Forklift Driver CV example

Recruiters need more than proof of your licence – they want to know that you’re dependable, efficient, and know how to keep things running safely on the warehouse floor.

This guide walks you through writing a CV, from structure and formatting to writing a powerful profile and describing your experience clearly. You’ll learn how to present your background in a way that lifts you above the rest.

If your CV’s all over the place, it doesn’t matter how organised you are in the warehouse – recruiters won’t wait around to figure it out. A clear CV structure shows you take clarity and consistency seriously – just like you would with any piece of heavy machinery. Your sections should effortlessly guide a reader through what makes you the right candidate.

Here’s the layout to follow:

• Name and contact details – Ensure your name and personal details are easily visible at the top. A photo is optional and depends on the role.
• Profile – Craft a short introduction that showcases your professional background and key accomplishments.
• Core skills – Provide a quick overview of your top skills that show why you’re a great fit.
• Work experience – Outline your career progression in reverse order, emphasising your contributions and successes.
• Education – Provide details on your academic background, including certifications or specialised training.
• Additional info – You can add hobbies or activities here that reflect your enthusiasm for the industry.
  

To make sure your CV is easy to scan, use bold section headings to format and separate the above sections. Break up the text within each using bullet points for clarity. Keep the document’s length to two pages max, use a clean and readable font, and make sure your formatting is consistent from top to bottom. Following these tips will show you know how to get the job done right.

This opening paragraph is your first chance to show that you’re more than just a licence-holder – you’re someone who can be trusted with equipment, meet tight deadlines, and work as part of a team.

Your CV profile should clearly summarise the types of forklifts you’re trained to operate, your experience across different working environments, and any additional certifications or safety credentials you hold. It should also give a sense of your working style, and how that’d benefit any company which hires you.

To write a profile that gets you moving, include:

• Where you worked – Warehouses, construction sites, manufacturing plants, distribution centres
• Your top qualifications – RTITB or ITSSAR forklift certifications, safety courses, manual handling training
• Essential skills – Loading/unloading, pallet stacking, stock rotation, working from pick lists
• Types of forklifts used – Counterbalance, reach truck, telehandler, side loader, or VNA
• Working environments – Cold storage, night shifts, multi-lingual teams, or high-turnover logistics

This short list should outline your strongest forklift-related abilities. Ideally, you should cover the keywords which recruiters are looking for when they open up a CV – so take a look at the job spec for some inspiration.

Stick to the actual CV skills they want to see in the workplace, avoiding soft skills like “hardworking” or “reliable”.

Your work experience section is the most important part of your CV – this is where you show how well you’ve handled your past responsibilities.

List your roles in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. For each position, write a short summary of your job and the site or employer, followed by bullet points outlining what you did and what you achieved. Mention any specific achievements, ideally backed up with figures.

And if you’ve worked in other warehouse roles before becoming a forklift driver, include those – they show your wider knowledge of stock handling, teamwork, and logistics.

• Outline – Briefly introduce the employer, type of site (e.g. warehouse, depot, construction), and what your role involved day-to-day.
• Responsibilities – Use action words like “operated” and “transported.” For example: “operated reach and counterbalance trucks to transport stock across multiple warehouse zones” or “transported goods between loading bays and production areas in a fast-paced distribution centre.” Mention H&S procedures and team coordination too.
• Achievements – Include anything that shows your impact: reduction in damage rates, zero safety incidents, improved delivery turnaround, or praise from supervisors. Quantify where possible.

Your education section should highlight any academic background or training that supports your role – especially anything safety-related or logistics-focused. This could include school qualifications, vocational certificates, or short training courses.

Start with your most recent qualifications and work backwards. If you’ve taken forklift certification through RTITB, ITSSAR, or another body, this is the place to mention it – along with any refresher or advanced training you’ve completed. Also include relevant workplace training in health and safety.