Freight and Furniture Handlers

Freight and Furniture Handlers load and unload trucks, containers and rail cars, and transfer cargo between ships and other forms of transport and storage facilities.

  • The Job
  • The Facts
  • Related Courses

What the job involves

  • Labelling goods with customers' details and destinations
  • Loading goods into trucks, containers and rail wagons, and securing loads
  • Assisting to tie down loads and cover them with tarpaulins
  • Guiding truck drivers into loading bays and through confined spaces
  • Performing clerical functions to record and check cargo on arrival, storage and despatch
  • Opening and closing hatches and securing cargo to prevent shifting during voyages
  • Transferring loads using moving equipment and directing equipment operations using communication systems
  • Stacking cargo on pallets, trays, flats and slings to facilitate transfer to and from ships

Key values of workers in Freight and Furniture Handlers

  • Support

    Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

  • Working Conditions

    Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

  • Achievement

    Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

  • Recognition

    Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

  • Independence

    Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Top skills required for workers in Freight and Furniture Handlers

  • Coordination

    Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

  • Operation and Control

    Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

  • Reading Comprehension

    Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

  • Active Listening

    Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

  • Speaking

    Talking to others to convey information effectively.