San Diego County is a major industrial and logistics hub for Southern California, with a diverse economic base spanning the Port of San Diego, the naval shipbuilding operations at NASSCO, a vast network of warehouses in Otay Mesa and Miramar, and growing manufacturing hubs in North County cities like San Marcos, Vista, and Escondido. The region's forklift industry is supported by established dealerships, comprehensive training providers, and a robust job market.
Forklift Dealerships and Equipment Sales
San Diego has several established equipment dealers offering new and used forklift sales, rentals, parts, and service.
E&E Industries is the exclusive San Diego distributor of CLARK forklifts. Established in 1981, E&E Industries is a veteran-owned small business operating out of 4931 Market St in San Diego. As a full-service dealership, they offer forklift sales, rentals, and repair services, carrying a large variety of used and refurbished forklift brands and sizes. They also maintain a national network of suppliers to find specific lift trucks upon request. E&E provides 24/7 emergency service and is deeply engaged in the San Diego community.
Clairemont Equipment at 4726 Convoy St is an authorized dealer for Komatsu Forklift, JLG Lifts, Yanmar Construction Equipment, and other leading brands. A family-owned business serving Southern California since 1970, they provide new and used equipment sales, rentals, parts, and service for both contractors and homeowners.
Naumann/Hobbs Material Handling at 1600 E Mission Rd in San Marcos is an authorized dealer for Caterpillar and Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America. They serve San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Inyo counties with sales, rentals, parts, service, and training.
Network Industries in Chula Vista offers comprehensive forklift services including parts, rentals, and sales. As an authorized dealer for Quality Lift Trucks, they provide new and used options to meet various needs.
Arpeza at 10030 Marconi Dr, Ste A is a locally owned San Diego business specializing in the rental and sale of industrial equipment including forklifts, scissor lifts, and pallet jacks.
Forklift Rentals
For short-term or seasonal needs, San Diego offers multiple rental providers.
Raymond West offers a complete range of electric forklift rentals and is among the largest electric forklift fleet dealers in the West. Their inventory includes stand-up and sit-down forklifts, reach trucks, swing-reach turret trucks (with lift heights up to 50 feet), and pallet jacks. Raymond West is backed by one of the largest service and parts operations in Southern California, with a location at San Diego, CA 92126 and contact number (858) 679-1800.
United Rentals serves the San Diego area with a wide variety of equipment including forklifts, boom lifts, scissor lifts, skid steers, excavators, power tools, air compressors, and welders.
All Access Services has locations in San Diego, Riverside, and Orange County, offering forklifts, scissor lifts, telehandlers, straight boom lifts, and articulating boom lifts for short or long-term rental.
Clairemont Equipment Rentals provides forklifts and construction equipment for short or long-term rental.
E&E Industries also offers forklift rentals alongside sales and repair services.
Forklift Training and Certification
Forklift operators in California must comply with OSHA and Cal/OSHA standards. San Diego offers multiple training options.
The Forklift Academy, operating in San Diego and Escondido, offers forklift certification and training for individuals and companies. Their program includes classroom instruction and hands-on behind-the-wheel training. The entire process takes up to 4 hours to complete, and upon successful completion, participants receive a forklift license with their photo and a certificate of achievement, valid for 3 years.
Miramar Fork Training offers a comprehensive Hands-On Reach & Forklift Training dual-program for operating both sit-down LPG forklifts and reach trucks safely and efficiently. The program costs $490 and is OSHA-compliant. Training is held at 6365 Marindustry Dr #a, San Diego, CA 92121. The course takes approximately 3-4 hours for beginners or 1.5-2 hours for experienced operators, and certification is issued the same day. Classes are offered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM, with instruction available in both English and Spanish.
National Safety Partners (NSP) provides employer-focused on-site forklift operator training and evaluations to meet OSHA requirements. Their programs include classroom instruction, hands-on operation, hazard awareness, load handling, and performance evaluations specific to your equipment and workplace conditions. NSP serves public and private employers across all industries, bringing expert instructors directly to your jobsite.
NIS Training offers Forklift Train the Trainer programs for San Diego area businesses, covering counterbalanced, narrow aisle, powered pallet trucks, and variable reach rough terrain forklifts. Their OSHA-compliant programs are valid for 3 years and meet regulatory requirements throughout North America. Training is available online or on-site at your San Diego facility, with a 2-day program for one equipment type.
Illustra Pro provides forklift certification in San Diego with a focus on OSHA compliance and safety. Safety Training Classes for Forklift Operator offers courses covering operating principles, safety rules, record keeping, maintenance, material handling, load capacities, and hands-on operation.
Forklift Operator Jobs and Salaries in San Diego
The San Diego job market for certified forklift operators is consistently active, with positions spanning warehouses, shipyards, distribution centers, and manufacturing facilities.
Salary Data
Metric Value
Average Annual Salary $39,387
Average Hourly Wage $18.94
Typical Range $17 – $26 per hour
Recent Job Postings and Wages
Employer Position Pay Rate
NASSCO San Diego Forklift Jobs Training provided
Express Pros Warehouse/Forklift Operator $21 – $23 per hour
R+L Carriers Forklift Operator (Part-Time) $24.48 per hour
Oak Harbor Freight Lines Forklift Operator / Dock Worker (Part-Time) Competitive
General Market Forklift Operator $21.97 per hour
Top Employers
NASSCO (National Steel and Shipbuilding Company) – San Diego's major shipbuilder, offering extensive on-the-job and after-hours training programs. Forklift operators work on ships and piers supporting naval and commercial shipbuilding operations.
R+L Carriers – Transportation and logistics company with immediate part-time forklift operator openings at their San Diego service center.
Oak Harbor Freight Lines – Hiring part-time forklift operators/dock workers for trailer loading and unloading.
Express Pros – Staffing agency with warehouse/forklift operator positions in downtown San Diego.
TForce Freight – Offers forklift operator positions with pay rates around $21.97 per hour.
Requirements: Most positions require 1-2 years of forklift experience, with some roles specifically requiring electric stand-up forklift experience or sit-down forklift experience. Basic English proficiency, arithmetic, and weight measurement skills are also common requirements.
San Diego's Forklift Ecosystem
Category Key Resources
Dealers E&E Industries (CLARK), Clairemont Equipment (Komatsu, JLG), Naumann/Hobbs (Caterpillar, Mitsubishi)
Rentals Raymond West, United Rentals, All Access Services, Clairemont Equipment Rentals
Training The Forklift Academy (Escondido), Miramar Fork Training (San Diego), NSP (On-site), NIS Train the Trainer
Jobs NASSCO, R+L Carriers, Oak Harbor Freight Lines, Express Pros, TForce Freight
Average Salary $18.94 per hour / $39,387 per year
The bottom line: San Diego's forklift industry is served by a diverse network of established dealers including E&E Industries (CLARK), Clairemont Equipment (Komatsu), and Naumann/Hobbs (Caterpillar/Mitsubishi). Rental options range from Raymond West (largest electric fleet) to United Rentals and All Access Services. Training is available through The Forklift Academy (Escondido, 4-hour program, same-day certification), Miramar Fork Training ($490, 3-4 hours), and employer-focused providers like NSP. The job market is active with major employers including NASSCO, R+L Carriers, and TForce Freight, with average wages around $18.94 per hour and annual salaries of approximately $39,387.