Recruiting Today — Your Specialist FLT Recruitment Partner
Recruiting Today is a dedicated forklift operator recruitment agency specialising in placing qualified FLT counterbalance and reach truck operators with warehouses, distribution centres, and logistics businesses across the United Kingdom. Whether you need urgent temporary cover or want to build a permanent, highly skilled warehouse team, we deliver experienced, safety-compliant operators who are ready to work from day one.
The UK warehousing and logistics sector is under sustained pressure — rising e-commerce volumes, seasonal demand spikes, and a persistent skills shortage mean that having access to reliable, vetted forklift drivers is more important than ever. Downtime caused by unfilled FLT vacancies costs warehouses thousands of pounds per shift in lost productivity, delayed shipments, and overtime expenditure.
Our mission is simple: keep your warehouse running efficiently by connecting you with the right operators — fast. We cover jobs in Leicester, jobs in Nottingham, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Cardiff, Southampton, London, and every major logistics corridor in between. Our recruiters understand the technical requirements, safety obligations, and operational demands of modern warehousing, and we pre-screen every candidate against your exact specifications before a single CV reaches your inbox.
⚡ Quick Answer: What Is FLT Counterbalance & Reach Truck Recruitment?
FLT (Fork Lift Truck) recruitment is the specialist process of sourcing, screening, and placing licensed forklift operators into warehouse and logistics roles. There are two principal categories:
- Counterbalance Operators (Cat 5): Drive standard three- or four-wheel forklifts for loading, unloading, and moving pallets at ground level. Essential for standard warehouse operations, HGV loading bays, and goods-in/goods-out.
- Reach Truck Operators (Cat 6): Operate electric narrow-aisle trucks to pick, stack, and move inventory at height — typically up to 12 metres in high-bay racking systems. Essential for distribution centres and modern fulfilment warehouses.
- Licence Requirement: All operators must hold a current, accredited licence (RTITB, ITSSAR, or AITT) for their specific truck category. Recruiting Today verifies every licence before placement.
Our Forklift Operator Recruitment Services
End-to-end staffing solutions for every warehouse forklift requirement — temporary, permanent, contract, or emergency cover.
1. Counterbalance Forklift Operator Recruitment
The counterbalance forklift — also known as a counterbalance truck or CB FLT — is the most widely used piece of warehouse equipment in the UK. Our counterbalance operators are trained, licensed (RTITB Cat 5 / ITSSAR), and experienced across a wide range of industries, from standard warehousing and logistics to manufacturing, retail distribution, and construction materials handling.
Typical responsibilities include: loading and unloading HGVs and containers, moving palletised stock around the warehouse floor, transferring goods to and from goods-in/goods-out areas, maintaining safe forklift operating zones, conducting pre-use checks, and completing shift paperwork and delivery documentation.
We supply counterbalance operators for all shift patterns — day shifts, nights, weekends, and rotating shifts — and can place temporary staff within 24–48 hours or source permanent hires within 5–7 working days. Whether you need one operator or a team of twenty, Recruiting Today scales with your requirements.
2. Reach Truck Operator Recruitment
Reach truck operators are among the most sought-after and technically demanding warehouse roles in the UK logistics sector. Reach trucks work in narrow aisles and at significant heights — making operator skill, spatial awareness, and licence currency absolutely critical. All Recruiting Today reach truck candidates hold current RTITB Category 6 or ITSSAR equivalent certification.
Our reach truck operators are experienced in high-bay racking environments, radio-frequency (RF) scanning, pick-to-voice systems, and warehouse management system (WMS) usage. They understand how to operate safely in multi-user warehouse environments and follow site-specific safety rules without extensive hand-holding.
We place reach truck operators in distribution centres, 3PL facilities, retail fulfilment centres, food & beverage warehouses, and manufacturing stores across the UK — including major logistics hubs in Nottingham, Coventry, Milton Keynes, Swindon, and the North East. If you have a temporary ramp-up for peak season, a long-term contract requirement, or a permanent vacancy to fill, our specialist reach truck team can help.
3. Additional Warehouse Support Staff
Beyond FLT operators, Recruiting Today supplies a full spectrum of warehouse support roles to complement your forklift team. A well-functioning warehouse operation requires skilled workers at every tier — from goods-in operatives to shift supervisors — and we have the candidate network to fill those gaps quickly.
