What they do
Operate industrial trucks or tractors equipped to move materials around a warehouse, storage yard, factory, construction site, or similar location.
|
|
Also called: |
Checker Loader, Fork Lift Technician, Fork Truck Driver, Forklift Driver, Forklift Operator, Lift Truck Operator, Shag Truck Driver, Spotter Driver, Tow Motor Operator, Truck Driver
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wages
|
Vermont - 2023 |
Percentile1 | Hourly | Yearly |
10% |
$ 17.85 |
$37,130 |
25% |
$ 18.63 |
$38,760 |
Median |
$ 20.98 |
$43,640 |
75% |
$ 22.76 |
$47,340 |
90% |
$ 27.47 |
$57,140 |
|
Average |
$ 21.41 |
$44,530 |
|
More at CareerOneStop |
|
| |
Industries of Employment
United States - 2020 |
Industry | Percent of total |
| 33% |
- Administrative and support services
| 10% |
| 6% |
- Merchant wholesalers, durable goods
| 6% |
- Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods
| 6% |
More at BLS |
|
|
|
Knowledge
People in this career often know a lot about: |
- Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
|
More at O*NET |
|
|
|
Skills
People in this career often have these skills: |
- Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
|
- Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
|
- Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
|
- Equipment Maintenance
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
|
- Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
|
More at O*NET |
|
|
|
Interests
People in this career often prefer these work environments: |
- Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
|
- Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.
|
What are your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler |
|
|
|
Work Styles
People in this career will do well at jobs that need: |
- Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
|
- Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
|
- Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
|
- Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
|
- Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
|
More at O*NET |
|
|
|
Tasks
On the job, you would: |
- 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.
|
- Move controls to drive gasoline- or electric-powered trucks, cars, or tractors and transport materials between loading, processing, and storage areas.
|
- Manually or mechanically load or unload materials from pallets, skids, platforms, cars, lifting devices, or other transport vehicles.
|
- Position lifting devices under, over, or around loaded pallets, skids, or boxes and secure material or products for transport to designated areas.
|
- Inspect product load for accuracy and safely move it around the warehouse or facility to ensure timely and complete delivery.
|
More at O*NET |
|
|
|
Related Occupations
|
|
|
|
Career Video
|
|
Projected Employment
|
Vermont |
2020 employment |
491 |
2030 employment |
549 |
Annual percent change (compounded) |
1.1% |
Annual projected job openings (due to change and separations) |
62 |
More at Occupational Projections |
|
| |
Education and Experience:
- Typical education needed for entry
No formal educational credential
|
- Work experience in a related occupation
None
|
- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency
Short-term on-the-job training
|
Based on BLS Education and Training Classifications |
|
|
|
Physical Work Activity
Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials. |
- Physical activity is Very Important
|
- Level of activity is High
|
|
|
Low | | High |
|
|
|
Compare Occupations at O*NET |
|
|
|
Job Zone
Some Preparation Needed |
- Specific Vocational Preparation Range
(4.0 to < 6.0) - A typical worker will require
over 3 months up to and including 1 year
of training to achieve average performance in this occupation.
|
Based on O*Net Job Zones and SVP |
|
|
|
Education Level
How much education do most people in this career have? |
Education level | | Percent of U.S. Workers |
Doctoral or professional degree or post-MA certificate | | 0% |
Master's degree or post-BA certificate | | 0% |
Bachelor's degree | | 0% |
Associate's degree | | 0% |
Certificate or some college, no degree | | 4% |
High school diploma or equivalent | | 73% |
Less than high school diploma | | 23% |
More at O*NET |
|
|
|
Abilities
People in this career often have talent in: |
- Control Precision
The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
|
- Multilimb Coordination
The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
|
- Far Vision
The ability to see details at a distance.
|
- Response Orientation
The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.
|
- Manual Dexterity
The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
|
More at O*NET |
|
|
|
Work Activities
In general, what you might do: |
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
|
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
|
- Handling and Moving Objects
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
|
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
|
- Performing General Physical Activities
Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
|
More at O*NET |
|
|
|
Detailed Work Activities
What you might do in a day: |
- Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
|
- Operate vehicles or material-moving equipment.
|
- Load shipments, belongings, or materials.
|
- Position material handling equipment.
|
|
More at O*NET |
|
|
|
Other Resources
|
- CareerOneStop
resource for job seekers, students, businessess and career professionals
|
- O*NET Online
nation's primary source of occupational information
|
|
|
|
|
|
|