Role guide · Forklift driver
Forklift work has a kit profile all of its own: seated (so trunk warmth beats mobility), permanently in vehicle lanes (so hi-vis is identity), and punctuated by dismounts onto concrete (which is where the boots earn their keep).
The list
| Item | Spec | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hi-vis | Class 2 vest or bodywarmer, always on | The truck is visible; the driver on foot must be too |
| Bodywarmer / gilet | Insulated, over a sweatshirt | Seated warmth without sleeve bulk at the wheel |
| Sweatshirt or fleece ×2 | Mid-layer weight | Docks run cold and draughty year-round |
| Trousers | Stretch or jogger-style work trousers | Hours seated punish stiff waistbands |
| Boots | S1P, cushioned heel | The step-down onto concrete, hundreds of times |
| Gloves | Thin coated, grippy | Wheel, levers, and the occasional pallet fix |
| Beanie | Under any bump-cap rule | Heat leaves seated bodies from the top |
The seated problem
Dock levellers and open roller doors put FLT drivers in a permanent draught — and seated bodies can't walk themselves warm. The kit answer is core insulation that doesn't restrict arms: the gilet-over-sweatshirt combination is practically the trade uniform, with a wicking base layer underneath in winter rather than a bulkier coat on top. Cold-store trucks push the whole list into EN 342 territory — cab heaters help, but the picking aisles don't.
The dismount is the injury moment: hundreds of step-downs onto concrete per shift, often backwards, sometimes onto debris. Cushioned-heel S1P boots with real ankle support, laced properly, are the difference-maker — and the reason "trainers are fine, I'm sat down" misses the point of the job.
Details
Questions
Yes — the standing convention is a Class 2 vest or hi-vis bodywarmer worn whenever on site, because drivers spend their day in vehicle lanes and become pedestrians the moment they dismount. Many operations treat it as non-negotiable uniform.
S1P with a cushioned heel and decent ankle support — the hazard isn't the seat, it's the hundreds of dismounts onto concrete. A puncture midsole covers warehouse debris; toe caps cover the pallet and load work between drives.
Core-first: gilet over sweatshirt over a wicking base layer keeps the trunk warm without sleeve bulk at the controls. Docks are draught alleys, so windproofing matters as much as insulation — and cold-store trucks step the whole kit up to EN 342-rated gear.
Send the headcount — the kit list comes back priced, embroidered and sized.