Our additional warehouse staffing covers picker packers, warehouse operatives, goods-in/goods-out clerks, stock controllers, yard marshals, loading bay supervisors, team leaders, and warehouse managers. For specialist construction and trades requirements, we also supply scaffolding jobs candidates, site labourers, and skilled trades across the UK — including bricklayer jobs in the North East, scaffolders in Westminster, and skilled site labourers in London and Feltham.
How to Hire a Forklift Operator Through Recruiting Today
Submit Your Vacancy
Call our team on 0800 000 0000 or submit an online enquiry. Tell us your truck type (counterbalance / reach truck), required shift pattern, location, start date, and whether you need a temporary or permanent placement.
Candidate Matching
Our specialist warehouse recruiters search our pre-screened FLT operator pool, matching candidates on licence type, experience level, industry background, and geographic availability. You receive a shortlist of relevant, ready-to-work operators.
Verification & Compliance
Every candidate undergoes forklift licence verification (RTITB / ITSSAR / AITT), right-to-work checks, employment reference checks, and any additional screening you require. We handle all compliance documentation.
Placement & Induction
The operator is placed on-site. For temporary workers, we manage all payroll administration, holiday pay, and statutory deductions. We provide induction support and remain your point of contact throughout the engagement.
Ongoing Support & Performance Monitoring
We check in regularly to ensure the placement is working well for both you and the operator. If cover is needed at short notice or performance issues arise, we respond same day. Our goal is a seamless, long-term staffing partnership.
Current Job Vacancies — Apply Now
Temporary and permanent roles across the UK · Rates above National Living Wage · Immediate starts available
| # | Job Title | Location | Type | Approx. Rate | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Contact Centre Advisor | Leicester | Temp | £12.50/hr | View & Apply |
| 02 | Warehouse Operative | Cardiff | Temp | £11.80/hr | View & Apply |
| 03 | Bricklayer | Sunderland | Contract | £18.00/hr | View & Apply |
| 04 | Skilled Site Labourer | Feltham / London | Temp | £14.00/hr | View & Apply |
| 05 | Customer Service Representative | Nottingham | Temp | £12.00/hr | View & Apply |
| 06 | Scaffolder | Westminster, London | Contract | £20.00/hr | View & Apply |
| 07 | Administrative Support Officer | Southampton | Temp | £13.00/hr | View & Apply |
| 08 | Temp Data Entry Clerk | Aberdeen | Temp | £11.50/hr | View & Apply |
| 09 | Hotel Receptionist | Glasgow | Perm | £12.20/hr | View & Apply |
| 10 | Painter & Decorator | Wolverhampton / Newquay | Temp | £16.50/hr | View & Apply |
| 11 | Web Developer (Temp) | Aberdeen | Temp | £22.00/hr | View & Apply |
| 12 | Help Desk Assistant | Slough | Temp | £12.80/hr | View & Apply |
All rates are above the UK National Living Wage. Rates may vary by experience and shift pattern.
Why Businesses Choose Recruiting Today for FLT Recruitment
From single-site warehouses to multi-site distribution networks, here's why operations managers across the UK trust us with their forklift staffing.
Sector Specialist
We only recruit for warehousing, logistics, and related operations — giving us deep knowledge of FLT roles, licensing requirements, and operational demands that generalist agencies lack.
24–48 Hour Temp Cover
Our pre-screened operator pool means we can respond to emergency cover requests, planned absences, and peak-season ramp-ups with same-day or next-day placements nationwide.
Safety-First Culture
Every licence is physically verified. We do not accept photocopies or self-declarations. Candidates also undergo a telephone competency screening before being added to our active operator pool.
Flexible Contracts
Day contracts, week-long cover, rolling temp engagements, temp-to-perm conversions, and direct permanent placements — we adapt to what your operation requires, not what's easiest for us.
Nationwide Reach
Active candidate databases covering all major UK logistics corridors — including Leicester, Nottingham, Aberdeen (temporary jobs), Cardiff, Glasgow, Southampton, and London distribution zones.
Transparent Reporting
We provide weekly placement summaries, timesheet management, and clear invoicing — giving you full visibility of your contingent workforce cost and performance at all times.
