What does a terminal operator do?
A terminal operator is responsible for assisting daily operations within the transportation or manufacturing agencies. Terminal operators inspect the stability and efficiency of equipment and machinery to ensure its optimal performance during operational processes. They conduct quality control tests to determine inconsistencies in terminal functions and strategize techniques to enhance distribution policies. A terminal operator must have excellent organizational and mechanical skills to maintain terminal equipment and assist the team in performing duties to achieve business goals and objectives.
Terminal operator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real terminal operator resumes:
- Manage the efficient use of locomotives and fuel to ensure that freight car cycles are effectively manage while in the terminals.
- Operate forklift, loaders, bulldozers, excavators, ship hydraulic cranes.
- Pull LTL loads for shipment.
- Experience in Lock-Out/Tag-Out (LOTO).
- Operate forklifts and loaders for loading aircraft.
- Complete and signs declaration of inspection (Doi).
- Learned to rebuild equipment, asphalt and hot oil pumps.
- Keep overall appearance of terminal up and grass mow and edge.
- Pick material by using RF device to scan product bar code.
- Train in areas of the induction program and RF inventory system.
- Follow company procedures in performance of job duties and utilize appropriate PPE.
- Obtain military base CDL for driving military trucks and light duty vehicles.
- Ensure (HAZMAT) handling, storage, and disposition procedures are followed.
- Crush recycle material in baler to be crush, rap, and labele.
- Monitor pumps for vibration, pressure gauges, oil levels, and sumps.
Terminal operator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Terminal Operators are proficient in Loaders, Cranes, and Rail Cars. They’re also known for soft skills such as Alertness, Communication skills, and Coordination.
We break down the percentage of Terminal Operators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Loaders, 9%
Operated and Maintained Heavy Equipment such as front end loaders, skid steers, TrakMobile's and Rail Kings.
- Cranes, 9%
Completed a comprehensive training program for crane operator
- Rail Cars, 7%
Unloaded different types of crude oil from trucks and rail cars to be transferred to storage tanks and/or barges.
- Customer Service, 6%
Provide administrative support including computer reporting, minor customs and detention, inventory control, and customer service.
- TWIC, 5%
Received Transportation Worker Identification Credentials (TWIC card)
- General Maintenance, 5%
Perform preventive maintenance on all equipment and general maintenance.
Most terminal operators use their skills in "loaders," "cranes," and "rail cars" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential terminal operator responsibilities here:
Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling terminal operator duties is communication skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "material moving machine operators signal and direct workers to load and unload material." According to a terminal operator resume, here's how terminal operators can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "operated forklift and cranes, and ensured safety communication with crane operators. "
Coordination. This is an important skill for terminal operators to perform their duties. For an example of how terminal operator responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "material moving machine operators must have steady hands and feet to guide and control heavy machinery precisely." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a terminal operator: "maintained good communication with supervisors, managers, and co-workers for proper safety procedures and coordination of various shipments. ".
Mechanical skills. terminal operator responsibilities often require "mechanical skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "material moving machine operators make minor adjustments to their machines and perform basic maintenance on them." This resume example shows what terminal operators do with mechanical skills on a typical day: "keep loading rack equipment (mechanical and electrical) clean and in good working order at all times. "
Visual ability. Another crucial skill for a terminal operator to carry out their responsibilities is "visual ability." A big part of what terminal operators relies on this skill, since "material moving machine operators must be able to see clearly where they are driving or what they are moving." How this skill relates to terminal operator duties can be seen in an example from a terminal operator resume snippet: "prepared and verified receiving and/or fuel shipping documents; visually inspected fuel samples and checked api gravity and temperature. "
The three companies that hire the most terminal operators are:
- Kinder Morgan35 terminal operators jobs
- ITS ConGlobal28 terminal operators jobs
- IT TECHNOLOGY28 terminal operators jobs
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Compare different terminal operators
Terminal operator vs. Forklift driver
A forklift operator is responsible for managing and operating industrial trucks and machines to ensure its performance safety and stability. Forklift operators' duties include safely handling of deliveries, securely moving items to storage areas, monitoring inventories and supplies, running diagnostic tests, reporting inspected malfunctions and deficiencies, performing basic troubleshooting, and adhering to safety procedures. It is a requirement that a forklift operator must have excellent time-management skills, as well as the ability to multi-task for daily operations.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between terminal operators and forklift driver. For instance, terminal operator responsibilities require skills such as "ladders," "loaders," "cranes," and "customer service." Whereas a forklift driver is skilled in "pallets," "electric pallet jack," "stand-up forklift," and "safety standards." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Forklift drivers tend to make the most money working in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $38,078. In contrast, terminal operators make the biggest average salary, $43,138, in the construction industry.The education levels that forklift drivers earn slightly differ from terminal operators. In particular, forklift drivers are 2.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a terminal operator. Additionally, they're 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Terminal operator vs. Machine operator/forklift operator
A machine operator/forklift operator is responsible for operating industrial trucks to move merchandise around the warehouse facilities and other assigned areas. Machine operators/forklift operators also assist with inventory tasks by scanning orders and ensuring the correct merchandise for shipment. They manage the stability of the vehicles, ensuring its efficiency and optimization during operations, performing engine repairs for any inconsistencies to avoid delays on deliveries. A machine operator/forklift operator should strictly follow the safety protocols of the business, as well as have knowledge of the mechanical industry.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real terminal operator resumes. While terminal operator responsibilities can utilize skills like "ladders," "loaders," "cranes," and "rail cars," machine operator/forklift operators use skills like "safety standards," "drive forklift," "machine operation," and "cnc."
Machine operator/forklift operators earn a lower average salary than terminal operators. But machine operator/forklift operators earn the highest pay in the automotive industry, with an average salary of $36,711. Additionally, terminal operators earn the highest salaries in the construction with average pay of $43,138 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Machine operator/forklift operators tend to reach similar levels of education than terminal operators. In fact, they're 2.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Terminal operator vs. Forklift operator and receiver
A mechanical spreader operators manage and operate all equipment in various industries where they perform their jobs. The operators work as general mechanics in building HVAC, general building maintenance, and pump station operations. They test electro-mechanical subsystems for operational reliability and circuit integrity. Their job includes promoting quality assurance and performance improvement programs within the organization. Also, they perform an energy audit to improve the efficiency of HVAC energy.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, terminal operators are more likely to have skills like "ladders," "loaders," "cranes," and "rail cars." But a forklift operator and receiver is more likely to have skills like "pallets," "shipping receiving," "production lines," and "electric pallet jack."
Forklift operators and receiver earn the highest salary when working in the automotive industry, where they receive an average salary of $37,086. Comparatively, terminal operators have the highest earning potential in the construction industry, with an average salary of $43,138.When it comes to education, forklift operators and receiver tend to earn similar degree levels compared to terminal operators. In fact, they're 2.1% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Terminal operator vs. Mechanical spreader operator
Even though a few skill sets overlap between terminal operators and mechanical spreader operators, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a terminal operator might have more use for skills like "ladders," "loaders," "cranes," and "rail cars." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of mechanical spreader operators require skills like "hand tools," "plumbing," "preventive maintenance," and "repair equipment. "
Mechanical spreader operators enjoy the best pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $48,520. For comparison, terminal operators earn the highest salary in the construction industry.The average resume of mechanical spreader operators showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to terminal operators. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 0.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.3%.Types of terminal operator
Updated January 8, 2025
