Forklift Operator Resume Sample

Forklift operator resume template

Follow the template below to format your resume professionally and make a strong first impression on hiring managers.

How to write a forklift operator resume

A good forklift operator resume shows off your experience, relevant skills and greatest achievements. Show employers you’re a competent forklift operator with these writing tips:

1. Draw attention to your forklift operator skills

Forklift operators need a specific skill-set, because they work with specialized heavy machinery on a daily basis.

To get invited for an interview, you need to prove to employers that you’ve got the soft skills and hard skills required to join their company as a forklift driver.

Below is a list of forklift operator skills for your resume:

• MHE operation
• Physical strength
• Safety training
• Attention to detail
• Math skills
• RF scanning equipment
• Shrink wrapping
• Data entry
• Problem solving
• Damage inspection
• Teamwork
• Lean warehousing
• Communication
• Computer literacy
• WMS systems

Here’s an example of how to write a bullet point that effectively highlights your most relevant skills:

• Exceeded expectations for shipping deliveries with counterbalance and rough terrain forklifts, resulting in promotion to Lead Forklift Operator position in August 20XX

This example works because the candidate specifies which type of forklifts they’re comfortable operating, and how their skills led to them receiving a promotion.

2. Highlight your work history with a clear resume summary

Your resume summary is your first chance to make a good impression on hiring managers. Impress them by opening with a strong forklift operator resume summary that highlights your certifications and skills.

A resume summary is a 2–4 sentence introduction placed at the top of your resume that gives employers an instant look at your qualifications and professional background. Here’s a quick guide for how to write a resume summary as a forklift operator:

1. Start by listing your work experience in years. Use hard numbers as they are more impactful.
2. Mention any essential qualities or certifications that your role requires. For example, forklift operators must follow OSHA safety guidelines by being certified and attentive.
3. Briefly list 1–2 of your main job duties by describing the work environments you regularly work in, the types of equipment you use, or how much you can lift.
4. Personalize the last sentence by including the company’s name and briefly describing how your skills and experience will help them.

Here’s a resume summary from our forklift operator resume example:

3. Add skills and requirements that match the forklift operator job description

To help you land more jobs as a forklift operator, make a targeted resume. A targeted resume lists the specific skills and experience that hiring managers are looking for and presents you as a top applicant.

Review each job description carefully and match the exact resume keywords used throughout your forklift driver resume. This means that you’ll have to adjust each resume you send out to every role you apply for in order to show employers that you meet their expectations.

Here’s an example of keywords to look out for in a forklift operator job description and add to your resume:

Inspect products for damage, observe proper lifting techniques and put away products using MHE

Besides demonstrating that you’re a qualified candidate, incorporating keywords from the job description prevents your resume from getting automatically rejected by applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Large companies like Amazon use applicant tracking systems to eliminate irrelevant or poorly written resumes, so it’s important to make sure your resume makes it past this software.

To help you get started, here are the most common words and phrases from real forklift operator job descriptions:

4. Mention your certifications

A forklift operator needs to receive training before they can drive a forklift. List any certifications related to operating a forklift clearly in the education section of your resume and in your resume summary.

To be able to operate a forklift, you’ll need to get a OSHA Forklift Certification for the specific type of forklift you’ll be driving. OSHA offers both 10-hour and 30-hour online courses, but each state has different requirements so review the company’s job posting and website before applying for specific jobs.

Depending on the position, your employer might also require you to get a Commercial Driver’s license (CDL).

Here’s an example of how to list certifications in the education section of your resume:

Remember to include:

1. The name of the certification
2. The name of the awarding institution
3. When it was awarded

5. Quantify your forklift experience

To convince employers that they should hire you, demonstrate how you can benefit the company by quantifying your experience section.

Instead of writing down a long list of responsibilities you’ve held in the past, write 4-5 bullet points that focus on your greatest achievements at your previous jobs.

Below is a good example of how to focus on achievements in your work experience section:

• Maintained clean, organized aisles and reported issues to the supervisor, contributing to a 10% decrease in damaged and lost goods

There are many different types of accomplishments that can be quantified on your forklift operator resume, including:

• Increase in efficiency
• Decrease in workplace accidents
• New employees trained
• Decrease in damaged or lost goods

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Average forklift operator salaries in the US

After you’ve written your resume, make sure you use it to apply for jobs within a fair salary range.

The following table includes information from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics report for 2025. Here are the ten states with the highest salaries for forklift operators, as well as the national average for your reference when applying for work.