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What does a warehouse loader do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read

This individual works as part of a team to ensure all the loading processes are carried out efficiently. Their responsibility is to maintain the inventory of the warehouse or shipping operation they work with. They are primarily expected to load and unload trucks and to operate machinery such as forklifts or shrink-wrap machines. Furthermore, they may have to keep records of items loaded and unloaded in the warehouse and process items. In some cases, they are also responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the warehouse.

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Warehouse loader responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real warehouse loader resumes:

  • Reconfigure WMS to manage company's new multi-brand strategy.
  • Utilize an RF (radio frequency) gun to locate the product.
  • Train newly hire warehouse dock loaders on all safety regulations and standard operating procedures.
  • Load all trucks including bulk trucks and side loaders.
  • Follow OSHA regulations to maintain a safe work environment.
  • Verify orders are selected and load properly using RF scanner.
  • Maintain a certain amount of packages scan per hour while showing the safety precaution rules provide by the company.
  • Support the scanning of packages ensuring the packages are properly track and place in the correct truck for proper delivery.
  • Develop priority setting and organization skills.
  • Monitor product quality frequently, reporting problems to mitigate safety issues.
  • Implement semi-annual inventory counts of separate product lines to ensure accurate inventory levels.
  • Load and unload pallets using electronic pallet jack, organize and maintain merchandise according to procedures.
  • Job knowledge includes receiving, picking, packing, order processing and shipping of parcel, LTL & TL medical shipments.

Warehouse loader skills and personality traits

We calculated that 28% of Warehouse Loaders are proficient in Pallets, Loaders, and Electric Pallet Jack. They’re also known for soft skills such as Hand-eye coordination, Listening skills, and Physical strength.

We break down the percentage of Warehouse Loaders that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Pallets, 28%

    Loaded and unloaded pallets using electronic pallet jack, organized and maintained merchandise according to procedures.

  • Loaders, 7%

    Aided management in ensuring workload is completed by mentoring other loaders and using Team Building skills to motivate the crew

  • Electric Pallet Jack, 6%

    Experienced with operating heavy equipment, including forklifts and electric pallet jacks with accuracy.

  • OSHA, 5%

    Obtained OSHA Forklift certification to safely operate warehouse machinery.

  • Customer Orders, 4%

    Operate tow motor to strip and load trailers, restock product, and build customer orders using voice pick system.

  • Basic Math, 4%

    Warehouse maintenance as needed Skills Used *Determination *Consistency *Literary skills *Basic Mathematics

Common skills that a warehouse loader uses to do their job include "pallets," "loaders," and "electric pallet jack." You can find details on the most important warehouse loader responsibilities below.

Hand-eye coordination. One of the key soft skills for a warehouse loader to have is hand-eye coordination. You can see how this relates to what warehouse loaders do because "most hand laborers and material movers use their arms and hands to manipulate objects or move objects into specific positions." Additionally, a warehouse loader resume shows how warehouse loaders use hand-eye coordination: "manage warehouse inventory, local shipping/courier coordination as well as international import/export shipping and receiving. "

Listening skills. Many warehouse loader duties rely on listening skills. "hand laborers and material movers follow instructions that a supervisor gives them.," so a warehouse loader will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways warehouse loader responsibilities rely on listening skills: "load and unload trucks ability to follow supervision work independently active listening"

Physical strength. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of warehouse loaders is physical strength. This skill is critical to many everyday warehouse loader duties, as "some hand laborers and material movers must be able to lift and carry heavy objects." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "participated in physical inventory counts daily. "

Customer-service skills. warehouse loader responsibilities often require "customer-service skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "hand laborers and material movers who work with the public, such as grocery baggers or carwash attendants, must be pleasant and courteous to customers." This resume example shows what warehouse loaders do with customer-service skills on a typical day: "loaded product with forklifts into freight trailers to be shipped to customers and or delivery to other frito lay distribution centers. "

All warehouse loader skills

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Compare different warehouse loaders

Warehouse loader vs. Material handler

Material handlers are responsible for moving products, storing items, and managing supplies to proper shelf categories. A material handler also documents deliveries and ensures that all items for shipment are correct and free of any damage. Material handlers must also be a fast-learner to operate various warehouse equipment that would make the task more efficient and less time-consuming. A material handler must also check all the incoming deliveries to validate all purchases made. Material handlers must be able to analyze sheet orders and prepare the correct merchandise the client needs.

