We will forklift your spirits.

Dear Forklifters -- the time is upon us.

As some of you are undoubtedly aware, Grand Theft Auto IV used to have playable Forklifts in multiplayer. (And still does, should you downgrade your Steam version in order to Forklift with friends.)

Regrettably, the multiplayer component of Grand Theft Auto V always lacked Forklifts, despite them being in the single-player game since it originally launched in 2013.

Until now:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVQIAs4pFUs
As of The Cayo Perico Heist update, Forklifts appear in GTA Online, but ONLY in certain specific places, including inside the main hangar on the island of Cayo Perico itself (and it has too much girth to squeeze through the barely-opened hangar doors).

Luckily, during the Cutting Torch open-world Prep work for the Heist, the Forklift can spawn at the tall construction building downtown (as seen in the video) or the smaller construction site near Koreatown. During the Cutting Torch Prep, the Forklifts can be driven around in the open world, taken off-site, but I have not been able to confirm if they can be saved or not. I would not expect it, but I will report back when I know for sure.

Remember that Heist Preps can be done in Closed or Invite Sessions, so never go into regular Public Sessions (always make Empty Publics if you explicitly need Public gameplay!), so you and your friends can meet up in a Friends Session, launch the Cutting Torch Prep, not even grab the torch itself, and Forklift around until time runs out.

Be advised that the Forklift itself can lift pallets, but not cars, even when teaming up with a friendly Forklifter for some bro-op action, as seen in the video.

Happy Forklifting, friends.