Careers

>

Transportation, Distribution & Logistics

>

Transportation Operations

>

First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand

First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand

Overview
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Experience

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

Education

These occupations usually require a high school diploma.

Job Training

Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Examples

These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.

Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of helpers, laborers, or material movers, hand.

Demand
Career Demand by State Career Demand by State Legend
Core Tasks

Maintain a safe working environment by monitoring safety procedures and equipment.

Review work throughout the work process and at completion to ensure that it has been performed properly.

Inform designated employees or departments of items loaded or problems encountered.

Collaborate with workers and managers to solve work-related problems.

Examine freight to determine loading sequences.

Check specifications of materials loaded or unloaded against information contained in work orders.

Plan work schedules and assign duties to maintain adequate staff for effective performance of activities and response to fluctuating workloads.

Transmit and explain work orders to laborers.

Prepare and maintain work records and reports of information such as employee time and wages, daily receipts, or inspection results.

Inspect equipment for wear and for conformance to specifications.

Estimate material, time, and staffing requirements for a given project, based on work orders, job specifications, and experience.

Assess training needs of staff and arrange for or provide appropriate instruction.

Conduct staff meetings to relay general information or to address specific topics, such as safety.

Evaluate employee performance and prepare performance appraisals.

Schedule times of shipment and modes of transportation for materials.

Recommend or initiate personnel actions, such as promotions, transfers, or disciplinary measures.

Resolve personnel problems, complaints, or formal grievances when possible, or refer them to higher-level supervisors for resolution.

Participate in the hiring process by reviewing credentials, conducting interviews, or making hiring decisions or recommendations.

Quote prices to customers.

Inspect job sites to determine the extent of maintenance or repairs needed.

Inventory supplies and requisition or purchase additional items, as necessary.

Perform the same work duties as those supervised, or perform more difficult or skilled tasks or assist in their performance.

Counsel employees in work-related activities, personal growth, or career development.

Provide assistance in balancing books, tracking, monitoring, or projecting a unit's budget needs, and in developing unit policies and procedures.

Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Calendar and scheduling software
Employee scheduling software
Data base user interface and query software
Oracle software
Electronic mail software
Microsoft Outlook
Enterprise resource planning ERP software
SAP
Inventory management software
Warehouse management system WMS
Office suite software
Microsoft Office
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Time accounting software
Time and attendance software
Word processing software
Microsoft Word
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Computer Equipment and Accessories
Barcode scanners
Construction and maintenance support equipment
Scaffolding
Hand tools
Hand saws
Hardware
Hoisting hooks
Industrial process machinery and equipment and supplies
Banding machines
Material handling machinery and equipment
Dollies
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Administration and Management
87%
Importance

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Customer and Personal Service
81%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Transportation
74%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

Public Safety and Security
72%
Importance

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Production and Processing
71%
Importance

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Clerical
68%
Importance

Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

English Language
64%
Importance

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Mathematics
63%
Importance

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Education and Training
59%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Personnel and Human Resources
57%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Top 10 Skills
Active Listening
78%
Importance

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Coordination
75%
Importance

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Critical Thinking
75%
Importance

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Speaking
75%
Importance

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Management of Personnel Resources
73%
Importance

Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

Complex Problem Solving
70%
Importance

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Monitoring
68%
Importance

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Time Management
68%
Importance

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Instructing
65%
Importance

Teaching others how to do something.

Judgment and Decision Making
65%
Importance

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Top 10 Abilities
Oral Comprehension
80%
Importance

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Oral Expression
80%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Deductive Reasoning
75%
Importance

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Problem Sensitivity
75%
Importance

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Speech Clarity
75%
Importance

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Speech Recognition
75%
Importance

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Inductive Reasoning
70%
Importance

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Written Comprehension
70%
Importance

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Information Ordering
68%
Importance

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Near Vision
68%
Importance

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Top 10 Work Activities
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
92%
Importance

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
88%
Importance

Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Training and Teaching Others
87%
Importance

Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Getting Information
85%
Importance

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
85%
Importance

Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates
84%
Importance

Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems
83%
Importance

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Coaching and Developing Others
80%
Importance

Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Scheduling Work and Activities
80%
Importance

Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Developing and Building Teams
78%
Importance

Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Detailed Work Activities

Monitor work environment to ensure safety or adherence to specifications.

Schedule operational activities.

Plan work operations.

Resolve personnel problems.

Monitor loading processes to ensure they are performed properly.

Explain regulations, policies, or procedures.

Direct material handling or moving activities.

Verify information or specifications.

Notify others of emergencies, problems, or hazards.

Plan production or operational procedures or sequences.

Evaluate performance of applicants, trainees, or employees.

Record operational or production data.

Meet with coworkers to communicate work orders or plans.

Support the professional development of others.

Inspect material-moving equipment to detect problems.

Recommend personnel decisions or human resources activities.

Train transportation or material moving personnel.

Provide transportation information to passengers or customers.

Estimate technical or resource requirements for development or production projects.

Inspect facilities to ensure compliance with safety, quality, or service standards.

Acquire supplies or equipment.

Work Context
Face-to-Face Discussions

How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?

Electronic Mail

How often do you use electronic mail in this job?

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Work With Work Group or Team

How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?

Contact With Others

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Frequency of Decision Making

How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?

Time Pressure

How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?

Responsibility for Outcomes and Results

How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?

Responsible for Others' Health and Safety

How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?

Exposed to Contaminants

How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?

Education
Interests
Enterprising
100%
Importance

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Realistic
67%
Importance

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Conventional
62%
Importance

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Social
34%
Importance

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Investigative
19%
Importance

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Artistic
15%
Importance

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Top 10 Work Styles
Dependability
96%
Importance

Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Integrity
94%
Importance

Job requires being honest and ethical.

Leadership
94%
Importance

Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Attention to Detail
93%
Importance

Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Cooperation
90%
Importance

Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Independence
86%
Importance

Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Initiative
86%
Importance

Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Achievement/Effort
85%
Importance

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Concern for Others
85%
Importance

Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Stress Tolerance
85%
Importance

Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

Work Values
Independence
77%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Support
77%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Relationships
72%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Achievement
62%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Recognition
58%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Working Conditions
58%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.