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Freight loader vs freight handler

The differences between freight loaders and freight handlers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a freight handler has an average salary of $35,944, which is higher than the $32,777 average annual salary of a freight loader.

The top three skills for a freight loader include pallets, pallet jack and load freight. The most important skills for a freight handler are basic math, pallets, and math.

Freight loader vs freight handler overview

Freight LoaderFreight Handler
Yearly salary$32,777$35,944
Hourly rate$15.76$17.28
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs9,11267,422
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 54%High School Diploma, 54%
Average age4040
Years of experience--

Freight loader vs freight handler salary

Freight loaders and freight handlers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Freight LoaderFreight Handler
Average salary$32,777$35,944
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $40,000Between $28,000 And $44,000
Highest paying City-Billerica, MA
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-R+L Carriers
Best paying industry-Transportation

Differences between freight loader and freight handler education

There are a few differences between a freight loader and a freight handler in terms of educational background:

Freight LoaderFreight Handler
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 54%High School Diploma, 54%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Freight loader vs freight handler demographics

Here are the differences between freight loaders' and freight handlers' demographics:

Freight LoaderFreight Handler
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 91.2% Female, 8.8%Male, 88.2% Female, 11.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 14.4% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 22.3% Asian, 5.8% White, 51.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 13.6% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 5.2% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between freight loader and freight handler duties and responsibilities

Freight loader example responsibilities.

  • Provide regular assistance to supervisors to assist in store profitability and cleanliness.
  • Unload, process, and properly secure any merchandise needing EAS tags from all incoming freight.

Freight handler example responsibilities.

  • Manage temporary staff doing warehouse work and train and test them in order to receive forklift certification per OSHA.
  • Dock work then get CDL and then go to the road
  • Work on the dock loading and unloading truck and backup CDL driver.
  • Ship order via FedEx on a daily basis and perform an inventory and cycle count when need.
  • Distribute break loads, freight and merchandise on inbound and outbound side of the LTL freight terminal.
  • Job include handling all types of LTL freight with a forklift while unloading and loading trailers for delivery.
  • Show more

Freight loader vs freight handler skills

Common freight loader skills
  • Pallets, 28%
  • Pallet Jack, 23%
  • Load Freight, 15%
  • Delivery Vehicle, 8%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Load Trucks, 4%
Common freight handler skills
  • Basic Math, 28%
  • Pallets, 21%
  • Math, 12%
  • Hazardous Materials, 10%
  • Manual Equipment, 7%
  • Hand Trucks, 3%

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