Client Success Stories
24-Hour Cover Saves £31,000 in Delayed Shipment Penalties
A large third-party logistics operator running a 200,000 sq ft distribution centre near Nottingham faced a sudden staffing crisis when three of their permanent reach truck operators were unable to work following an unplanned absence. The facility processed over 15,000 order lines per day and any disruption to pick-and-despatch operations would trigger financial penalties from their retail client.
The operations manager contacted Recruiting Today at 18:00 on a Thursday evening. By 06:00 Friday morning, we had placed four fully verified Cat 6 reach truck operators — all holding current RTITB licences — on-site and inducted. Operations ran at full capacity throughout the Friday and weekend shifts.
Peak Season Ramp-Up Delivers £78,000 Saving on Agency Premiums
A food and beverage manufacturer based in central Scotland required a significant uplift in counterbalance FLT operators for their Q4 peak production period. Their existing agency had been charging premium rates for last-minute placements, and the previous year's peak had cost the business significantly more than budgeted. They approached Recruiting Today in September to plan a structured ramp-up for November–January.
We provided a forward-staffing plan: 8 temporary counterbalance operators on day shifts and 6 on nights, all pre-inducted to the site's specific safety protocols before peak commenced. We maintained 100% fill rates throughout the 12-week engagement, including cover for illness and holiday absence, and converted two temporary operators to permanent roles in January — saving the client agency markup on those two headcounts permanently.
Forklift Operator Safety & Compliance — Our Non-Negotiables
In UK warehousing, forklift incidents account for a significant proportion of serious workplace injuries. Our compliance process protects your workforce and your business.
Licence Verification
Original RTITB, ITSSAR, or AITT certificate physically checked — not self-declared or photocopied.
Right-to-Work Checks
Full right-to-work documentation reviewed and recorded in compliance with UK Home Office requirements.
Reference Screening
Minimum two employment references verified from previous warehouse or logistics roles, specifically confirming FLT operation.
Skills Assessment
Telephone and, where applicable, in-person competency assessment covering safe operating procedures, pre-use inspection, and load management.
PAYE & AWR Compliant
All temporary workers are employed via PAYE, ensuring full Agency Workers Regulations (AWR) compliance and eliminating IR35 risk.
Insurance Cover
Employer's Liability, Public Liability, and Professional Indemnity insurance held, providing full coverage throughout the placement.
What Our Clients Say
"We needed six counterbalance operators at very short notice before a major retail client audit. Recruiting Today had all six on-site, licensed and inducted, within 18 hours. I cannot recommend them highly enough for urgent FLT cover."
"We've used several temp agencies for reach truck operators over the years and Recruiting Today is in a different league. Their candidates actually know how to work a high-bay system — they're not just people with a licence. The pre-screening makes a genuine difference."
"We used Recruiting Today for temporary jobs in Aberdeen during our Q4 ramp-up and were so impressed we brought two operators permanent. The fact that the invoicing and AWR compliance was all handled for us was a huge weight off our HR team."
"As a business scaling rapidly, we needed a recruitment partner who could grow with us. Recruiting Today has consistently filled every FLT vacancy we've raised — counterbalance and reach truck — across our two Cardiff and Glasgow sites simultaneously."
The UK Forklift Skills Shortage — Why Specialist Recruitment Matters
The UK warehousing and logistics sector is in the midst of a structural labour shortage that shows no sign of abating. The rapid growth of e-commerce, accelerated by changes in consumer behaviour, has created sustained and growing demand for qualified FLT operators — while the supply of newly licenced counterbalance and reach truck drivers has not kept pace.
Major logistics hubs — including those serving jobs in Leicester, jobs in Nottingham, and the broader East Midlands corridor — consistently report FLT operator vacancy rates that are significantly above the national average for blue-collar roles. In Scotland, temp jobs in Aberdeen and temporary jobs in Aberdeen within the oil logistics and food distribution sectors are similarly difficult to fill through traditional recruitment methods.
Meanwhile, the consequences of an unfilled FLT vacancy are immediate and costly. A single idle counterbalance shift can mean 200–400 pallets unprocessed — translating directly into delayed deliveries, SLA breaches, and in some cases, contractual penalties. In high-bay distribution centres reliant on reach truck operations, a gap in the racking team can bring an entire pick operation to a standstill.
