HOW TO GET THERE
Typical pathway
There is no single education path for this occupation, and requirements can vary by employer and workplace. Many jobs are open to people with a high school diploma or equivalent, while some workers enter with less formal schooling or with college, apprenticeship, or trades training. For some roles, employers may prefer or require experience using forklifts or other equipment. In certain workplaces, workers may also need job-specific training, and some jobs may involve extra requirements for handling dangerous goods or hazardous materials. School courses or part-time jobs that build physical stamina, teamwork, and safe work habits can be helpful starting points.
THE WORK
What you may do
Legacy duties
- Load, unload and move products and materials by hand or using basic material handling equipment
- Move household appliances and furniture onto and off moving trucks or vans
- Set up rooms for events, dismantle moveable walls and partitions, and organize or set up office furniture
- Perform other material handling activities such as counting, weighing, sorting, packing and unpacking.
- Operate winches and other loading devices to load and unload materials onto and off trucks, railway cars and loading docks of warehouses and industrial establishments
- Operate industrial trucks, tractors, loaders and other equipment to transport materials to and from transportation vehicles and loading docks and to store and retrieve materials in warehouses
- Connect hoses or pipes and operate equipment to load and unload liquid petroleum, chemical or other products into or from tank cars, tank trucks or storage tanks
- Operate equipment to dump materials such as coal, ore and grain into or to remove materials from railway cars, trucks or other vehicles
- Operate conveyors and equipment to transfer grain or other materials from transportation vehicles to elevators, bins or other storage areas
- May perform other activities, such as opening containers and crates, filling warehouse orders, assisting in taking inventory and weighing and checking materials.
A DAY IN THE LIFE
What a day can include
A material handler’s day usually starts by checking what needs to be moved and where it needs to go. They may unload deliveries, stack goods, sort packages, label items, or bring materials to storage or shipping areas. During the day, they might help prepare orders, move furniture or appliances, set up rooms for events, or operate equipment such as forklifts, loaders, conveyors, or winches, depending on the job. Some shifts are fast paced and physically demanding, so workers need to stay alert, follow safety rules, and work closely with others to keep materials moving on time.
SKILLS TO BUILD