Forklift Operator- Macon, GA

Job Summary

The Forklift Operator is responsible for the safe and efficient movement, loading, unloading, staging, and stacking of brick products within the loading yard. Responsibilities include loading and unloading trucks, transporting and restocking products, staging products for shipment, repairing and securing brick cubes, verifying products and quantities, performing forklift inspections, and maintaining a clean and organized work area. The position requires continuous awareness of pedestrians, trucks, railcars, other equipment, stored products, and changing yard conditions.

Essential Job Functions

• Safely operate a sit-down forklift to transport, stage, stack, restock, load, and unload brick products.
• Load and unload trucks according to established procedures, product requirements, weight distribution requirements, and safety standards.
• Transport, restock, stage, and safely position brick products in designated loading-yard and storage areas.
• Inspect brick cubes for loose, damaged, missing, or improperly positioned brick.
• Repair, restack, and secure brick cubes using approved straps, corner protectors, strapping tools, and other packaging materials.
• Safely operate manual strapping and tensioning tools.
• Verify products, quantities, labels, and load information before moving, loading, or unloading products.
• Ensure loads are stable, properly positioned, and safely stacked before transporting or lifting.
• Perform required pre-use forklift inspections, including inspection of forks, tires, controls, warning devices, seat belts, and other required components.
• Immediately report forklift damage, mechanical problems, defective safety equipment, unsafe conditions, and other equipment concerns.
• Maintain safe operating speeds and adjust operation based on pedestrians, traffic, visibility, surface conditions, blind spots, and surrounding hazards.
• Follow designated traffic patterns, loading procedures, pedestrian rules, and established safe work practices.
• Identify and report damaged brick, unstable cubes, improperly packaged products, incorrect product placement, and other product-quality concerns.
• Maintain accurate product movement records and assist with inventory counts and product verification.
• Maintain a clean and organized loading yard and remove broken brick, discarded packaging, and other debris from work areas.
• Communicate effectively with supervisors, truck drivers, forklift operators, and coworkers.
• Follow written and verbal instructions and assist with other loading-yard, shipping, and operational activities as directed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit for extended periods while operating a forklift and frequently enter and exit equipment.
• Ability to stand and walk throughout the loading yard as required.
• Ability to frequently bend, stoop, crouch, kneel, squat, reach, twist, turn, and work at or above shoulder height.
• Ability to frequently rotate and turn the head, neck, shoulders, and upper body to maintain visibility while backing, maneuvering, and operating equipment.
• Ability to use hands, wrists, arms, legs, and feet to operate forklift controls and perform assigned duties.
• Ability to grip, grasp, push, pull, and manipulate forklift controls, brick, straps, tools, and other materials.
• Ability to lift, carry, position, and handle materials weighing up to 50 pounds without assistance.
• Ability to perform repetitive hand, wrist, arm, shoulder, and upper-body movements while repairing and strapping brick cubes.
• Ability to apply repeated pulling and downward force when operating manual strapping and tensioning tools.
• Ability to maintain the visual and auditory awareness necessary to safely operate powered industrial equipment.
• Ability to work on uneven surfaces and around forklifts, trucks, railcars, loading equipment, and stored products.
• Ability to work outdoors in heat, cold, sunlight, rain, wind, and changing weather conditions.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment throughout the work shift.

Work Environment

• Industrial loading-yard and brick-manufacturing environment.
• Work is performed primarily outdoors around active loading and shipping operations.
• Exposure to heat, cold, rain, sunlight, dust, noise, vibration, and changing weather conditions.
• Exposure to moving forklifts, trucks, railcars, loading equipment, and other mobile equipment.
• Exposure to brick dust, broken brick, strapping materials, packaging materials, and uneven walking and driving surfaces.
• Frequent interaction with truck drivers, pedestrians, forklift operators, and other employees in active loading areas.
• Required use of PPE, including hard hats, safety glasses, high-visibility clothing, steel-toe boots, and other PPE as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to safely and efficiently operate a sit-down forklift in an industrial environment.
• Ability to load, unload, transport, stage, stack, and restock brick products safely and accurately.
• Ability to inspect forklifts and recognize mechanical problems, damaged components, and unsafe operating conditions.
• Ability to determine whether brick cubes and other loads are stable and safe to transport.
• Ability to identify damaged, loose, missing, or improperly positioned brick.
• Ability to repair, restack, and secure brick cubes according to company requirements.
• Ability to safely use manual strapping, tensioning, and related packaging tools.
• Ability to maintain situational awareness around pedestrians, vehicles, railcars, forklifts, and other moving equipment.
• Ability to read and understand safety procedures, warning signs, product information, load information, and written instructions.
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.
• Basic math and counting skills necessary for inventory accuracy, product verification, and load confirmation.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to communicate effectively and maintain attention to safety, product quality, inventory accuracy, and loading requirements.

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Previous forklift operating experience preferred.
• Manufacturing, loading-yard, shipping, warehouse, distribution, or industrial experience preferred.
• Previous experience loading and unloading trucks or handling palletized products preferred.
• Must successfully complete company-required forklift training and evaluation before independently operating a forklift.
• Must obtain and maintain required forklift operator certification and company authorization.

Schedule

• Regular Shift: 7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• Shift times may vary based on work location and operational needs.
• Overtime, weekends, or holidays may be required based on shipping and operational needs.
• Work schedules are subject to change based on business needs, customer requirements, weather conditions, equipment breakdowns, or other operational circumstances.

Safety Requirements

• Follow all company safety policies, procedures, and safe work practices.
• Complete and pass all required safety training.
• Successfully complete required powered industrial truck training, evaluation, certification, and company authorization requirements.
• Perform and document required pre-use forklift inspections.
• Wear the forklift seat belt or operator restraint system as required.
• Maintain visibility in the direction of travel and safely turn the head and body as necessary when backing or maneuvering.
• Maintain safe operating speeds and remain alert to pedestrians, vehicles, equipment, blind spots, and changing yard conditions.
• Ensure loads are stable, properly positioned, and within the forklift's rated capacity before lifting or transporting.
• Follow established procedures when entering trailers or other loading areas.
• Follow approved procedures when repairing, restacking, and strapping brick cubes.
• Inspect strapping tools and other equipment before use.
• Do not operate damaged, defective, or unsafe equipment.
• Do not bypass, disable, remove, or interfere with safety devices or equipment.
• Immediately report equipment damage, defects, unsafe conditions, incidents, injuries, property damage, and near misses.
• Wear required PPE and participate in required safety meetings, inspections, and training.

Essential Functions and Reasonable Accommodation

Cherokee Brick & Tile Company is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. Employees who require an accommodation should notify Human Resources.

Disclaimer

This job description describes the general nature of the work performed and is not intended to be a complete list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the position. Duties and responsibilities may change as business needs require.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Cherokee Brick & Tile Company is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.