This is why partnering with a specialist forklift recruitment agency — rather than a generalist staffing provider — is increasingly considered essential operational practice for serious warehousing businesses. Recruiting Today maintains a live, pre-screened database of available FLT operators nationwide, enabling us to respond to vacancies faster than any in-house HR process or generalist agency could achieve. Read more about the latest hiring trends in our article on the September 2025 hiring boom and peak-season contract market growth.
Industries We Serve
Our FLT operators are placed across every sector where forklifts are essential to operations.
Frequently Asked Questions — Forklift Operator Recruitment
What qualifications do your forklift operators hold?
All forklift operators placed by Recruiting Today hold valid RTITB, ITSSAR, or AITT-accredited licences for their specific truck category — counterbalance (Cat 5) or reach truck (Cat 6). Licences are physically verified before any placement occurs. We do not accept self-declaration or photocopied certificates under any circumstances.
How quickly can Recruiting Today supply forklift operators?
For temporary forklift cover we typically place operators within 24–48 hours. Emergency cover requests (received before 18:00) can often be placed for the following morning's shift. For permanent roles, our average time-to-fill is 5–7 working days depending on location, shift requirements, and the specific truck type needed.
Do you supply forklift operators across the whole of the UK?
Yes. Recruiting Today operates nationwide, covering all major logistics hubs including London, Nottingham, Leicester, Aberdeen, Southampton, Cardiff, Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Bristol, and hundreds of other UK locations. We have active candidate pools in all major warehousing and distribution corridors.
What is the difference between counterbalance and reach truck operators?
Counterbalance operators drive standard three- or four-wheel forklifts used for loading, unloading, and moving pallets at ground level — ideal for loading bays, goods-in areas, and general warehouse floor operations. Reach truck operators use specialist narrow-aisle electric trucks to stack, pick, and move inventory at height in racking systems up to 12m or more — essential for modern high-bay distribution centres and fulfilment operations.
Can I hire forklift operators on a temporary basis?
Absolutely. Recruiting Today specialises in flexible temporary forklift staffing, including day-shifts, nights, weekends, bank holiday cover, and peak-season contracts. Temporary engagements can run from a single day to several months, with options for temp-to-perm conversion where an operator proves a good long-term fit for your operation.
Do you conduct safety checks before placing operators?
Yes — safety compliance is our absolute priority. Every candidate undergoes licence verification, right-to-work checks, employment reference screening, and a skills assessment before being placed. We also offer site-specific induction support and can tailor the pre-placement screening to meet your specific health and safety requirements.
What sectors do your forklift operators work in?
Our FLT operators are placed across warehousing, logistics, 3PL distribution, manufacturing, retail fulfilment, construction materials, food & beverage, pharmaceutical, and automotive parts sectors. Whether your operation is ambient, chilled, frozen, or specialist (e.g., hazardous materials), we can match you with operators who have relevant sector experience.
FLT & Warehouse Recruitment Glossary
FLT — Fork Lift Truck
Any powered industrial truck used to lift and move materials over short distances. Includes counterbalance trucks, reach trucks, order pickers, and VNA (Very Narrow Aisle) trucks.
Counterbalance Forklift (Cat 5)
Standard forklift with forks at the front and a counterweight at the rear. RTITB Category 5 licence required. Used in general warehouse and loading bay environments.
Reach Truck (Cat 6)
Narrow-aisle electric forklift that extends its forks forward to reach into racking. RTITB Category 6 licence required. Operates at heights typically 6–12m in high-bay warehouses.
RTITB
Road Transport Industry Training Board. One of the UK's leading forklift training and licensing accreditation bodies. RTITB certificates are widely recognised and accepted by UK employers.
ITSSAR
Industrial Truck Schemed Safety And Registration. A widely recognised UK forklift operator certification scheme, equivalent in standing to RTITB.
AWR — Agency Workers Regulations
UK legislation (2010) that entitles agency workers to the same basic working conditions as directly employed staff after 12 weeks in the same role. Recruiting Today manages all AWR compliance for clients.
3PL — Third-Party Logistics
Outsourced warehousing and distribution services provided by a specialist logistics company on behalf of a client brand. A major employer of FLT operators across the UK.
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