Whether you’re looking for a fork truck for hire covered by a service agreement or looking for employment servicing trucks yourself, you might be curious what a fork lift truck engineer’s job entails. In the following sections, we’ll explore the role of these expert engineers that must often deal with a diverse range of issues in equipment and ensure they return to active service. From the skills and qualifications required to the type of person suited to the job we’ll cover all aspects of being a professional fork-lift engineer.
What is the role of a fork-lift engineer?
The main job of fork lift truck engineers is to diagnose and resolve any functional issues in fork-lift equipment. These problems can be varied and will be reported by users signed up to a maintenance service or calling without a contract in an emergency. It is the objective of the fork-lift engineer to identify quickly and competently what is causing the mechanical problem and undertake repairs so the equipment can be used safely again.
What qualifications do you need to become a fork-lift engineer?
In terms of certification, there are no established “must-haves”, however, each individual employer hiring fork-lift truck engineers will have their own specific requirements. Despite this fact, an engineering qualification may still be of some benefit. An extensive selection of engineering training courses is offered, with some specially designed to focus on the maintenance of fork-lift trucks.
Leading firms that deliver fork-lift engineering services also offer apprenticeships that see trainees work alongside experienced engineers and learn how to repair and carry out maintenance on the job.
What skill set is required of professional engineers?
Fork-lift engineers will need to acquire a wide variety of skills and continue to develop their abilities over time. Many forklift engineers will be part of a mobile service, so an up-to-date driving license is crucial. This allows them to visit any location that has a forklift truck in need of repair and carry out any work required. The vans of mobile forklift engineers can act as workshops and are fully equipped with not just the tools required to effect repairs, but any spare parts needed when components become too damaged or worn to be fixed and must be replaced entirely.
Engineers must also be able to operate a fork-lift so that they can test any repairs they have made, ensuring optimum safety levels before releasing equipment back to users onsite.
Fork-lift engineers must develop an analytical method of thinking so they can analyse and understand why equipment is not functioning properly, but also strong problem-solving skills that enable them to resolve issues after they have been identified.
In order to understand the problems users are having with equipment, forklift engineers must be good listeners, but they must also be able to explain in simple terms why lift trucks aren’t working and what will be done to fix them. This is why perhaps one of the most important skills a fork lift engineer can have to their credit is to be a strong communicator.
What are the daily duties of a fork lift engineer?
If you enjoy being on the road and the challenge of being faced with a wide range of problems to solve each day and have an analytical mind, being an engineer might be the ideal job for you.
The daily tasks of an engineer will be to carry out repair work and servicing on fork lift trucks, ensuring that the equipment is working properly to established safety standards. To complete this work, the engineer’s day-to-day role will involve visiting client sites to replace and repair parts, as well as test driving equipment to make sure any adjustments made have been successful. In cases where forklifts are severely damaged and need more time to fix, they will be taken back to the repair service’s headquarters for more in-depth maintenance.
While the basis of the role will remain much the same, the problems that require fixing will vary greatly each day. This is why a fork-lift engineer’s skill and ability to pinpoint an issue is so crucial.
Expert engineers at your service
If you require a reliable fork lift truck Midlands-based or have some fork lift trucks that require urgent servicing, you can depend on our team at West Mercia Forklift Trucks for all your needs. You might require short term or long-term hire but either way, you’ll find our fork lift trucks are fully covered by a dedicated team of 25 professional engineers.
We have engineers on the road that can handle any forklift maintenance requirements in Telford, Coventry and around Birmingham, that are readily available and can arrive on your site within an hour after we receive your call. No task is too large or small for our engineers to take on and with comprehensive support in place, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your operation will never be disrupted with expert help at hand whenever required.
Get in touch with us today for exceptional service and a free quote for all the equipment or assistance your enterprise requires.
