Your UK Specialist in Temporary FLT Driver Recruitment
Recruiting Today is a specialist FLT (Forklift Truck) recruitment agency dedicated to supplying temporary Counterbalance forklift operators, Reach Truck operators, and Telehandler operators to warehouses, distribution centres, and logistics operations across the United Kingdom. Whether you're searching for jobs in Leicester, jobs in Nottingham, or managing a large distribution hub in Aberdeen — our network is ready to mobilise.
Our mission is straightforward: deliver reliable, fully vetted, and certified FLT drivers so your warehouse operations remain safe, efficient, and uninterrupted — regardless of sudden demand peaks, seasonal pressures, or unplanned absences. With a deep talent pool spanning every major UK logistics corridor, we provide genuine flexibility without ever compromising on compliance.
From single-operator placements to volume team builds, from standard day shifts to 24/7 rotational cover, Recruiting Today operates as a true extension of your HR and operations team. Every operator we supply arrives with their RTITB or ITSSAR certification verified, right-to-work documentation confirmed, and a thorough site-specific health and safety briefing completed.
What is Temporary FLT Driver Staffing?
Temporary FLT (Forklift Truck) driver staffing is the short-term supply of certified forklift operators — including Counterbalance, Reach Truck, and Telehandler specialists — to warehouses and logistics operations, typically within 24–48 hours. Operators hold valid RTITB or ITSSAR licences, are right-to-work verified, and are deployed through a recruitment agency such as Recruiting Today on flexible contracts ranging from a single shift to multi-month assignments.
Our Temporary FLT Driver Staffing Services
Three forklift disciplines. One trusted supply partner. Whether your warehouse operates standard counterbalance trucks, high-bay reach equipment, or outdoor telehandlers — we have certified operators ready.
1. Counterbalance Forklift Operators
The workhorse of UK warehouse operations, our temporary Counterbalance forklift operators are experienced in all aspects of general warehousing: loading and unloading HGVs and containers, pallet movement and wrapping, stock handling across all rack configurations, and strict adherence to warehouse safety compliance. Whether you're running a busy distribution hub servicing jobs in Nottingham, a manufacturing site in the North East, or a retail fulfilment centre — our Counterbalance operators integrate seamlessly from day one.
Ideal for: Standard warehouses, distribution centres, manufacturing facilities, retail DCs, cold store operations, and container yards. Typical pay rate: £13.50–£15.50/hr
2. Reach Truck Operators
High-bay warehouses demand precision. Our temporary Reach Truck operators are experienced in working confidently at height within narrow-aisle racking systems, executing fast and accurate pick-and-put-away cycles that keep throughput high and pick errors low. Every operator is trained in height safety protocols, racking inspection procedures, and WMS-driven operations — essential skills in modern automated fulfilment environments. With temp jobs Aberdeen and temporary jobs Aberdeen forming a growing part of our northern operations, we deploy skilled Reach Truck talent across Scotland and the whole of the UK.
Ideal for: High-bay distribution warehouses, e-commerce fulfilment centres, third-party logistics (3PL) providers, and food & beverage DCs. Typical pay rate: £14.00–£16.50/hr
3. Telehandler Operators
Our temporary Telehandler operators are multi-skilled professionals with extensive experience on rotating and fixed-boom models. From large-format DCs to construction material handling sites, our telehandler specialists are comfortable working with attachments including pallet forks, man-baskets, buckets, and lifting jibs. Competent in outdoor terrain, uneven ground, and variable weather conditions, they are equally productive on site compounds, builder's merchants, ports, and agricultural distribution. We regularly fill scaffolding jobs-adjacent roles requiring heavy lifting capability across London and the South East.
Ideal for: Construction logistics, builder's merchants, large outdoor DCs, ports and dockside operations, agriculture and rural supply chains. Typical pay rate: £15.00–£18.00/hr
How to Hire Temporary FLT Drivers Through Recruiting Today
- 1
Submit Your Requirement
Call us or complete our online enquiry form specifying truck type (Counterbalance / Reach / Telehandler), number of operators required, shift pattern, start date, and site location. The more detail you provide, the faster we can match.
- 2
Candidate Matching
Our logistics recruitment consultants search the live talent pool of pre-vetted FLT operators — filtering by truck type, postcode proximity, licence category, and experience level — within hours of receiving your brief.
- 3
Compliance Verification
We provide licence copies, right-to-work documentation, and evidence of any site-specific H&S inductions before any operator starts. Every candidate is fully AWR (Agency Workers Regulations) compliant from day one.
- 4
Deployment
Operators arrive on site briefed, certified, and ready to contribute from their very first hour. Typical deployment time is 24–48 hours from initial request; same-day deployment is available for urgent requirements in major UK cities.
- 5
Ongoing Account Management
A dedicated Recruiting Today account manager handles timesheets, invoice queries, extensions, replacements, and scaling — so your operations team can focus entirely on running the warehouse rather than managing agency admin.
