What does it offer employees – and how does it benefit businesses?
Lift trucks are crucial to feeding the supply chains on which modern life depends. A wide variety of job roles connect with forklifts in some way. How well the employees fulfil those roles affects the success of companies and industries. This article is aimed at jobseekers, employers and forklift buyers alike. It highlights the diversity of our industry’s work and the importance of each employee’s contribution.
At Cat® Lift Trucks, we regularly publish articles on jobs and careers. One key aim is to play our part in attracting fresh talent to the forklift-related industries. The other is to celebrate the knowledge, skills and commitment of our own workforce. These factors add value to the products and services we bring to customers.
When considering the range of people who work with forklifts, we can perhaps divide them into two distinct but closely related groups:
- The logistics industry
These are the people and businesses who use lift trucks. Put simply, logistics means getting materials and goods from where they are gathered or produced to where they are needed. Subsectors of that industry include materials handling, warehousing and transport. - The forklift industry
These are the people and businesses who provide lift trucks. People like us – Cat Lift Trucks – and our dealers. Our work involves designing, manufacturing, supplying and servicing forklifts.
The forklift industry is an essential supplier to the logistics industry. It’s considered to be part of the wider logistics and supply chain industry.
Work in the forklift industry
Here are just some of the essential roles. In each area, there are both entry-level positions and opportunities for advancement to different levels of management.
- Product designers and engineers
This includes software and electrical engineers. Their innovations and expertise are vital to maximising the performance, efficiency, safety and usability of our increasingly sophisticated lift trucks. - Product managers
Our product managers have a pivotal role in matching forklift development to customer challenges. Essentially, they make sure our designers, engineers and others know what buyers want and need.
Find out more. - Factory workers
Machine operators, welders, assemblers and quality control managers are a few examples. We depend on each one to play their part in producing the high-quality, dependable lift trucks for which we are famous. - Business development managers
The work of these managers includes setting up and supporting dealer networks. They ensure that all the necessary resources and facilities are in place for dealers to give first-class support to customers. - Marketing and sales staff
There are marketing and sales staff working centrally for Cat Lift Trucks, and others employed by our distributors and dealers. Marketing teams ensure customer awareness and prepare materials providing clear information on our products and services. Salespeople give specialist advice to help customers choose ideal solutions. - Forklift service technicians/engineers
These highly skilled engineers make sure customers’ lift trucks keep on working and delivering optimum performance. Whether carrying out routine maintenance or repair work, their efficiency and expertise minimise downtime and related costs.
Find out more. - Aftersales staff
Our headquarters and dealerships have many aftersales functions, such as arranging servicing, supplying parts and providing warranties. In all contact with customers, it’s essential that our staff give fast and efficient service. - Trainers
We and our dealers have specialised training teams for service technicians, sales staff and others. Our high-quality training ensures, for example, that servicing and repairs are carried out quickly and correctly. It also keeps salespeople and other advisers fully informed, so customers receive the right advice.
Find out more.
In addition to these, there are many other jobs and departments which support our organisation. Each is essential to the quality of the products and services we supply. Examples of such areas of work include IT, human resources, accounting, legal and compliance, business intelligence, parts supply, customer relations and sustainability – to name but a few. There are almost endless career options and possibilities, all contributing to our mission.
In all cases, we carefully select, train and support our employees to optimise their positive effects on customers’ operations.
Work in the logistics industry
For detailed information on the wider logistics industry, see our previous logistics careers article and its links. The opportunities are hugely varied. There’s something for everyone, whatever their interests, personality and level of qualification. And it’s no exaggeration to say that all logistics work is vital to the world we live in. That’s one reason why it’s so fulfilling.
See also a personal view on forklift and logistics work – past, present and future – from two of our most experienced colleagues.
