Tugger operator vs reach truck operator

The differences between tugger operators and reach truck operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a tugger operator and a reach truck operator. Additionally, a reach truck operator has an average salary of $34,625, which is higher than the $32,478 average annual salary of a tugger operator.

The top three skills for a tugger operator include tuggers, OSHA and warehouse environment. The most important skills for a reach truck operator are pallets, rf scanner, and basic math.

Tugger operator vs reach truck operator overview

	Tugger Operator	Reach Truck Operator
Yearly salary	$32,478	$34,625
Hourly rate	$15.61	$16.65
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	42,294	137,300
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 65%	High School Diploma, 57%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	4	4

Tugger operator vs reach truck operator salary

Tugger operators and reach truck operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Tugger Operator	Reach Truck Operator
Average salary	$32,478	$34,625
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $37,000	Between $28,000 And $42,000
Highest paying City	Findlay, OH	Philadelphia, PA
Highest paying state	Alaska	Alaska
Best paying company	VisionCorp Rep	United Natural Foods
Best paying industry	Automotive	Manufacturing

Differences between tugger operator and reach truck operator education

There are a few differences between a tugger operator and a reach truck operator in terms of educational background:

	Tugger Operator	Reach Truck Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 65%	High School Diploma, 57%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Tugger operator vs reach truck operator demographics

Here are the differences between tugger operators' and reach truck operators' demographics:

	Tugger Operator	Reach Truck Operator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 77.3% Female, 22.7%	Male, 90.9% Female, 9.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 17.0% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 2.3% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 16.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 2.8% White, 57.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	4%	4%

Differences between tugger operator and reach truck operator duties and responsibilities

Tugger operator example responsibilities.

Operate or tend hoists or winches to lift and pull loads using power-operate cable equipment.
Start engines of hoists or winches and used levers and pedals to wind or unwind cable on drums.
Pull dollies of materia safely to the line in a timely manner as to not shut down automotive industry line.
Deliver automotive parts to Toyota lineside
Operate heavy machinery such as bobcat equipment and also operate and pave asphalt perform demolition work.
Operate a tugger for storage and removal of car parts and supplies to be transport to the Mercedes-Benz plant.

Reach truck operator example responsibilities.

Receive product in using WMS (warehouse management system )
Put away and picking of parts using RF scanner.
Train other employees to operate CNC beam line python.
Reach truck operator/picking order from WMS system and put away.
License to use a man-up, forklift, and scissor lift.
Clean and maintain the warehouse in compliance with OSHA safety standards ..

Tugger operator vs reach truck operator skills

Common tugger operator skills

Tuggers, 34%
OSHA, 26%
Warehouse Environment, 10%
Honda, 5%
Assembly Line, 5%
RF Scanner, 4%

Common reach truck operator skills

Pallets, 19%
RF Scanner, 7%
Basic Math, 7%
SIT, 5%
Electric Pallet Jack, 5%
Warehouse Environment, 4%

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Transportation Industry
Tugger Operator
Tugger Operator vs Reach Truck Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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