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Industrial Truck & Tractor Operators

Also called: Forklift Operator, Material Handler, Fork Lift Operator, Truck Driver

What they do:
Operate industrial trucks or tractors equipped to move materials around a warehouse, storage yard, factory, construction site, or similar location.
On the job, you would:
  • Inspect product load for accuracy and safely move it around the warehouse or facility to ensure timely and complete delivery.
  • 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.

Knowledge

Manufactured or Agricultural Goods
  • manufacture and distribution of products
Math and Science
  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics

Skills

Basic Skills
  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Controlled Movement
  • quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat
  • use your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down
Hand and Finger Use
  • hold or move items with your hands
  • keep your arm or hand steady

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Independence
  • Initiative
  • Self Control
  • Cooperation

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Inventory management software
  • Argos Software ABECAS Insight WMS
  • ATMS StockTrack PLUS
Materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software
  • Aldata G.O.L.D. software
  • SSA Global Supply Chain Management

Education

Education: (rated 2 of 5)
high school diploma or
some college
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Bright Outlook
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
Salary
$30,010
per year, on average
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Green
This work is part of the green economy.

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See more details at O*NET OnLine about industrial truck and tractor operators.