Warehouse Forklift Operator

Pratt Industries; Dundee (FL); On-site; USD 19,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays

Wellness reimbursement

Tuition assistance

Employee referral bonuses

Job summary

Pratt Industries seeks an experienced Warehouse Forklift Operator to manage material handling, storage, and transfer across agricultural facilities, operating sit-down, stand-up, and rough-terrain forklifts to transport crops, produce, and equipment.

Responsibilities include staging harvests, using WMS for inventory, and maintaining safety and sanitation standards in varying weather and indoor/outdoor settings. High school diploma required; 1–2+ years experience preferred.

Qualifications

• Minimum 1–2+ years operating sit-down, stand-up, or rough-terrain forklifts.
• Active forklift operator certification or ability to obtain within 30 days.
• Experience in agricultural, food processing, or rural production environments is a plus.
• Familiarity with GAP/FSMA and OSHA safety guidelines is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Operate sit-down, stand-up, and rough-terrain forklifts in warehouses, packing facilities, and yards.
• Load, unload, and stage harvested crops, produce, crates, bins, and equipment.
• Move perishable goods quickly while maintaining cold-chain integrity.
• Follow safety, sanitation, and regulatory requirements during all shifts.

Skills

Forklift operation

Safety awareness

Communication skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Warehouse Management System (WMS)

Job description

POSITION TITLE: Warehouse Forklift Operator

REPORTS TO: Operations Manager

Summary

Responsible for all activities associated with safely operating and caring for the forklift.

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced and reliable Agricultural Forklift Operator to manage material handling, storage, and transfer across our agricultural facilities. In this role, you will safely operate sit-down and rough-terrain forklifts to transport raw harvests, palletized produce, and equipment. You will play a vital role in keeping our harvest and distribution pipelines running efficiently, safely, and in full compliance with agricultural sanitation standards.

Key Responsibilities

Agricultural Material Handling & Staging

• Safely operate sit-down, stand-up, and rough-terrain/outdoor forklifts across warehouse floors, packing facilities, gravel yards, and unpaved farm terrain.
• Load, unload, and stage incoming field harvests, crates, bins, bulk seed, fertilizer, and outgoing finished produce shipments.
• Transport perishable produce quickly and carefully to cooler units, processing lines, or staging areas to preserve product quality and cold-chain integrity.
• Stack, move, and organize heavy wooden crates, plastic agricultural bins, and specialized containers without damaging crop yields or packaging.

Facility Operations

• Monitor and maintain proper temperature protocols when staging or storing temperature-sensitive inventory in refrigerated environments.
• Support inventory control by scanning, logging, and tag-tracking incoming harvests, crop lot numbers, and outgoing freight using warehouse management systems (WMS).
• Assist farm and facility crews during peak harvest cycles with load prioritization and dock staging.

Safety, Sanitation & Compliance

• Perform daily pre-operation equipment inspections (fluid levels, hydraulics, tires, forks) and report any mechanical issues immediately.
• Adhere strictly to Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) standards, and OSHA safety guidelines.
• Maintain clean and sanitary operating equipment to prevent cross-contamination between field batches, fertilizers, and food products.
• Follow all speed, load-capacity, and safety regulations on rough, uneven, or wet rural terrain.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Experience: 1–2+ years of experience operating sit-down and/or rough-terrain forklifts, preferably in agricultural, food processing, or rural production environments.
• Certification: Active Forklift Operator Certification (or ability to pass facility certification within 30 days).
• Environment Expertise: Comfortable operating machinery on uneven ground, wet surfaces, inside cold storage/cooler rooms, and under varying weather conditions.
• Knowledge: Familiarity with GAP/food safety protocols, cold-chain handling, and agricultural supply chain procedures is a strong plus.
• Physical Demands: Sit/stand for long periods and work extended hours or modified shifts during peak harvest seasons.
• Attributes: High attention to safety, strong communication skills, and reliability during high-volume agricultural cycles.

Working Conditions

• Work environment includes indoor warehouses, cold-storage facilities, open-air staging yards, and field access points.
• Exposure to seasonal weather elements, varying temperatures (coolers), and dust/dirt standard to agricultural environments.

Education/Experience

High school or equivalent (Required)

Experience as a forklift operator

Benefits

• Day one: Paid Holidays, $500 wellness reimbursement, discounted gym memberships and $500 employee referral bonuses.
• Full benefits package within ONE MONTH of hire. Including company paid life insurance.
• Three months: 401(k) with company matching and enrollment into attendance bonus program earning up to $1000 per year in bonuses.
• Six months: Paid time off.
• 12 months: $35,000 in tuition reimbursement and PAID childbearing leave/parenting leave.
• Career Growth and opportunities for promotions. We hire from within!
• Competitive Salary - we pay for skills. The more you learn the more you earn.