What does a can handler do?
Can handlers or material handlers have various duties and responsibilities within an organization. These include maintaining production and product distribution, staging finished products, and delivering production supplies and materials. Other responsibilities include maintaining inventory, documenting supplies and materials disposition, and receiving supplies and materials from production. They receive credit-return materials by verifying the code, quantity, and lot number. Can handlers also prepare products for shipment, maintain material-handling equipment, and contribute to teamwork and effort. The skills and qualifications needed for this position include organizational skills, inventory control, and data entry skills.
Can handler responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real can handler resumes:
- Manage temporary staff doing warehouse work and train and test them in order to receive forklift certification per OSHA.
- Provide cargo handling services, load and off-load cargo from aircraft using forklifts and dollies.
- Help keep up with inventory, cleanliness of store and provide customer service to customers.
- Pick and transport merchandise to various isles and scan with a mount RF gun using 3D system.
- Unload truck and plane containers, scan packages using RF scanner, check packages for correct labeling.
- Work the sort isle and unload and load trucks in the warehouse work the pickoff and some mornings preload
- Demonstrate professionalism and commitment to the goals and values of Macy's with initiative, dependability, and a positive attitude
- Handle dangerous materials including HazMat, utilizing preset safety measures.
- Abided by the established dependability guidelines to maintain business productivity.
- Stack and move pallets from different lines with different products documenting quantity and quality while participating in a team environment.
- Operate cardboard/plastic baler, remove recyclables from production area with pallet jack
- Assist in de-icing procedures during cold weather.
Can handler skills and personality traits
We calculated that 26% of Can Handlers are proficient in Customer Service, Patients, and Supply Support. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Listening skills, and Physical stamina.
We break down the percentage of Can Handlers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 26%
Demonstrated ability to gain customer trust and provide exceptional customer service, leading to increase repeat and referral business.
- Patients, 14%
Collaborated with other agencies including the ATF and Virginia State Police in apprehending suspects and tracking Alzheimer's patients.
- Supply Support, 11%
Perform levels of materiel management supply support and quality assurance.
- Safety Procedures, 8%
Used intense safety procedures during loading/unloading of cargo.
- Safety Regulations, 5%
Ensured documentation, weight labeling and packaging is appropriate and in accordance with established procedures and safety regulations.
- Pallet Jack, 4%
Replenish Locations operating a forklift/stock picker/ electric pallet jack.
Common skills that a can handler uses to do their job include "customer service," "patients," and "supply support." You can find details on the most important can handler responsibilities below.
Customer-service skills. The most essential soft skill for a can handler to carry out their responsibilities is customer-service skills. This skill is important for the role because "hand laborers and material movers who work with the public, such as grocery baggers or carwash attendants, must be pleasant and courteous to customers." Additionally, a can handler resume shows how their duties depend on customer-service skills: "scan freight deliver packages load/unload packages interact with customers"
Listening skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling can handler duties is listening skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "hand laborers and material movers follow instructions that a supervisor gives them." According to a can handler resume, here's how can handlers can utilize listening skills in their job responsibilities: "listened to, analyzed, and delivered customer orders"
Physical stamina. can handlers are also known for physical stamina, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to can handler responsibilities, because "hand laborers and material movers need the endurance to perform strenuous tasks, such as moving or cleaning objects, throughout the day." A can handler resume example shows how physical stamina is used in the workplace: "possess the necessary strength and stamina to load, unload and sort packages. "
Physical strength. A big part of what can handlers do relies on "physical strength." You can see how essential it is to can handler responsibilities because "some hand laborers and material movers must be able to lift and carry heavy objects." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical can handler tasks: "collaborated with hardworking individuals to load and unload packages in a physical and fast paced position. "
The three companies that hire the most can handlers are:
- FedEx62 can handlers jobs
- M.S. Walker, Inc.32 can handlers jobs
- B. Braun Medical29 can handlers jobs
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Compare different can handlers
Can handler vs. Warehouseman
A warehouseman or warehouse worker is the person who assists with the inventory, shipping, and receiving of items in warehouses. Warehousemen receive and process incoming materials and stocks, along with picking and filling orders from the store. They manage, organize, and retrieve supplies and others. These workers need to have skills in speed, accuracy, and prioritizing tasks on site. They should also be equipped with skills in forklift, loading, and general labor.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, can handler responsibilities require skills like "customer service," "patients," "supply support," and "pallet jack." Meanwhile a typical warehouseman has skills in areas such as "pallets," "electric pallet jack," "basic math," and "forklift operation." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Warehousemen tend to reach similar levels of education than can handlers. In fact, warehousemen are 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Can handler vs. Freight team associate
Movers help people take or move things from one place to another through their physical strength. They work manually to help customers in their businesses or homes. Among the elements, they do include the preparation, loading, and unloading of items. They are also notable as material movers and hand laborers. Some movers drive a moving truck. However, they should not be burdened with any issue with a high value like jewelry and cash.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, can handler responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "patients," "supply support," "safety regulations," and "pallet jack." Meanwhile, a freight team associate has duties that require skills in areas such as "electric pallet jack," "store shelves," "store merchandise," and "forklifts." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Freight team associates earn similar levels of education than can handlers in general. They're 1.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Can handler vs. Mover
People working in the docks are collectively called dock workers. Their primary job is to load and unload ships. They are also named material movers and hand laborers who manually move stocks, freight, or other materials. While formal educational attainment is not a prerequisite to becoming a dock worker, several skills are required. Dockworkers should have the best physical strength, endurance, and agility. Having good hearing and eyesight is also essential in their job.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from can handler resumes include skills like "patients," "supply support," "safety procedures," and "safety regulations," whereas a mover is more likely to list skills in "office furniture," "household goods," "office equipment," and "safety rules. "
Most movers achieve a similar degree level compared to can handlers. For example, they're 1.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Can handler vs. Dock worker
Types of can handler
Updated January 8, 2025
