What You'll Do

  • Move controls to drive gasoline- or electric-powered trucks, cars, or tractors and transport materials between loading, processing, and storage areas.
  • Move levers or controls that operate lifting devices, such as forklifts, lift beams with swivel-hooks, hoists, or elevating platforms, to load, unload, transport, or stack material.
  • Position lifting devices under, over, or around loaded pallets, skids, or boxes and secure material or products for transport to designated areas.
  • Perform routine maintenance on vehicles or auxiliary equipment, such as cleaning, lubricating, recharging batteries, fueling, or replacing liquefied-gas tank.
  • Weigh materials or products and record weight or other production data on tags or labels.
  • Operate or tend automatic stacking, loading, packaging, or cutting machines.
  • Turn valves and open chutes to dump, spray, or release materials from dump cars or storage bins into hoppers.
  • Inspect product load for accuracy and safely move it around the warehouse or facility to ensure timely and complete delivery.
  • Manually or mechanically load or unload materials from pallets, skids, platforms, cars, lifting devices, or other transport vehicles.

Essential Skills

Operation and Control 3.88/5
Operations Monitoring 3.25/5
Coordination 3.0/5
Equipment Maintenance 3.0/5
Troubleshooting 3.0/5
Time Management 3.0/5
Reading Comprehension 2.88/5
Active Listening 2.88/5
Speaking 2.75/5
Critical Thinking 2.75/5
Monitoring 2.75/5
Judgment and Decision Making 2.75/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.

Common styles

Self-Control, Attention to Detail, Dependability, Stress Tolerance, Integrity

Want a personal read on fit. Take the free assessment and see your exact compatibility with this career and many related roles.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Control Precision 4.0/5
Multilimb Coordination 3.88/5
Far Vision 3.75/5
Response Orientation 3.62/5
Manual Dexterity 3.5/5
Rate Control 3.38/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.25/5
Reaction Time 3.25/5

Technologies & Tools

Argos Software ABECAS Insight WMS ATMS StockTrack PLUS Autodesk AutoCAD BarControl Enterprise Manager iBEM IntelliTrack Warehouse Management System (WMS) Inventory management software Inventory management systems Lilly Software Associates VISUAL DCMS Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft Word Motek Priya RedPrairie DLx Warehouse SAP software SSA Global Supply Chain Management Symphony GOLD Warehouse management system WMS

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Self-Control (High importance: 4.4/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.31/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.3/5)
  • Stress Tolerance (High importance: 4.11/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.01/5)

Want to see how YOUR work style matches this career?

Take Free 15-Min Assessment →

How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

Similar Careers to Explore

Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators

100.0% similar profile

Pile Driver Operators

100.0% similar profile

Roustabouts, Oil and Gas

100.0% similar profile

Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall

99.9% similar profile

Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators

99.9% similar profile

Mechanical Door Repairers

99.9% similar profile

Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers

99.9% similar profile

Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

99.9% similar profile

Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Carry All Driver CAT Driver (Caterpillar Driver) CAT Operator (Caterpillar Operator) CAT Skinner (Caterpillar Skinner) CAT Tender (Caterpillar Tender) CAT Tractor Operator (Caterpillar Tractor Operator) Charging Car Operator Checker Loader Diesel Tractor Operator Dolly Driver Drier Transfer Car Operator Electric Car Operator Electric Dolly Operator Electric Lift Truck Driver Electric Mule Driver Electric Mule Operator Electric Pallet Jack Operator Electric Truck Driver Electric Truck Operator Electric Trucker Euclid Operator Finger Lift Operator Fork Lift Technician Fork Operator Fork Truck Driver Forklift Driver Forklift Operator Forklift Technician Forklift Truck Operator Hauler Heavy Machinery Operator Hi Lift Operator Hi Lo Driver Hi Low Truck Driver Hi Ranger Operator High Lift Driver High Lift Mule Operator High Lift Operator Hot Car Operator Hydraulic Lift Driver (Hy Lift Driver) Hydraulic Lift Operator (Hy Lift Operator) Hyster Driver Hyster Machine Operator Industrial Tractor Driver Industrial Truck Driver Industrial Truck Operator Inside Trucker Kiln Transfer Operator Larry Operator Lift Driver Lift Operator Lift Truck Operator Lifter Driver Log Carrier Operator Lumber Carrier Operator Marsh Buggy Operator Mold Car Pusher Mule Operator Package Lift Operator Power Mule Operator Power Truck Driver Quencher Operator Quenching Car Operator Reach Truck Operator Reach-Lift Truck Driver Shag Truck Driver Skidder Driver Skidder Lever Operator Skidder Loader Skidder Operator Skidder Runner Skip Load Driver Skip Operator Snaker Spotter Driver Stacker Driver Stacker Operator Straddle Bug Driver Straddle Bug Operator Straddle Carrier Operator Straddle Truck Driver Straddle Truck Operator Tier Lift Operator Tier Truck Driver Tow Driver Tow Motor Driver Tow Motor Operator Tractor Driver Tractor Driver Teamster Tractor Operator Transfer Car Operator Travelift Operator Truck Driver Uke Driver Uke Operator Unloader Operator Warehouse Driver Waste Transportation Technician Wheel Loader Operator