Why UK Warehouses Choose Recruiting Today for FLT Staffing
100% Licence-Verified Operators
Every FLT operator we supply holds a current, verifiable RTITB, ITSSAR, or AITT certification for their specific truck category. We never send operators without documented, in-date licences — protecting your business from liability.
24–48 Hour Rapid Deployment
Warehouse operations don't wait. Our streamlined candidate-matching process means that for most UK locations, certified FLT operators can be on site within one to two working days of your initial call or enquiry.
Genuine UK-Wide Coverage
From London logistics corridors to temp jobs Aberdeen and temporary jobs Aberdeen in Scotland, our network spans every major UK distribution hub — including Leicester, Nottingham, Southampton, Swindon, Birmingham, Manchester, and beyond.
Peak & Seasonal Scaling
The September hiring boom and peak-season contract growth proves that volume FLT staffing demand is real. Recruiting Today scales from one operator to complete shift teams without compromising vetting standards.
Full AWR Compliance
We manage all Agency Workers Regulations obligations, holiday pay calculations, and payroll administration — eliminating your compliance burden and protecting you from HMRC and employment tribunal exposure.
Dedicated Account Management
You get a single named consultant who knows your operation, understands your site rules, and is reachable around the clock. No call-centre queues, no anonymous portals — just direct, responsive service when you need it most.
Counterbalance vs Reach Truck vs Telehandler — Which Do You Need?
| Feature | Counterbalance | Reach Truck | Telehandler |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical Environment | Standard warehouse / yard | High-bay narrow-aisle warehouse | Outdoor / construction / agricultural |
| Max Lift Height | Up to 6m | Up to 13m+ | Up to 20m (rotating boom) |
| Aisle Width Required | 3.5m+ | 2.5–3.0m (narrow aisle) | Outdoor / open floor |
| Certification Required | RTITB / ITSSAR Cat B | RTITB / ITSSAR Cat C | CPCS / NPORS A17 |
| Typical Pay Rate (Temp) | £13.50–£15.50/hr | £14.00–£16.50/hr | £15.00–£18.00/hr |
| Best Use Case | Loading docks, container handling, general picking | Racking replenishment, order picking, inventory management | Site loading, scaffolding support, external materials handling |
Case Studies: FLT Staffing in Action
Leicester Distribution Centre — Q4 Peak Coverage
National Retailer | 12-Week Contract | Counterbalance & Reach Truck Operators
A national retail distribution centre near Leicester — handling over 80,000 pallet movements per week during Q4 peak — faced a critical operational gap when their existing agency failed to fill 18 FLT operator positions within the agreed 72-hour window. The site manager contacted Recruiting Today on a Thursday afternoon, just 11 days before peak operations were due to scale up.
Recruiting Today mobilised an emergency response: within 36 hours, 14 vetted Counterbalance and Reach Truck operators were confirmed; the remaining 4 followed within a further 24 hours. All 18 operators arrived with current RTITB certifications, completed the client's mandatory site induction, and were operational before the volume ramp began.
Nottingham 3PL Provider — Ongoing Telehandler Cover
Third-Party Logistics Provider | Rolling 6-Month Contract | Telehandler Operators
A growing 3PL provider servicing the East Midlands with two large outdoor compounds near Nottingham required reliable telehandler cover across a rotating day/night shift pattern. Their in-house FLT team lacked CPCS-certified telehandler operators capable of handling the external yard work at height — particularly the building material flows arriving from a construction supplier client. Finding genuine jobs in Nottingham with the right CPCS credentials was proving difficult through generalist agencies.
Recruiting Today supplied four CPCS-certified rotating-boom telehandler operators on a rolling 6-month contract. By month three, throughput on the external compound had increased by 34%, driven by reduced idle time and the operators' familiarity with the site's unique ground conditions. The client subsequently extended the contract and requested two additional operators for a second compound.
FLT Operator Compliance Checklist — What Recruiting Today Verifies
What Our Warehouse Clients Say
"We needed 12 Reach Truck operators at our Leicester DC with less than 48 hours' notice. Recruiting Today delivered all 12, every single one with their licence documentation ready. First time any agency has done that for us at that speed."
"Finding CPCS telehandler operators in Nottingham has always been a nightmare. Recruiting Today found us four qualified operators within 24 hours and our compound throughput has genuinely improved month-on-month since they started."
"We've used Recruiting Today for our Aberdeen cold-store temp staffing for two years. The operators they send are always reliable, properly certified, and understand the pace of a busy logistics operation. Excellent service."
"The scaffolding support and site materials work our clients demand requires very specific telehandler competency. Recruiting Today consistently supplies operators who hit the ground running — no hand-holding, no licence queries."
