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Trucker vs material handler

The differences between truckers and material handlers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a material handler has an average salary of $33,215, which is higher than the $33,013 average annual salary of a trucker.

The top three skills for a trucker include customer service, safety procedures and inventory control. The most important skills for a material handler are pallets, basic math, and forklifts.

Trucker vs material handler overview

TruckerMaterial Handler
Yearly salary$33,013$33,215
Hourly rate$15.87$15.97
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs2,447174,068
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 48%High School Diploma, 51%
Average age4040
Years of experience--

Trucker vs material handler salary

Truckers and material handlers have different pay scales, as shown below.

TruckerMaterial Handler
Average salary$33,013$33,215
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $47,000Between $26,000 And $41,000
Highest paying City-Minneapolis, MN
Highest paying state-Minnesota
Best paying company-Battelle
Best paying industry-Automotive

Differences between trucker and material handler education

There are a few differences between a trucker and a material handler in terms of educational background:

TruckerMaterial Handler
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 48%High School Diploma, 51%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Trucker vs material handler demographics

Here are the differences between truckers' and material handlers' demographics:

TruckerMaterial Handler
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 80.5% Female, 19.5%Male, 77.6% Female, 22.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 5.5% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%Black or African American, 13.9% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 5.6% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between trucker and material handler duties and responsibilities

Trucker example responsibilities.

  • Manage fuel process in compliance with opti stop and DCI objectives.
  • Operate all wheel vehicles and equipment over vary terrain and roadways for support of combat operations.
  • Prepare pallets by following prescribe stacking arrangement and properly tagging pallets.
  • Pass out PPE as needed by workers.

Material handler example responsibilities.

  • Utilize a manufacturing cloud ERP system to accomplish tasks.
  • Operate forklift according to OSHA safety regulations.
  • Pull parts from stockroom using detail BOM's.
  • Perform daily transactions of materials and inventory movements in ERP system.
  • Help train in coming personnel on FedEx and LTL carriers shipping systems.
  • Move parts from CNC operators to stock area or to assemblers directly.
  • Show more

Trucker vs material handler skills

Common trucker skills
  • Customer Service, 99%
  • Safety Procedures, 0%
  • Inventory Control, 0%
  • DOT, 0%
  • Unload Trucks, 0%
Common material handler skills
  • Pallets, 12%
  • Basic Math, 6%
  • Forklifts, 6%
  • Math, 5%
  • Customer Service, 4%
  • Hand Tools, 4%

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