Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Transportation and Material Moving
Work orders or spoken instructions set what needs to be moved and what equipment is required. Freight, stock, luggage, and other materials are carried by hand or shifted with trucks, tractors, or similar equipment between storage, production areas, loading docks, delivery vehicles, ships, and containers. Storage areas for equipment are kept in order so inventory stays protected. The work is physical, often done alongside others, and follows a mix of written orders and verbal direction. This work fits people who prefer steady manual work, clear instructions, and moving materials from place to place rather than a narrow specialty.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$40'240
Median Wage Market Position
$40'240
What you might do
- Carry freight by hand to docks and storage
- Move stock with trucks, tractors, or other gear
- Shift materials from ships, containers, or vehicles
- Read work orders to learn what is needed
- Follow spoken instructions on daily assignments
- Keep storage areas tidy so stock stays safe
Skills that matter
- Team lifts of freight on the dock
- Listen for spoken loading instructions
- Read work orders before moving stock
- Call out shortages and load locations
- Protect inventory in storage areas
- Drive trucks between docks and storage
AI & the future of this role
Conveyors and warehouse robots may absorb more repetitive lifts and staging. Odd-shaped freight, last-minute rearranging, and mixed worksites still call for flexible human labor.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details