Material Handlers
NOC 7452
Description
This unit group includes workers who handle, move, load and unload materials by hand or using a variety of material handling equipment. They are employed by transportation, storage and moving companies, and by a variety of manufacturing and processing companies and retail and wholesale warehouses.
Duties
- Material handlers (manual):
- Load, unload and move products and materials by hand or using basic material handling equipment
- Move household appliances and furniture onto and off moving trucks or vans
- Perform other material handling activities such as counting, weighing, sorting, packing and unpacking.
Material handlers (equipment operators):
- Operate winches and other loading devices to load and unload materials onto and off trucks, railway cars and loading docks of warehouses and industrial establishments
- Operate industrial trucks, tractors, loaders and other equipment to transport materials to and from transportation vehicles and loading docks and to store and retrieve materials in warehouses
- Connect hoses or pipes and operate equipment to load and unload liquid petroleum, chemical or other products into or from tank cars, tank trucks or storage tanks
- Operate equipment to dump materials such as coal, ore and grain into or to remove materials from railway cars, trucks or other vehicles
- Operate conveyors and equipment to transfer grain or other materials from transportation vehicles to elevators, bins or other storage areas
- May perform other activities, such as opening containers and crates, filling warehouse orders, assisting in taking inventory and weighing and checking materials.
Other Titles
- Bin Filler
- Material Handler
- Lumber Piler
- Railway Car Loader
- Coal Handler
- Truck Loader
- Stockpiler
- Storage Worker
- Forklift Truck Operator
- Conveyor Console Operator
(Government of Canada National Occupation Classification)
Skills
- Coordination
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Adaptability
- Social Orientation
- Attention to Detail
- Judgement and Decision Making
Education/Training Requirements
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
- Some secondary school education may be required
Post-secondary diploma/degree
- Not required
Certification
- Physical strength is required for manual material handlers who work with heavy materials
Potential Earnings in Durham Region
The average and median wages and salaries for individuals employed as material handlers are as follows. Place of Residence (POR) is defined as individuals who reside within the Durham Region. Place of Work (POW) is defined as individuals who are employed within the Durham Region.
| Median Wages and Salaries (POR) | Average Wages and Salaries (POR) | Median Wages and Salaries (POW) | Average Wages and Salaries (POW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $60,128 | $56,521 | $32,884 | $36,833 |
Employment Prospects
| Industry (NAICS) | Jobs in Durham Region (POW) | Durham Region Residents Employed (POR) |
|---|---|---|
| 111-112 Farms | 30 | 55 |
| 3361 Motor vehicle manufacturing | 400 | 350 |
| 4131 Food wholesaler-distributor | 155 | 170 |
| 4841 General freight trucking | 40 | 55 |
| 4842 Specialized freight trucking | 50 | 55 |
| 4885 Freight transportation arrangement | 165 | 120 |
| 4931 Warehousing and storage | 650 | 660 |
(Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development 2016 data in Durham Workforce Authority’s 2017 Sector Report)