Occupation · SOC 53-1043
First-Line Supervisors of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of material-moving machine and vehicle operators and helpers.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
15 mapped
Core skills
Time ManagementManagement of Personnel ResourcesCoordinationActive ListeningSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingCritical ThinkingMonitoringComplex Problem SolvingWritingNegotiationLearning StrategiesInstructingActive LearningService OrientationPersuasionSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisMathematicsOperations MonitoringOperations AnalysisManagement of Material ResourcesQuality Control AnalysisTroubleshootingRepairingOperation and ControlEquipment MaintenanceManagement of Financial ResourcesEquipment SelectionTechnology DesignScienceProgrammingInstallation
Knowledge areas
Administration and ManagementCustomer and Personal ServiceMathematicsProduction and ProcessingEnglish LanguagePersonnel and Human ResourcesPublic Safety and SecurityComputers and ElectronicsTransportationAdministrativePsychologyEducation and TrainingLaw and GovernmentEconomics and AccountingGeographyChemistryForeign LanguageMechanicalSales and MarketingEngineering and TechnologyTherapy and CounselingSociology and AnthropologyPhysicsTelecommunicationsCommunications and MediaPhilosophy and TheologyBuilding and ConstructionDesignBiologyMedicine and DentistryFood ProductionFine ArtsHistory and Archeology
Technology & tools
@Road GeoManagerAccellos Real DispatchActsoft Comet TrackerBarcode softwareBill of lading softwareCAPE Systems CAPE PACKCAPE Systems TRUCKFILLCommercial vehicle operations CVO softwareCoptimal Logics AutoLoad ProCreative Systems Corporation Freight-Link SystemEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareFleet management systemsGeneral ledger softwareJDA ManugisticsLoad optimization softwareMagicLogic Optimization Cube-IQMapping softwareMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordOptimum Logistics LoadPlannerProof of delivery POD softwareSAP softwareScheduling softwareSofttruck CargoWizStarre Enterprises Star Bill of LadingStrategic Business Systems Proof of DeliveryTOPS Engineering MaxLoad ProUPS Logistics Technologies Roadnet Transportation SuiteWarehouse management system WMSWeb browser softwareXATA XATANET
Representative tasks
Getting InformationCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesDeveloping and Building TeamsCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsDocumenting/Recording InformationCoaching and Developing OthersJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsWorking with ComputersOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsPerforming Administrative ActivitiesEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsTraining and Teaching OthersIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationAnalyzing Data or InformationScheduling Work and ActivitiesResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersProcessing InformationOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentHandling and Moving ObjectsThinking CreativelyControlling Machines and ProcessesStaffing Organizational UnitsDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicAssisting and Caring for OthersMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationSelling or Influencing OthersPerforming General Physical ActivitiesRepairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Safety rules and regulations — identify and apply under direct supervisor guidance on a warehouse or freight dock.Shipping orders and receiving notices — read and interpret basic documentation to determine material handling sequences with close oversight.Work task demonstrations — observe and replicate correct procedures for operating or directing material-moving equipment in a supervised setting.Cargo and materials — examine and record basic weight, dimensions, or handling requirements using standard checklists on the floor.Company policies and procedures — recognize and follow established protocols when preparing vehicles or equipment for daily operations.Spreadsheet and office suite software — enter data for shift logs, vehicle assignments, or inventory records under direction from senior staff.Worker concerns — listen actively and escalate unresolved issues to a higher-level supervisor in a distribution or logistics environment.Transportation regulations — locate and reference relevant tariff or safety rules when prompted, using posted guides or policy manuals.Equipment allocations — assist in matching available vehicles or machinery to scheduled tasks based on a pre-set assignment list.Bar coding and mobile tracking software — scan and log shipment data accurately under supervision on an inbound or outbound dock.
