Distribution Trainer – Operations & Powered Industrial Equipment (2nd Shift)

**Please note this is for 2nd shift. Shift hours: Monday - Friday, 2:30 PM - 11:00 PM**

Position Summary

As part of the Health & Safety Team, the Distribution Forklift Trainer is responsible for delivering effective, compliant powered industrial truck (PIT) training to ensure operators are competent, confident, and safety focused. This role provides classroom instruction, hands-on practical training, and performance evaluations in accordance with OSHA standards, company policies, and site-specific hazards. Additionally, this role supports operational excellence by reducing incidents, improving operator proficiency, and reinforcing a strong safety culture.

The trainer identifies skill gaps, reviews operational trends, and applies sound judgment to determine appropriate training and development actions. Success requires clear communication, consistent follow-through, and the ability to help employees understand both how to perform a task and why the standard matters.

Key Responsibilities

Classroom and Hands-On Training

• Become a Subject Matter Expert in assigned area(s) of responsibility

• Deliver engaging classroom instruction, equipment demonstrations, supervised practice, and practical evaluations.

• Train employees in the safe operation of powered industrial truck (PIT) used at the site, including applicable reach trucks, order pickers, counterbalanced forklifts, and powered pallet trucks.

• Teach equipment inspections, load handling, pedestrian awareness, visibility, dock safety, and site-specific operating procedures.

• Evaluate employee knowledge and demonstrated ability against established standards; document results and recommend operator authorization through the company's approved process.

• Adapt instruction to different experience levels, learning needs, and rates of progress while maintaining consistent qualification standards.

• Provide refresher training and targeted retraining when observations, assessments, incidents, or process changes identify a need.

Employee Development

• Build structured training plans for new hires, transfers, and employees learning additional equipment or operational processes.

• Provide specific, timely feedback that explains strengths, gaps, and required improvements.

• Develop individual plans with clear expectations, practice activities, and follow-up checkpoints.

• Reinforce skills through floor observations and coaching after initial training.

• Help employees build confidence, accountability, and independent decision-making.

• Support operations leadership in delivering consistent instruction

Operational Knowledge and Problem-Solving

• Understand how equipment operation and employee proficiency affect safety, quality, productivity, and workflow.

• Review assessment results, inspection data, incidents, near misses, damage, quality errors, and employee performance to identify recurring trends.

• Use observations, data, and employee discussions to distinguish training gaps from process, equipment, or supervisory issues.

• Apply logical reasoning to identify contributing factors and recommend practical corrective actions.

• Measure whether training improves job performance and adjust the approach when results fall short.

• Partner with Operations and Safety to improve standard work and prevent recurring issues.

Training Coordination and Communication

• Coordinate training schedules with Operations, Safety, and contingent staffing agencies.

• Confirm employee onboarding, required access, prerequisites, equipment, and training materials are ready before scheduled sessions.

• Communicate training availability, employee progress, completion status, barriers, and support needs promptly.

• Maintain a training plan that supports staffing needs and coverage across shifts.

• Escalate readiness or scheduling issues early and follow through until resolved.

Training Materials, Records, and Safety

• Develop and maintain training presentations, job aids, assessments, equipment checklists, and standard work.

• Keep materials aligned with current site procedures and manufacturer instructions.

• Maintain accurate training records, evaluation results, equipment qualifications, and retraining requirements.

• Reinforce company safety standards and applicable powered industrial truck training requirements.

• Intervene when unsafe behavior is observed and escalate concerns through the appropriate leadership channels.

• Partner with managers on employee development while managers retain responsibility for daily performance management and accountability.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.

• Demonstrated experience in distribution center or warehouse operations.

• Proficiency operating Raymond powered industrial equipment applicable to the site.

• Demonstrated ability to deliver classroom instruction, hands-on training, and practical evaluations.

• Knowledge, training, and experience sufficient to train and evaluate operators on assigned equipment.

• Ability to read and explain operating manuals, safety instructions, and standard operating procedures.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including presenting to groups and providing individual feedback.

• Ability to recognize patterns in performance data, apply logical reasoning, and develop practical improvement actions.

• Ability to coach employees patiently and consistently while holding firm qualification standards.

• Strong organization, scheduling, documentation, and follow-through.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and training or learning management systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Raymond train-the-trainer education or equivalent equipment-specific instructor training.

• Previous experience developing training materials and structured on-the-job training programs.

• Experience training both direct employees and contingent workers.

• Experience with warehouse management systems, RF scanners, and equipment telemetry.

• Familiarity with continuous improvement, root-cause analysis, and standard work.

Work Environment

This position works in an active distribution center setting. Responsibilities include operating equipment, observing employees on the floor, and supporting training across shifts as business needs require. Incumbent will walk and may occasionally sit, kneel, crouch, and lift up to 40lbs. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to high. Must be flexible to work varying schedules, hours, and overtime as needed. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.