What does a ramp agent do?
A ramp agent is an individual responsible for the loading and unloading of aircraft baggage, which includes mail and cargo, from the aircraft to the airport. He/She drives and operates ground equipment such as cargo carts and belt loaders while maintaining safe working conditions for himself and others. Other than loading and unloading baggage, a ramp agent guides planes to and from their gates and performs other airplane servicing duties. A ramp agent should be able to work in extreme conditions and pass a physical agility test.
Ramp agent responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real ramp agent resumes:
- Manage ticket inventory and assist with passenger check-in procedures, baggage loading and unloading.
- Include safely driving and operating grind equipment such as tugs, belt loaders, and tow tractors in area of congestion.
- Operate tugs, baggage belt loaders, FMC loaders and other equipment to safely and efficiently perform grind servicing for commercial airliners
- Calculate, issue, and re-issu international tickets; prepare prepaid ticket-advice; fulfill ticket counter and departure gate check-in duties.
- Marshal aircraft for arrivals and departures including following all safety procedures and ensure proper communication with the aircrew.
- Operate portable radio or headphones.
- Book loads for over the road, LTL and intermodal.
- Air start, Gpu power source, lavs, water and cabin cleaning.
- Perform FOD (foreign object debris) checks prior to arrival and before departure.
- Operate equipment such baggage loader belts, diesel pushback tractors and small baggage cart tugs.
- Check the headset to make sure you have contact with the flight crew, before pushback.
- Handle all passengers lost/ damage baggage claim issues following IATA guidelines and company policies & procedures.
- Follow the procedures of the taxi way's, airport codes/regulations as well as TSA's guidelines.
- Secure area from FOD (foreign object debris) or individuals without the proper identification for secure area.
- Provide maintenance services for the aircraft such as: replenishing aircraft water supply, providing lavatory service and aircraft de-icing.
Ramp agent skills and personality traits
We calculated that 21% of Ramp Agents are proficient in Safety Procedures, Loaders, and Service Aircraft. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Integrity, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of Ramp Agents that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Safety Procedures, 21%
Followed safety procedures and regulations; including wear special protective gear.
- Loaders, 18%
Loaded and unloaded cargo containers on airplanes, directed aircraft on tarmac, operated Belt Loaders, Tugs and K Loaders.
- Service Aircraft, 13%
Cleaned and service aircraft cabin, including water/lavatory service.
- Belt Loaders, 9%
Drive ramp equipment: bag tugs, belt loaders, aircraft tow tractors and water and lavatory servicing vehicles.
- Unload Cargo, 8%
Upload and unload cargo for property distribution and organization.
- Customer Service, 7%
Communicate with passengers, provisional agents, and customer services representatives to secure ramp security.
Common skills that a ramp agent uses to do their job include "safety procedures," "loaders," and "service aircraft." You can find details on the most important ramp agent responsibilities below.
Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a ramp agent to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "information clerks must be able to explain policies and procedures clearly to customers and the public." Ramp agents often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "marshaled aircraft using hand signals and non-verbal communication. "
Integrity. Another essential skill to perform ramp agent duties is integrity. Ramp agents responsibilities require that "information clerks, particularly human resources assistants, have access to confidential information." Ramp agents also use integrity in their role according to a real resume snippet: "entrusted with the most complex customer service issues as a result of exceptional ability to promptly resolve concerns and satisfy customers. "
Interpersonal skills. ramp agents are also known for interpersonal skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to ramp agent responsibilities, because "information clerks who work with the public and customers must understand and communicate information effectively to establish positive relationships." A ramp agent resume example shows how interpersonal skills is used in the workplace: "provided a high level of customer service and maintained client relationships based on outstanding communication and interpersonal skills. "
The three companies that hire the most ramp agents are:
- Unifi Manufacturing209 ramp agents jobs
- Delta Air Lines40 ramp agents jobs
- GAT Airline Ground Support40 ramp agents jobs
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Compare different ramp agents
Ramp agent vs. Transportation clerk
As a Transportation Clerk, your job is to assess the contents of freight goods and their associated documents. You will be required to check the consignment and the designation details of all containers, passengers, and articles. It is also the responsibility of the Transport Clerk to make bookings for transportation and make freight and other arrangements. You may be required to be in charge of identifying the right routes, transportation means, and developing the right schedule.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, ramp agent responsibilities require skills like "safety procedures," "loaders," "service aircraft," and "belt loaders." Meanwhile a typical transportation clerk has skills in areas such as "data entry," "patients," "phone calls," and "driver logs." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Transportation clerks tend to reach similar levels of education than ramp agents. In fact, transportation clerks are 1.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Ramp agent vs. Travel clerk
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that ramp agent responsibilities requires skills like "safety procedures," "loaders," "service aircraft," and "belt loaders." But a travel clerk might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "reservations," "defense travel system," "travel arrangements," and "dod."
In general, travel clerks achieve similar levels of education than ramp agents. They're 3.4% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Ramp agent vs. Train clerk
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, ramp agents are more likely to have skills like "safety procedures," "loaders," "service aircraft," and "belt loaders." But a train clerk is more likely to have skills like "learning management system," "safety issues," "access database," and "spreadsheets."
Most train clerks achieve a higher degree level compared to ramp agents. For example, they're 5.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.8% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Ramp agent vs. Reservation clerk
Types of ramp agent
Updated January 8, 2025
