Forklifting - Any advice?

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jinster if your in auto service now, why not look at finishing out your papers if your not already ticketed ? I'd do that then look at being a service advisor at a dealership, biggest thing you carry is a pencil.
If your at a dealershiop/service center that sucks, go to another dealer. I have several friends that are in the trade and happy enough with the work, owning 35k+ in tools hurts compared to being a plumber but my pals all make well beyond 50k, one is over 100 but he has a special gig. I'd stay with the auto tech and look into "special jobs" . Like installing trailer hitches and wiring, or work at an RV center on motor homes, or that company that puts all the lights and radios into police cars.

I've done forklift in a previous life, it was fun but I couldn't do it every day.
 
As others have mentioned, there is no recognized "license" for forklifts - it's usually just an in-house training course each company wants people to go through, so there may be companies that will not recognize training you've had elsewhere.

I worked in automotive engineering (with Magna) for about 16 years and had to get "licensed" to be allowed to move pallets of prototype parts around. The training was conducted over two days (could have been sandwiched into one easily enough), and while it was mildly interesting, I could not see doing that work day in and day out as something I'd want career-wise. In our shop, we referred to them as tow-motors, not forklifts.

On a side note, I was on the shop floor one day along with our General Manager when, in conversation with some of the shipping staff, one of the forklift operators bet the GM $100 that he (the forklift driver) could pick a quarter up off the floor with the forklift. The GM took the bet and the driver tossed a quarter down, got on the lift, drove up to the quarter and placed the tip of the fork on top of the edge of the quarter and then jigged the machine back while dropping the fork quickly - which flicked the quarter backwards and onto the top surface of the fork. The GM laughed, reached into his wallet, and handed over the cash.
 
Wargoose said:
As others have mentioned, there is no recognized "license" for forklifts - it's usually just an in-house training course each company wants people to go through, so there may be companies that will not recognize training you've had elsewhere.

I worked in automotive engineering (with Magna) for about 16 years and had to get "licensed" to be allowed to move pallets of prototype parts around. The training was conducted over two days (could have been sandwiched into one easily enough), and while it was mildly interesting, I could not see doing that work day in and day out as something I'd want career-wise. In our shop, we referred to them as tow-motors, not forklifts.

On a side note, I was on the shop floor one day along with our General Manager when, in conversation with some of the shipping staff, one of the forklift operators bet the GM $100 that he (the forklift driver) could pick a quarter up off the floor with the forklift. The GM took the bet and the driver tossed a quarter down, got on the lift, drove up to the quarter and placed the tip of the fork on top of the edge of the quarter and then jigged the machine back while dropping the fork quickly - which flicked the quarter backwards and onto the top surface of the fork. The GM laughed, reached into his wallet, and handed over the cash.
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Hey which division did u work at?

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Wargoose said:
Three of them over 16 years - Multimatic, Deco, and Dortec.
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Do you guys get to use the golf course for free? I always wanted to know.
 
There's no serious coin to be made driving a forklift.
Mobile servicing of forklifts however, can make you some really good money.
 
bunmanchi said:
ok, thats 62 K

also, remember any overtime is 1.5 and any holidays at 2.5. theeres a ton to made in overtime.
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Sounds like my workplace where forklifts make about $27/hour with $0.60 raises a year and o/t is 2.0 after 3 hours and 3.0 after 3 hours on holidays unless you work your 2nd day off which will be double all the way. Shift premium, freezer premium, meal allowances and it's easily 62k to possibly 6 digits. We work every holiday btw and sometimes 12 hours. If you have high senority pretty much you can work o/t everyday.

Don't know if our forklift drivers have to be certified though. I just jump on a forklift after asking what the buttons does and away I go. Yeah sounds stupid but it's Calgary. I do know if you want to be officially a forklift driver they have someone shadow you around a bit for the day. Don't know if anyone gets the paper certs.
 
psycho44 said:
Sounds like my workplace where forklifts make about $27/hour with $0.60 raises a year and o/t is 2.0 after 3 hours and 3.0 after 3 hours on holidays unless you work your 2nd day off which will be double all the way. Shift premium, freezer premium, meal allowances and it's easily 62k to possibly 6 digits. We work every holiday btw and sometimes 12 hours. If you have high senority pretty much you can work o/t everyday.

Don't know if our forklift drivers have to be certified though. I just jump on a forklift after asking what the buttons does and away I go. Yeah sounds stupid but it's Calgary. I do know if you want to be officially a forklift driver they have someone shadow you around a bit for the day. Don't know if anyone gets the paper certs.
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Where is this?

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
 
Federated Co-op food building. I'm a material handler there making $25 with $0.60 raise every year and all sorts of bonuses and premiums. Best part is my workplace lies right across the street from my house. Won't find a job this sweet again but I'm going to work one more year and move back to Toronto.
 
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