Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Raymond Reach Truck Operator

🎯 Role Definition

The Raymond Reach Truck Operator is a skilled professional and the backbone of efficient warehouse operations. This role is fundamentally centered on the safe and precise vertical movement of inventory within a distribution center or storage facility. Operators play a pivotal role in the supply chain by ensuring products are accurately put-away into high-level racking, retrieved for order fulfillment, and replenished to maintain a seamless flow of goods. Mastery of the Raymond Reach Truck, a keen eye for detail, and an unwavering commitment to safety are the cornerstones of this critical function, directly impacting inventory accuracy, operational speed, and overall warehouse productivity.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Warehouse Associate / General Labor
Order Picker / Packer
Pallet Jack Operator

Advancement To:

Warehouse Team Lead / Lead Hand
Inventory Control Specialist / Analyst
Warehouse Supervisor

Lateral Moves:

Counterbalance Forklift Operator
Shipping and Receiving Clerk
Quality Control Inspector

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Expertly operate a Raymond Reach Truck to move, locate, relocate, stack, and retrieve palletized goods in a safe and efficient manner.
Execute the precise put-away of incoming merchandise from receiving docks into designated high-tier racking and overstock locations.
Accurately pick customer orders from single or double-deep rack locations using an RF scanner, ensuring item and quantity verification before staging for shipment.
Conduct daily pre-operational and post-operational safety inspections on the reach truck, meticulously documenting and reporting any malfunctions, damages, or maintenance needs to the supervisor.
Safely and skillfully maneuver the equipment in narrow aisles and high-traffic areas, maintaining constant awareness of pedestrians and other material handling equipment.
Utilize a handheld Radio Frequency (RF) scanner to process all material movements, including picking, put-away, and inventory transfers, ensuring real-time accuracy in the Warehouse Management System (WMS).
Perform systematic replenishment of primary picking locations from overstock inventory to ensure product availability for order fulfillment teams.
Actively participate in cycle counting and physical inventory programs, assisting in the investigation and resolution of inventory discrepancies.
Work comfortably and confidently at significant heights, often exceeding 30 feet, to access and handle materials in the highest levels of the warehouse racking.
Securely wrap completed order pallets using a stretch wrap machine or by hand to ensure stability and safety during transit and storage.
Identify, isolate, and properly document any damaged products or packaging according to company standard operating procedures (SOPs), moving items to the designated quarantine area.
Adhere strictly to all organizational safety protocols, OSHA standards, and best practices for material handling and warehouse operations.
Meet or exceed established key performance indicators (KPIs) for productivity and quality, such as picks per hour, put-away speed, and order accuracy rates.
Maintain clear and professional communication with team members, leads, and supervisors to coordinate workflow and resolve operational challenges.
Manage the proper charging, watering, and changing of industrial batteries for the reach truck, following all safety guidelines for battery handling areas.
Consolidate partial pallets and reorganize storage locations as directed to maximize warehouse space utilization and improve operational efficiency.
Accurately apply labels, placards, and other identifiers to pallets and products to ensure proper tracking and rotation (FIFO/LIFO) within the WMS.
Assist in the loading and unloading of trailers when required, ensuring proper pallet placement and weight distribution.
Maintain a clean, organized, and hazard-free work area in aisles, staging lanes, and equipment storage locations, embracing 5S principles.
Handle a diverse range of product SKUs, sizes, and weights, adapting handling techniques to prevent product damage and ensure personal safety.

Secondary Functions

Assist with general warehouse housekeeping duties to contribute to a clean and safe work environment for all team members.
Participate actively in daily team meetings, safety briefings, and continuous improvement discussions.
Provide support to other warehouse departments, such as shipping, receiving, or packing, during periods of high volume or as directed by management.
Mentor or provide guidance to new associates on basic warehouse procedures and safety best practices.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Raymond Reach Truck Operation: Proven ability and certification to operate a stand-up narrow-aisle reach truck.
RF Scanner Proficiency: Experience using handheld RF scanning devices for inventory transactions.
WMS Experience: Familiarity with Warehouse Management Systems (e.g., Manhattan, JDA/Blue Yonder, SAP EWM) for task execution.
Material Handling: Knowledge of proper freight handling, stacking, and loading techniques.
Basic Math & Numeracy: Ability to accurately count, verify quantities, and perform simple arithmetic.
Safety Inspection: Skill in performing daily equipment checks and identifying potential safety issues.
Battery Management: Knowledge of procedures for safely charging and changing MHE batteries.

Soft Skills

Safety Consciousness: An unwavering commitment to following safety rules and maintaining a safe operating environment.
Attention to Detail: Meticulousness in verifying SKUs, locations, and quantities to ensure high accuracy.
Spatial Awareness: Excellent judgment of distances and spaces, critical for navigating narrow aisles and placing pallets at height.
Reliability & Punctuality: A consistent and dependable work ethic.
Communication Skills: Ability to clearly convey information and listen to instructions from supervisors and teammates.
Problem-Solving: The capacity to identify operational issues and report them or find appropriate solutions.
Physical Stamina: Ability to stand, walk, and operate equipment for extended periods and lift up to 50 lbs.
Adaptability: Flexibility to switch between tasks and respond to changing priorities in a fast-paced setting.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High School Diploma or equivalent (GED).

Preferred Education:

Post-secondary certificate in Logistics or Supply Chain Management.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Warehousing & Distribution
Logistics & Supply Chain

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1-3 years of direct, hands-on experience operating a Raymond Reach Truck or a similar narrow-aisle stand-up forklift.

Preferred:

3+ years of experience in a high-volume, fast-paced distribution center or 3PL environment.
Verifiable certification on Raymond Reach Truck equipment.
Experience working with a computerized WMS and RF-directed tasks.