developing
Safety compliance — enforce established safety rules with work crews independently, documenting violations and corrective actions on a freight or logistics site.Production schedules and shipping notices — review and analyze documentation routinely to sequence material movement and meet daily dispatch deadlines.Work assignments — plan and allocate equipment and personnel across shifts to achieve transportation or warehouse throughput goals with minimal oversight.Cargo handling requirements — measure, weigh, and classify freight or materials to determine appropriate equipment and loading methods in a distribution center.New worker onboarding — explain and demonstrate material-moving tasks, adapting instruction based on the trainee's prior experience in a fleet or yard setting.Customer and contractor communication — confer with external contacts to exchange shipment status updates and resolve routine delivery or scheduling problems.Materials requirements planning software — use MRP or ERP systems to track inventory levels and coordinate supply chain activities across a regional operation.Worker performance — monitor productivity and behavior on a shift, providing real-time feedback and documenting patterns in personnel records.Operational problems — apply critical thinking to identify root causes of recurring delays or equipment issues and implement corrective measures familiar to the role.Transportation policies — interpret and clearly communicate regulatory requirements or tariff rules to crew members during pre-shift briefings.
proficient
Complex worker problems — mediate conflicts, negotiate resolutions, and follow through on corrective action plans autonomously across multiple crews in a high-volume logistics operation.Multi-shift work planning — develop comprehensive daily and weekly assignment schedules that balance personnel resources, equipment availability, and production targets without supervisory input.Non-routine cargo situations — assess unusual or oversized loads independently, determining specialized handling, permitting, and routing requirements on a live dock or yard.Safety program execution — lead safety audits, investigate incidents thoroughly, and enforce regulatory compliance across all shifts in a transportation or warehousing facility.Cross-functional communication — collaborate with customers, contractors, and upper management to resolve escalated service failures or supply chain disruptions across a distribution network.Training program delivery — design and assign structured training tasks to experienced workers, evaluating competency outcomes and adjusting methods to close skill gaps.ERP and logistics software — configure and interrogate enterprise resource planning and route optimization tools to generate actionable operational reports for management review.Regulatory interpretation — translate complex DOT, OSHA, or tariff regulations into practical, site-specific procedures that crews can apply consistently in daily operations.Performance monitoring — establish productivity benchmarks, track KPIs using database and spreadsheet tools, and adjust staffing or equipment allocations based on trend analysis.Problem-solving under pressure — apply inductive and deductive reasoning to diagnose and resolve simultaneous operational failures during peak shipping periods with confidence and accuracy.
advanced
Organizational safety culture — establish and champion a facility-wide safety strategy, setting measurable goals and holding all supervisory levels accountable for regulatory compliance.Workforce development — design mentoring and succession pathways for front-line supervisors, ensuring knowledge transfer and leadership continuity across the transportation operation.Strategic resource allocation — lead long-range planning for fleet, personnel, and equipment investments aligned with organizational production and logistics growth objectives.Policy and procedure governance — author or revise company transportation policies, translating regulatory changes into operational standards adopted across multiple sites or departments.Senior stakeholder engagement — negotiate service agreements, resolve high-stakes disputes with customers or contractors, and represent the operation at executive and regulatory forums.Cross-departmental coordination — direct collaboration between transportation, warehousing, procurement, and finance teams to integrate supply chain processes at an organizational scale.Technology adoption leadership — evaluate, pilot, and implement new logistics and fleet management technology platforms, driving change management and staff adoption across the operation.Budget and cost management — oversee operational budgets for personnel, equipment maintenance, and fuel, applying quantitative analysis to reduce costs while sustaining service levels.Organizational performance systems — build comprehensive KPI dashboards using ERP and data query tools, presenting trend analyses and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.Culture of continuous improvement — institutionalize learning strategies and after-action review processes that drive measurable gains in safety, efficiency, and workforce engagement across the enterprise.
Also known as
82 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Building Materials SupervisorBus Dispatcher SupervisorBus Driver SupervisorCab Dispatcher SupervisorCab SupervisorCar SupervisorCargo ManagerCargo SupervisorCircus Train SupervisorCoal Yard SupervisorConcrete Products DispatcherCrane Crew SupervisorDC Supervisor (Distribution Center Supervisor)Delivery SupervisorDirt ContractorDistribution Operations Supervisor (Distribution Ops Supervisor)Distribution SupervisorDistribution Warehouse ManagerDock Operations SupervisorDock SupervisorDriver ManagerDriver SupervisorFarm ManagerField Pipelines SupervisorFleet CoordinatorFleet ManagerFulfillment SupervisorGarbage Collection SupervisorGas Pumping Station SupervisorGas Station SupervisorHauling ContractorHub SupervisorLoad Out SupervisorLoading Rack SupervisorLumber Yard SupervisorMaterial Crew SupervisorMaterial Handling SupervisorMilk Route SupervisorMotor Vehicle Operator Road SupervisorMove Coordinator