Industrial Forklift Operator

Job Description

Job Description

Industrial Forklift Operator

Evans, GA | Labor Finders - Martinez Branch | Temp-to-Hire

Pay: $18-$20/hour
Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM-4:00 PM typical
Hours: 45–50+ per week, including overtime
Anticipated Start: October 19, 2026

Labor Finders is seeking an experienced Industrial Forklift Operator for an established client in Evans, GA. This position combines large-capacity forklift operation, industrial material handling, and customer service in an active warehouse and metal-yard environment.

This is not a typical small-warehouse forklift job. You will operate a large-capacity, sit-down diesel counterbalance forklift to move heavy building materials, including long, wide, and elevated loads, around trucks, equipment, coworkers, and customers.

Customer service is an important part of this position. Approximately 10% of the job involves assisting the public and customers with material pickups, orders, loading, unloading, and questions. The client values respectful, helpful, service-oriented employees who can represent the business professionally while maintaining safe operations.

Typical Breakdown of Responsibilities

• 80% - Forklift Operations: Load and unload trucks; move, stage, and retrieve building materials; handle drywall packets and other heavy, long, wide, or elevated loads.

• 10% - Cleanup and Material Handling: Maintain organized work areas, clean the warehouse and yard, and assist with general material-handling duties.

• 10% - Customer Service: Assist customer pickups and public orders, load vehicles, answer basic questions, and interact professionally with customers.

Equipment and loads: Operate a large-capacity, sit-down diesel counterbalance forklift designed for industrial material handling. Loads may weigh up to approximately 10,000 lbs., extend 30-40 feet in length collectively, or be stored at heights up to 20 feet. Safe positioning, awareness, and control are essential.

At least 2 years of relevant industrial forklift experience is strongly preferred. The client is looking for experience that translates to operating large-capacity equipment and handling substantial materials, not simply familiarity with any forklift.

• Experience operating large-capacity, sit-down counterbalance forklifts.

• Experience in building-material facilities, metal yards, lumber yards, industrial distribution, or comparable operations.

• Ability to discuss previous equipment, capacities, load sizes, and material-handling responsibilities.

• Comfort working around long, wide, heavy, and elevated loads.

• Dependable attendance, punctuality, good judgment, and willingness to learn.

• Customer-focused attitude, respectful communication, and professional conduct.

• Ability to perform physical duties, including frequent handling of materials around 65 lbs. and occasional lifting up to 90 lbs.

• Availability for 45–50+ hours per week, overtime is a required part of the job.

Experience that may not be a fit: Candidates whose experience is primarily limited to small warehouse forklifts, stand-up forklifts, propane-powered warehouse equipment, or pallet jacks generally will not have the specific background this assignment requires. Experience in small-equipment environments, including certain golf-cart manufacturing or retail warehouse operations, should not be treated as equivalent without verifying actual large-capacity counterbalance experience.

Forklift certification is preferred, but the client's own qualification process is required. Candidates must be prepared to demonstrate their skills and learn the client's equipment and procedures.

Work environment: A combination of warehouse and outdoor metal-yard operations, with different material types, sizes, and loads. Most duties take place inside the warehouse, but the facility is not climate controlled. Winter warehouse temperatures average around 60&degree;F, while summer conditions can become hot. Climate-controlled bathrooms are available for warming up or cooling down, and water and an ice machine are provided.

Start-time expectation: Arrive approximately 30 minutes early. In this workplace, that means clocking in, eating breakfast if desired, getting settled, and ensuring you are fully prepared to begin work at 7:00 AM sharp . Because of delivery schedules, arriving at 7:01 AM is considered unacceptable. Plan your commute accordingly.

Breaks: One 30-minute unpaid break during the workday.

Required PPE and safety rules:

• Reflective vest or high-visibility shirt.

• Steel-toe work boots with metatarsal guards .

• Work gloves.

• Seatbelt must be worn whenever operating the forklift.

• No earbuds while working.

Safe equipment operation, awareness of people and vehicles, following instructions, and asking questions whenever a load or procedure is unclear are essential.

We want you to know exactly where you are going and what comes next.

1. Submit Your Application - Apply through Labor Finders with accurate contact information, work history, forklift experience, and availability.

2. Phone Interview - Discuss your experience, equipment familiarity, schedule, qualifications, and fit for the assignment.

3. On-Site Interview with Labor Finders - Meet with our team to review the opportunity, confirm expectations, answer questions, and prepare for a successful client interview.

4. Client Interview - Meet with the client and complete the next stage of the interview and qualification process.

5. Application and Onboarding - Return to Labor Finders to complete the required application paperwork, onboarding and additional drug testing, before beginning the assignment.

Then it's off to work. The client has its own equipment qualification and training process, including approximately 13 initial training courses. Most initial training is planned for day one, followed by a ramp-up period to learn the operation, equipment, materials, and site procedures. The client does not necessarily require an existing forklift certification in place of its own qualification process; candidates must still successfully meet the client's requirements before operating equipment.

The qualification and training timeline can vary and may take up to approximately two weeks.

• Safety: Operate the equipment responsibly and follow site procedures.

• Reliability: Arrive prepared before 7:00 AM and maintain consistent attendance.

• Learning: Take training seriously, follow direction, and ask questions.

• Customer service: Treat customers, coworkers, and supervisors respectfully and helpfully.

• Performance: Handle materials carefully, maintain an organized work area, and contribute to an efficient operation.

Labor Finders remains your staffing partner throughout the assignment. We will maintain contact, evaluate how things are progressing, and help address work-related needs or concerns as they arise. Communicate with us early so we can help you navigate challenges and succeed.

The anticipated temporary period is approximately 60 days through Labor Finders, with the goal of transitioning to direct employment with the client as per client request. Still yet, direct hire depends on performance, business needs, and long-term fit and is not guaranteed. Yearly raises may be available after direct hire under the client's applicable practices.

Make sure you understand the equipment experience required, physical demands, customer-facing responsibilities, strict arrival expectations, PPE requirements, overtime schedule, and multi-step hiring and training process.

If you have the relevant industrial counterbalance forklift experience, dependable work habits, and a customer-service mindset, apply through Labor Finders.

Labor Finders – Martinez Branch
4210 Columbia Road, Suite 5A
Martinez, GA 30907

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