Material handlers (manual) load, unload, and move products by hand or on dollies or other basic material-handling equipment. Material handlers (equipment operators) operate winches and other loading devices, industrial trucks, tractors, and loaders to transport / retrieve materials. They also operate various types of equipment / conveyors to handle liquid, bulk, and other materials.

In general, you usually need some high school education. To be a material handler (manual), you must have the physical strength to work with heavy materials. Many recent entrants have a high school diploma, and almost 1 in 5 has a trade / vocational certificate or community college diploma.