Forklift Operator

Work Location: Deltak Manufacturing Inc. – 4418 Pesson Rd, New Iberia, LA 70560

Employment Type: Full-Time, At-Will, Safety Sensitive

Equal Opportunity Employer – M/F/V/D

Bring your work experience,knowledge and talent!

Come for the money, stay for the career!

Job Overview

We are seeking an experienced Forklift / Telehandler Operator to join our manufacturing team. The ideal candidate will safely operate straight-mast forklifts, telehandlers, zoom booms, and other approved material-handling equipment to move, load, unload, stage, and organize metal products, raw materials, fabricated components, equipment, and supplies throughout the facility.

The Forklift / Telehandler Operator will support production, fabrication, shipping, receiving, rigging, and other departments by safely and efficiently moving materials while maintaining proper load handling, equipment inspection, and material placement. The successful candidate must be comfortable working around steel, heavy equipment, overhead cranes, trucks, trailers, and active manufacturing operations.

Responsibilities

• Safely operate straight-mast forklifts, telehandlers/zoom booms, and other approved material-handling equipment to move, load, unload, transport, and stage materials.
• Perform pre-operation inspections and report equipment damage, defects, or maintenance concerns.
• Safely handle steel, plate, pipe, sheet metal, fabricated components, machinery, and other heavy or oversized materials.
• Verify loads are properly positioned, balanced, secured, and within the rated capacity of the equipment and attachments.
• Move materials between receiving, production, fabrication, storage, shipping, and designated staging areas according to production requirements.
• Safely operate in congested industrial areas while maintaining awareness of pedestrians, overhead cranes, suspended loads, trucks, machinery, structures, and other hazards.
• Use spotters when necessary and communicate effectively with supervisors, riggers, crane operators, production personnel, and other employees.
• Assist with loading and unloading trucks, trailers, and other transportation equipment.
• Safely position and stage materials to support production and shipping requirements.
• Report damaged materials, unstable loads, unsafe conditions, or equipment concerns to the appropriate supervisor.
• Maintain equipment, storage areas, and work areas in a clean and organized condition.
• Complete required equipment inspections, material movement records, and other documentation.
• Follow all company safety, quality, production, and housekeeping requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned by management.

Required Experience

• Minimum of 5 or more years of experience operating forklifts, telehandlers, or similar powered industrial equipment, with at least 5 years of recent hands-on experience.
• Previous experience operating straight-mast forklifts and telehandlers/zoom booms is required.
• Experience operating equipment comparable to the following is required:
• Taylor / Big Red straight-mast diesel forklifts
• Hyundai 25L-7A straight-mast propane forklift
• Genie GTH-5519 telehandler
• JLG 1255 telehandler
• Genie GTH-844 telehandler
• JLG 12054 telehandler
• Experience operating diesel and propane-powered forklifts in a manufacturing, fabrication, construction, or industrial environment.
• Experience safely handling steel, metal products, raw materials, fabricated components, or other heavy and oversized materials.
• Working knowledge of load capacity, load stability, center of gravity, proper load positioning, and equipment limitations.
• Ability to safely maneuver equipment in congested industrial areas and around pedestrians, cranes, trucks, trailers, and other equipment.
• Ability to perform pre-operation inspections and recognize equipment or workplace hazards.
• Ability to safely load and unload trucks and trailers and position materials throughout a manufacturing facility.
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions and communicate effectively with coworkers and supervisors.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining production, quality, and safety requirements.

Required Certifications

• Current OSHA-compliant Forklift and Rough-Terrain Telehandler Operator Certification , with training appropriate to the equipment operated.

Preferred Experience

• Experience handling large steel structures, plate, pipe, fabricated assemblies, machinery, or other heavy metal products.
• Experience loading and unloading flatbed trailers, trucks, or other commercial vehicles.
• Experience working around overhead cranes and active rigging operations.
• Forklift and/or telehandler operator certification and documented training.
• Strong mechanical aptitude.
• Experience working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment with established production, quality, and safety goals.

Physical Requirements

• Must pass a pre-employment screening.
• Ability to wear all required PPE for the position.
• Ability to stand and walk throughout an 8–10 hour shift.
• Ability to safely enter and exit forklift and telehandler equipment repeatedly throughout a shift.
• Ability to lift and carry 50 lbs. routinely and up to 75 lbs. occasionally while utilizing proper lifting procedures.
• Frequent stooping, bending, reaching, pushing, pulling, and climbing.
• Ability to work indoors or outdoors in year-round weather, including rain.
• Ability to maintain situational awareness while operating equipment in an active manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work around overhead cranes, suspended loads, trucks, trailers, machinery, steel structures, and other industrial equipment.
• Ability to work overtime, weekends, or extended shifts as production requirements dictate.

This position offers an opportunity for an experienced equipment operator to support manufacturing operations by safely and efficiently moving raw materials, metal products, fabricated components, and equipment throughout the facility. The successful candidate will bring strong equipment-operating skills, mechanical aptitude, attention to detail, and a commitment to safety, quality, and production.