Material Handler - 1st Shift

Tell me about your forklift experience. What kinds of trucks have you driven and what loads have you moved?

What they are checking: Whether they can safely run powered equipment from day one, since forklift work is the core of this job.

How do you keep a busy aisle safe when people on foot are walking through it?

What they are checking: Whether they drive with pedestrians in mind, use the horn and slow down, which prevents the worst warehouse injuries.

Tell me about a time you had to keep several production areas supplied at once. How did you decide what to do first?

What they are checking: Whether they can prioritize line needs so no area runs out and stops production.

This is a 2nd shift role. What has worked for you in the past to stay sharp and reliable on a later shift?

What they are checking: Whether they can show up consistently on the schedule this job requires.

How would you feel about being cross-trained to cover a coworker's job, and what helps you learn a new task quickly?

What they are checking: Whether they are flexible and willing to back up teammates, which the posting lists as part of the role.

You find a problem during your forklift check, like a leaking hydraulic line. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they tag the truck out and report it instead of running it anyway to keep up with work.

The production line is calling for parts and the system says they are in a location, but the location is empty. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they search calmly, report the discrepancy and keep the line supplied without guessing.

You notice a pallet that is stacked badly and looks like it might tip when you lift it. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they stop and fix an unsafe load rather than risk damaged product or someone getting hurt.

Walk me through the daily checklist you would do on a forklift before you start your shift.

What they are checking: Whether they actually do a pre-shift inspection and know what to look for, like forks, brakes, horn and leaks.

Have you used a handheld scanner or terminal to move inventory in a system? Tell me how you made sure the transactions were right.

What they are checking: Whether they understand that every physical move needs a matching ERP transaction or inventory goes wrong.

What is the difference between raw material, work-in-process and finished goods, and why does it matter which one you move?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the inventory flow they support and why mixing them up causes problems.