We looked at the average warehouse loader salary and compared it with the wages of a material handler. Generally speaking, material handlers are paid $281 lower than warehouse loaders per year.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between warehouse loaders and material handlers are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like pallets, electric pallet jack, and customer orders.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a warehouse loader are more likely to require skills like "loaders," "osha," "wine," and "rf." On the other hand, a job as a material handler requires skills like "forklifts," "customer service," "hand tools," and "production lines." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Material handlers earn the highest salaries when working in the automotive industry, with an average yearly salary of $36,166. On the other hand, warehouse loaders are paid more in the education industry with an average salary of $39,851.The education levels that material handlers earn slightly differ from warehouse loaders. In particular, material handlers are 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a warehouse loader. Additionally, they're 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Warehouse loader vs. Mover

Movers help people take or move things from one place to another through their physical strength. They work manually to help customers in their businesses or homes. Among the elements, they do include the preparation, loading, and unloading of items. They are also notable as material movers and hand laborers. Some movers drive a moving truck. However, they should not be burdened with any issue with a high value like jewelry and cash.

On average, movers earn a $309 lower salary than warehouse loaders a year.A few skills overlap for warehouse loaders and movers. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "load trucks," "hand trucks," and "delivery vehicle. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, warehouse loader responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "pallets," "loaders," "electric pallet jack," and "osha." Meanwhile, a mover has duties that require skills in areas such as "office furniture," "customer service," "household goods," and "pallet jack." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Movers earn similar levels of education than warehouse loaders in general. They're 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Warehouse loader vs. Dock worker

People working in the docks are collectively called dock workers. Their primary job is to load and unload ships. They are also named material movers and hand laborers who manually move stocks, freight, or other materials. While formal educational attainment is not a prerequisite to becoming a dock worker, several skills are required. Dockworkers should have the best physical strength, endurance, and agility. Having good hearing and eyesight is also essential in their job.

On average, dock workers earn higher salaries than warehouse loaders, with a $2,531 difference per year.By looking over several warehouse loaders and dock workers resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "pallets," "electric pallet jack," and "customer orders." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from warehouse loader resumes include skills like "loaders," "osha," "wine," and "rf," whereas a dock worker is more likely to list skills in "safety rules," "tractor trailer," "ltl," and "unload trailers. "

Dock workers earn the best pay in the manufacturing industry, where they command an average salary of $35,927. Warehouse loaders earn the highest pay from the education industry, with an average salary of $39,851.dock workers typically earn similar educational levels compared to warehouse loaders. Specifically, they're 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Warehouse loader vs. Loader/unloader

A loader's responsibilities regularly involve manual work such as lifting and transporting objects to vehicles like trucks and vans. The tasks of a loader may also include operating various kinds of machines, maintain accurate documentation and inventory, sort and organize goods while examining their quality and quantity, and devise strategies on how to expand space capacity. A loader also needs to coordinate with staff at all times, and report to managers or supervisors should there be any issues or inconsistencies.

Loader/unloaders tend to earn a lower pay than warehouse loaders by an average of $1,669 per year.While their salaries may vary, warehouse loaders and loader/unloaders both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "pallets," "electric pallet jack," and "customer orders. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A warehouse loader uses "loaders," "osha," "basic math," and "wine." Loader/unloaders are more likely to have duties that require skills in "tractor trailer," "unload trucks," "unload trailers," and "rf scanner. "In general, loader/unloaders earn the most working in the transportation industry, with an average salary of $34,552. The highest-paying industry for a warehouse loader is the education industry.loader/unloaders reach similar levels of education compared to warehouse loaders, in general. The difference is that they're 0.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of warehouse loader

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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