St. Louis is a major Midwestern logistics hub, home to distribution centers for some of the nation's largest retailers, a strong manufacturing base, and the convergence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. This industrial ecosystem creates consistent demand for forklifts—and the dealers, rentals, training, and jobs that support them.
Forklift Dealers in St. Louis
Forklifts of St. Louis, Inc. is one of the region's most established names. Founded in 1947, this full-service dealer is located at 4720 Laguardia Dr, St. Louis, MO 63134. They offer new and used forklifts, short- and long-term rentals, parts, and service. Their pre-owned inventory includes brands like Toyota, Clark, Daewoo, Hyster, and Crown, which they recondition to like-new condition. They also provide operator safety training and train-the-trainer classes.
Benco Industrial Equipment (3041 Mercantile Industrial Dr, Saint Charles, MO) is an authorized Hyundai forklift dealer serving St. Louis, St. Charles, and Jefferson County. With over 10 years in the area and a 4.9-star rating, they are a trusted source for service, repair, sales, and leasing. They also offer warehouse solutions like racking, doors, and floor sweepers.
Connell Company (5930 N Hanley Rd, St. Louis, MO 63134) is a Komatsu forklift dealer with over 90 years of experience. They provide sales, rentals, and service for material handling equipment.
C & B Lift Truck Service, Inc. (6250 Knox Industrial Dr, St. Louis, MO 63139) offers sales, rentals, parts, and servicing for all makes and models of forklifts.
Independent Equipment LLC buys and sells new and used forklifts, tractors, skid steers, and industrial racking in St. Louis.
Union Machinery serves St. Louis, Eastern Missouri, and Southern Illinois with forklift sales, service, and parts.
Forklift Rentals in St. Louis
St. Louis has a strong rental market serving warehouses, construction sites, and distribution centers.
H&E Rentals opened a St. Louis West branch in January 2025, its fifth Missouri location. The branch specializes in forklifts, telehandlers, aerial lifts, earthmoving equipment, and generators. They serve the metro area and points west, north, and south along the Mississippi River.
BigRentz provides rental cost benchmarks for the St. Louis area:
5,000 lb cushion tire: $150/day, $393/week, $1,007/month
5,000 lb pneumatic tire: $154/day, up to $1,040/month
8,000 lb cushion tire: $269/day, $624/week, $1,560/month
United Rentals offers forklifts, telehandlers, and aerial lifts in St. Louis.
EquipmentShare (801 Westwood Industrial Park Dr, St. Charles) provides forklift rentals and fleet technology solutions.
Wolter Inc. offers in-house and on-site service for forklifts, aerial lifts, and cleaning equipment, plus new and used inventory.
Forklift Training and Certification
St. Louis has several options for OSHA-compliant forklift training.
Wolter Inc. offers a 4.5-hour forklift operator training class for $215 per person and a 2-day train-the-trainer program. Onsite training is available for all shifts, including Saturdays.
Forklifts of St. Louis provides both operator safety training and train-the-trainer classes at their facility.
Express Employment Professionals partners with ForkliftTraining.com to provide OSHA-compliant certification for operators placed at client companies.
C & B Lift Truck Service offers safety training alongside their sales and service.
For those seeking certification independently, online OSHA-compliant courses start at approximately $58 and take 30–45 minutes.
Forklift Operator Jobs in St. Louis
St. Louis has a strong job market for certified forklift operators, with wages ranging from $17 to $27+ per hour.
Role Pay Notes
Sit Down Forklift Operator $18.00 – $18.50/hr 1st/2nd shift, PLA Family of Companies
Line Forklift Operator $21.50/hr + $0.75 3rd shift, STERIS, quarterly bonus
Forklift Operator (General) $17.00 – $22.75/hr Warehouses/distribution centers
Forklift Operator (48forty) $17.50/hr Mon–Fri, 7 AM – 7 PM
Experienced Forklift Operator Up to $27.02/hr Day-one benefits, 13 days PTO
Key employers include logistics companies, distribution centers, and manufacturers across the metro area. Most positions require previous forklift experience and certification. Some employers provide on-site certification for qualified candidates.
The Bottom Line
St. Louis offers a mature forklift market with established dealers like Forklifts of St. Louis (since 1947), authorized Hyundai dealer Benco Industrial Equipment, and Komatsu dealer Connell Company. Rental options range from H&E Rentals to BigRentz, with daily rates starting at $150. Training is available through Wolter Inc. ($215 for a 4.5-hour class) and other local providers. The job market is active, with wages from $17 to $27+ per hour, making St. Louis a solid market for both equipment buyers and job seekers.
