Occupations/53-7051.00
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.
Usually a high school diploma, plus some experience or short training.
AI automation risk
63%
Higher automation risk
Human characteristics
38%
Balanced human and task mix
Task orientation
65%
Higher automation risk
A day in this job
- Mostly routine
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.
- Mostly routine
Inspect product load for accuracy and safely move it around the warehouse or facility to ensure timely and complete delivery.
- Task
Move controls to drive gasoline- or electric-powered trucks, cars, or tractors and transport materials between loading, processing, and storage areas.
The tasks we can read here lean routine. That sits next to the AI risk rank — it is not a forecast that the job disappears.
Core tasks
- 01Move 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.
- 02Move controls to drive gasoline- or electric-powered trucks, cars, or tractors and transport materials between loading, processing, and storage areas.
- 03Manually or mechanically load or unload materials from pallets, skids, platforms, cars, lifting devices, or other transport vehicles.
- 04Position lifting devices under, over, or around loaded pallets, skids, or boxes and secure material or products for transport to designated areas.
- 05Inspect product load for accuracy and safely move it around the warehouse or facility to ensure timely and complete delivery.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks2.97
- Degree of automation1.98
- Time sitting2.45
- Originality (ability)1.88
- Conflict situations2.14
- Hands-on objects/tools4.71
- Outdoors / weather3.55
- Disease exposure1.08
- Decision freedom4.20
Top abilities
- Control Precision4.00
- Multilimb Coordination3.88
- Far Vision3.75
- Response Orientation3.62
- Manual Dexterity3.50
- Rate Control3.38
- Reaction Time3.25
- Problem Sensitivity3.25
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension2.88
- Active Listening2.88
- Writing2.50
- Speaking2.75
- Mathematics2.12
- Science1.25
- Critical Thinking2.75
- Active Learning2.12
- Learning Strategies2.12
- Monitoring2.75
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
2 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Century College White Bear Lake, MN · Public | Forklift Operation/Operator 49.0209 | $6,000 | 100% | 31% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Certificate · CIP 49.02 |
Anoka-Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids, MN · Public | Forklift Operation/Operator 49.0209 | $5,800 | 100% | 33% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Certificate · CIP 49.02 |