Occupation

Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators

Human Advantage 62%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Moderate Risk
3.1 / 10

Some tasks in this role may be augmented by AI, but human oversight and interpersonal skills remain important.

Operate industrial trucks or tractors equipped to move materials around a warehouse, storage yard, factory, construction site, or similar location.

Also Known As: CAT Driver (Caterpillar Driver), CAT Operator (Caterpillar Operator), CAT Skinner (Caterpillar Skinner), CAT Tender (Caterpillar Tender), CAT Tractor Operator (Caterpillar Tractor Operator), Carry All Driver, Charging Car Operator, Checker Loader +91 more

Video

Core Tasks

  1. 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.
  2. Move controls to drive gasoline- or electric-powered trucks, cars, or tractors and transport materials between loading, processing, and storage areas.
  3. Manually or mechanically load or unload materials from pallets, skids, platforms, cars, lifting devices, or other transport vehicles.
  4. Position lifting devices under, over, or around loaded pallets, skids, or boxes and secure material or products for transport to designated areas.
  5. Inspect product load for accuracy and safely move it around the warehouse or facility to ensure timely and complete delivery.

Supplemental Tasks (4)

  1. Weigh materials or products and record weight or other production data on tags or labels.
  2. Perform routine maintenance on vehicles or auxiliary equipment, such as cleaning, lubricating, recharging batteries, fueling, or replacing liquefied-gas tank.
  3. Operate or tend automatic stacking, loading, packaging, or cutting machines.
  4. Turn valves and open chutes to dump, spray, or release materials from dump cars or storage bins into hoppers.

Education & Training

Job Zone 2 Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Education: These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Experience: Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
73%
Less than a High School Diploma
23%
Some College Courses
4%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft Word
  • SAP software

Software (18)

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

Tools & Equipment (50)

  • Banding equipment
  • Belt conveyors
  • Booms
  • Bridgeplates
  • Bulk liquid trucks
  • Cantilever trucks
  • Combination vacuum lifts
  • Container reach stackers
  • Container top handlers
  • Counterbalanced front/side loader lift trucks
  • Crane attachments
  • Dockboards
  • Dollies
  • Extended-reach forklifts
  • Flatbed trailers
  • Fork-grapples
  • Forklifts
  • Forktrucks
  • High-lift order picker trucks
  • Hustlers
  • Industrial crane trucks
  • Jacks
  • Lift beams
  • Lift trucks
  • Lifting clamps
  • Metal dump hopper attachments
  • Motorized hand trucks
  • On-board computers for sending/receiving instructions
  • Overhead hoists
  • Pallet trucks
  • Personal computers
  • Personnel and burden carriers
  • Platform lift trucks
  • Reach rider trucks
  • Reach stackers
  • Reach type outrigger trucks
  • Rider trucks
  • Rough terrain forklifts
  • Scoops
  • Shovel attachments
  • Shrink wrap machines
  • Sliding boom forklifts
  • Snowplows
  • Straddle carriers
  • Straight-mast forklifts
  • Swivel hooks
  • Tank trailers
  • Telescopic forklifts
  • Top loaders
  • Wheel chocks

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Ground & Rail Transportation Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 2
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