The work includes loading and unloading freight cars, trucks, aircraft, and ships. Operators may keep records of material moved and do some hand loading and unloading. Most material moved or stacked is on pallets or small platforms, but some material is placed directly on the forks of the truck. Attachments other than the usual prongs or forks include special tools for handling barrels, drums, cartons, logs, rolls of paper and wire, bales of cotton, rolls of carpet, bricks and concrete blocks. Cranes, shovels and snowplows can also be attached to some of these vehicles.
Forklifts come in different sizes and are very maneuverable.
They are powered by gasoline, natural gas, or batteries. Forklifts that are used mainly indoors are usually powered by batteries or natural gas to keep pollution low. Operators may refuel or recharge the vehicle, check the oil and battery, lube it and make minor repairs and adjustments. Operators may also work as stock clerks, shipping clerks, receiving clerks, or warehouse workers when not driving a forklift. Supervision is light and usually amounts to general instructions as to where materials are to be moved.