts, and assisting with general warehouse duties while consistently following safety, quality, and operational standards.

Responsibilities

• Operate sit-down forklifts, order pickers, pallet jacks, and electric pallet jacks to load, unload, and transport materials throughout the facility.

• Load and unload semi-trailer trucks and move products to designated storage, staging, or production areas.

• Handle materials safely using forklifts equipped with forks, clamps, grapples, or lifting platforms, ensuring proper placement and secure loads.

• Perform daily equipment inspections and safety checks on forklifts and other material handling equipment, identifying and reporting any maintenance or safety concerns.

• Lubricate equipment, recharge batteries, fill fuel tanks, or replace liquefied-gas tanks as needed to keep equipment in safe working condition.

• Maintain accurate inventory counts and record material movements, promptly reporting any discrepancies to the appropriate personnel.

• Follow written work instructions, labels, and inventory documentation to ensure correct material handling and order fulfillment.

• Navigate through aisles, ramps, trucks, and storage areas while recognizing spatial limits such as doorways, shelves, and narrow aisles to prevent damage or incidents.

• Support general warehouse, loading, unloading, palletizing, and material handling tasks, including physical and general labor as needed.

• Adhere to all safety, quality, and operational standards, including the proper use of personal protective equipment and compliance with facility procedures.

• Collaborate with production, logistics, and warehouse teams to ensure efficient material flow and timely support of manufacturing operations.

Essential Skills

• At least 6 months of consistent forklift (FL) experience operating sit-down forklifts and related material handling equipment.

• Proven ability to operate forklifts safely, including maneuvering through aisles, ramps, trucks, and storage areas in a busy warehouse or manufacturing environment.

• Knowledge of forklift load capacities, dimensions, and balance requirements to safely handle and transport materials.

• Ability to recognize spatial limits such as doorways, shelves, and aisles for safe placement of materials and prevention of damage.

• Familiarity with warehouse layouts and material flow to support efficient loading, unloading, and order picking.

• Capability to exert 20–50 lbs occasionally, 10–25 lbs frequently, and up to 10 lbs constantly during lifting, carrying, and material handling tasks.

• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs occasionally and 20–50 lbs frequently as part of daily activities.

• Basic math skills, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, and percentages, to support inventory and documentation tasks.

• Reading and writing skills sufficient to follow work instructions, read labels, and complete inventory reports accurately.

• Comfort working in a loud industrial environment with occasional exposure to weather, humidity, vibration, and various atmospheric conditions.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with order picking, order pulling, and palletizing in a logistics or warehouse setting.

• General labor or physical labor roles within manufacturing, logistics, or distribution environments.

• Familiarity with electric pallet jacks and other powered industrial trucks beyond sit-down forklifts.

• Ability to multitask between forklift operation and general warehouse duties while maintaining safety and accuracy.

• Strong attention to detail when handling inventory, labeling, and documentation.

Why Work Here?

This opportunity offers a supportive environment where you can build a long-term career in a stable manufacturing and logistics setting. You receive two weeks of paid vacation starting on day one, providing immediate work-life balance. Once you transition to full-time status, you gain access to a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision coverage, as well as HSA and FSA options, an employee assistance program, and a 401(k) plan to support your financial future. The facility provides a dedicated break room so you can recharge during your shift, and the team-oriented culture emphasizes safety, reliability, and continuous improvement.

Work Environment

The role is based in a paper processing and manufacturing facility with a production floor that is very loud and fast-paced. You will work around heavy machinery, powered industrial trucks, and moving materials, with occasional exposure to weather, humidity, vibration, and various atmospheric conditions when loading or unloading trailers. The position involves regular physical and general labor, including lifting and carrying materials up to 50 lbs. Training is scheduled from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with subsequent shift assignments that include a second shift. Steel toe or composite safety shoes are required at all times on the production floor, along with adherence to all facility safety rules and personal protective equipment requirements. You will work with sit-down forklifts, order pickers, pallet jacks, and electric pallet jacks in a structured warehouse layout designed to support efficient logistics and material handling

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Covington, TN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $16.25 - $16.25/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 Covington,TN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 2, 2026.

About Aerotek

We know that finding work is hard, and finding meaningful work is harder. Aerotek connects 180,000+ light industrial and skilled trades workers with 14,000+ employers each year, helping our workers navigate an evolving labor market and find jobs that meets their goals, skills and interests. Since 1983, we have provided a variety of career opportunities across North American industry – from short-term assignments at Fortune 500 companies where you can build your skills, to long-term opportunities where you can play a vital role solving for companies’ construction, manufacturing and maintenance challenges. Our 1,500+ experienced recruiters across 250+ offices work relentlessly to put our workforce in a position to thrive. Let us rise to meet your challenges and put our people-are everything spirit to the test as your career continues to grow.

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.