Where We Supply Temporary FLT Operators
Recruiting Today maintains active FLT candidate pools across all major UK logistics corridors. Key areas of strength include:
Current Temporary & Contractor Positions Available
Beyond FLT drivers, Recruiting Today fills temporary positions across a broad range of sectors UK-wide. Browse live opportunities or submit a staffing enquiry for immediate assistance.
| Job Title | Location | Description | Rate/hr | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contact Centre Advisor | Leicester | Inbound & outbound call handling, customer service, data entry | £12.50 | View Job |
| Warehouse Operative | Cardiff | Picking, packing, goods-in/out, pallet management in busy DC | £13.00 | View Job |
| Bricklayer | Sunderland | Residential & commercial brickwork, new build and refurb projects | £18.00 | View Job |
| Skilled Site Labourer | Feltham | CSCS-carded general labourer for residential construction sites | £14.50 | View Job |
| Customer Service Representative | Nottingham | Front-line customer support, complaint resolution, CRM data management | £12.50 | View Job |
| Scaffolder | Westminster, London | CISRS-carded scaffolder for commercial and residential projects in central London | £20.00 | View Job |
| Administrative Support Officer | Southampton | Office admin, scheduling, correspondence management, MS Office suite | £13.00 | View Job |
| Temp Data Entry Clerk | Aberdeen | High-volume data input, spreadsheet management, quality checking | £12.21 | View Job |
| Hotel Receptionist | Glasgow | Front-desk operations, check-in/out, concierge support, PMS systems | £12.50 | View Job |
| Painter & Decorator | Doncaster | Interior and exterior painting, decorating finishes, residential & commercial | £16.00 | View Job |
| Web Developer (Temp) | Aberdeen | Short-term contract web development; HTML/CSS/JS, CMS experience preferred | £22.00 | View Job |
| Scaffolder Labourer | North London | Scaffolding labourer hire, materials loading, yard management, CSCS required | £15.00 | View Job |
ⓘ All rates shown are approximate hourly rates above UK National Living Wage. Final rates dependent on location, shift pattern, and experience level.
Frequently Asked Questions — Temporary FLT Driver Staffing
QHow quickly can Recruiting Today supply temporary FLT drivers?
Recruiting Today can deploy vetted, RTITB or ITSSAR-certified FLT operators within 24–48 hours for most UK locations. For emergency requirements in major logistics cities — including London, Leicester, Nottingham, and Aberdeen — same-day deployment may be available. Call us directly for urgent staffing needs.
QWhat FLT licences do your operators hold?
All operators hold valid RTITB, ITSSAR, or AITT certifications for their specific truck type — Counterbalance (Cat B), Reach Truck (Cat C), or Telehandler (CPCS/NPORS). Licence copies are provided to the client before any operator commences their first shift.
QDo you cover the whole of the UK for temporary FLT staffing?
Yes. Recruiting Today supplies temporary FLT drivers across England, Scotland, and Wales. We have particularly strong candidate pools in logistics hubs: Leicester, Nottingham, Aberdeen (for both temp jobs Aberdeen and temporary jobs Aberdeen), Southampton, Swindon, Warrington, London, and the North East.
QWhat is the typical pay rate for a temporary FLT driver?
Temporary Counterbalance operators earn approximately £13.50–£15.50/hr; Reach Truck operators £14.00–£16.50/hr; and Telehandler operators £15.00–£18.00/hr. All rates are above the UK National Living Wage and vary by location, shift pattern (including nights and weekends), and experience level.
QCan you provide FLT operators for seasonal or peak warehouse demand?
Absolutely. Peak-season FLT staffing is one of our core strengths. Whether you're planning for Q4 holiday demand, January clearance, summer promotions, or any other volume spike, Recruiting Today can scale from a single operator to a full multi-shift team. Our September 2025 hiring boom analysis details exactly how we support clients through rapid demand surges.
FLT Driver & Warehouse Staffing Key Terms Defined
FLT (Forklift Truck)
A powered industrial truck used to lift and transport materials over short distances in warehouses, distribution centres, and industrial sites.
Counterbalance Forklift
The most common forklift type. Counterweighted at the rear to offset loads lifted at the front; suitable for standard warehouse floors, container yards, and loading bays.
Reach Truck
A narrow-aisle forklift designed to extend (reach) into racking systems; essential for high-bay warehouses with tall pallet racking and limited aisle width.
Telehandler
A telescopic handler with an extendable boom arm; capable of significant forward reach and height. Used in construction, outdoor yards, ports, and large distribution compounds.
RTITB
Road Transport Industry Training Board — one of the UK's leading and most widely recognised FLT operator certification bodies, covering multiple truck categories.
ITSSAR
Industrial Truck & Specialist Rider Association — an accredited UK body for forklift operator training and certification, widely accepted by UK warehouse operators and clients.
UK FLT Driver Staffing — Key Market Facts
More Temporary & Contract Jobs from Recruiting Today
Need Temporary FLT Drivers? Call Recruiting Today Now.
Whether you're managing an emergency operator shortage, planning peak-season cover, or building a flexible FLT team for an ongoing contract — Recruiting Today is ready to help. Certified operators. 24–48 hour deployment. UK-wide.
✓ No placement fee until operators start ✓ RTITB/ITSSAR verified every time ✓ AWR fully compliant