Longshore workers operate industrial trucks, tractors, and other mobile equipment to transfer containers / other cargo within range of cranes / hoists on dock areas. They operate winches / other hoisting devices to load / unload cargo on / off ships, and operate mechanical towers to load vessels with materials such as coal / ore. They also operate equipment to transfer bulk items such as grain to vessel holds and liquid materials to vessel storage tanks.

In general, you usually need some high school education. To be a longshore worker, you receive on-the-job training. Many recent entrants have a high school diploma, and almost 1 in 5 has a trade / vocational certificate or community college diploma.