Occupation · SOC 53-7051
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
Operate industrial trucks or tractors equipped to move materials around a warehouse, storage yard, factory, construction site, or similar location.
Median wage
$46,390
$36,500–$61,540
Projected growth
+1.1%
Slower than average
Annual openings
910
per year
Employed (US)
805,770
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
6 mapped
Core skills
Operation and ControlOperations MonitoringTroubleshootingTime ManagementCoordinationEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Mathematics
Technology & tools
Inventory management softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail software
Representative tasks
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.Weigh materials or products and record weight or other production data on tags or labels.Perform routine maintenance on vehicles or auxiliary equipment, such as cleaning, lubricating, recharging batteries, fueling, or replacing liquefied-gas tank.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.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Forklift operating levers and lift controls — identify and activate under direct supervisor guidance in a warehouse training environment.Gasoline- and electric-powered industrial trucks — operate at slow speeds along designated travel paths under close observation on a warehouse floor.Pallets and skids — manually load and unload materials following step-by-step instructions in a distribution center setting.Lifting device forks — position under loaded pallets under supervisor direction to practice secure material pickup in a staging area.Product loads — inspect for visible accuracy against a printed pick list before moving, with supervisor verification in a warehouse facility.Pre-shift safety checklist — complete for forklift fluid levels, tires, and horn under technician guidance at a depot or warehouse.Basic traffic patterns and pedestrian zones — recognize and follow posted floor markings during initial on-the-job orientation in a facility.Warehouse inventory software entry screens — navigate and record completed moves with assistance from a lead operator at a workstation terminal.Control precision and multilimb coordination — practice simultaneously managing steering, throttle, and lift lever on a forklift during supervised drills.Material weights and load capacity ratings — read and reference posted charts to avoid overloading equipment under trainer supervision on-site.
developing
Forklift lift beams, swivel-hooks, and elevating platforms — operate with routine proficiency to load, unload, and stack materials in a busy warehouse without close oversight.Electric- and gasoline-powered trucks and tractors — drive along established facility routes, transporting materials between receiving, processing, and storage areas independently.Mixed pallet loads and skids — manually and mechanically load or unload from transport vehicles, adjusting technique for varying weights and configurations in a distribution center.Loaded pallets and product boxes — secure and position with lifting devices for transport to designated storage or shipping areas following facility procedures.Product load accuracy — inspect outbound shipments against work orders and safely route corrected loads through the warehouse to meet delivery schedules.Daily forklift maintenance tasks — perform fluid top-offs, battery charging, and minor adjustments, logging findings in maintenance records at a depot or warehouse.Inventory management software — enter and update stock movement records routinely, resolving minor data discrepancies at a warehouse workstation.Time management across concurrent pick-and-move tasks — coordinate multiple material transfers within shift deadlines in a fast-paced fulfillment center.Depth perception and rate control — apply consistently when stacking loads at height in multi-tier racking systems within a storage facility.Basic troubleshooting of equipment malfunctions — identify warning indicators, report issues, and remove unsafe equipment from service in a warehouse or manufacturing plant.
proficient
Full range of lifting devices including hoists and elevated platforms — operate autonomously to handle non-standard load shapes and weights across a large industrial facility.Powered industrial trucks and tractors — drive and maneuver through congested, high-traffic areas of a manufacturing plant or distribution center with precision and speed control.Complex mixed loads on pallets, cars, and flatbeds — load and unload mechanically and manually, adapting methods for fragile, hazardous, or oversized materials in varied facility environments.Non-standard load configurations — position lifting devices and apply customized securing techniques to safely transport unstable or irregularly shaped products within a warehouse or plant.Inbound and outbound product accuracy — independently audit load contents against ERP system records, resolving discrepancies and rerouting mis-picked loads in a distribution operation.Equipment performance anomalies — troubleshoot hydraulic, electrical, and mechanical issues on forklifts and tractors, coordinating maintenance intervention to minimize downtime in a facility.Inventory management and logistics software — use proficiently to track stock movements, generate reports, and support supply chain visibility across a warehouse or distribution network.Shift workflow coordination — independently sequence multiple material movement tasks to optimize throughput and meet time-sensitive shipping cut-offs in a fulfillment center.Auditory attention and response orientation — apply under high-noise industrial conditions to detect equipment alerts, spotter signals, and pedestrian warnings in a plant or dock environment.Safety incident root-cause analysis — conduct after near-misses or minor incidents, documenting findings and recommending corrective actions to facility supervisors.
advanced
Facility-wide material handling operations — direct and schedule the full scope of forklift and tractor activities across shifts to meet organizational throughput and safety targets.Operator training programs — design and deliver hands-on forklift certification and safety curricula, mentoring new and developing operators in a warehouse or distribution center.Equipment fleet maintenance strategy — lead scheduled inspection cycles, coordinate with service vendors, and set preventive maintenance standards that reduce downtime across a facility.Warehouse layout and traffic flow — evaluate and redesign travel paths, racking configurations, and dock assignments to improve operational efficiency and reduce collision risk.ERP and logistics software integration — champion adoption of inventory and supply chain platforms, training staff and establishing data-entry standards to ensure system accuracy.Cross-functional coordination with receiving, shipping, and production teams — lead daily stand-ups and process alignment meetings to eliminate material movement bottlenecks at an industrial facility.Organizational safety culture — set and enforce standards for load inspection, speed limits, and PPE compliance, driving measurable reduction in recordable incidents across a site.Operational performance metrics — track and report KPIs such as moves per hour, equipment utilization, and order accuracy to site leadership, using data to drive continuous improvement.Workforce dependability and stress tolerance standards — model and reinforce professional conduct expectations, managing performance issues and recognizing high performers across an operator team.Capital equipment procurement decisions — evaluate new forklift models, attachments, and automation technologies, presenting cost-benefit analyses and recommendations to plant or operations management.
Also known as
146 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Hyster DriverFinger Lift OperatorWheel Loader OperatorReach-Lift Truck DriverIndustrial Truck DriverElectric Truck DriverCharging Car OperatorMotor Transport Operator (Army 88M)Lumber Carrier OperatorUnloader OperatorWaste Transportation TechnicianAviation Ordnance Systems Technician (Marine Corps 6541)Forklift DriverGround Transportation Helper (Air Force 2T111)Industrial Tractor DriverHorizontal Construction Engineer (Army 12N)CAT Operator (Caterpillar Operator)Combat Engineer (Marine Corps 1371)Electric Pallet Jack OperatorExpeditionary Airfield Systems Technician (Marine Corps 7011)Straddle Bug OperatorTruck DriverQuencher OperatorMule OperatorInventory Management Specialist (Marine Corps 3051)Front-End Loader OperatorGround Transportation Craftsman (Air Force 2T171)Air Transportation (Air Force 2T2X1)Hi Low Truck DriverHyster Machine OperatorElectric TruckerForklift Truck OperatorUke DriverFork Lift TechnicianAir and Missile Defense (AMD) Crewmember (Army 14P)Yard WorkerForklift TechnicianMold Car PusherLog Carrier OperatorIndustrial Truck Operator