Material handlers load and transport materials to a plant yard, warehouse, or other work location. Physical stamina, organizational skills, and the ability to record and inventory materials are all required for material handling. Gaining entry-level warehouse experience and pursuing a technical degree in materials handling or distribution management can help you become a material handler.
Getting an entry-level job as a shipping worker or a forklift driver is a common way for material handlers to start their careers. Gathering and distributing materials, as well as ensuring that items are properly located for distribution, are the responsibilities of shipping workers. Material is loaded onto trucks or stored in warehouses forklift operators. Employees receive on-the-job warehouse training in these entry-level positions, which are generally easy to obtain with a high school diploma.
Employees can learn firsthand what it takes to become a material handler starting as an entry-level warehouse worker. Shipping workers and forklift operators will quickly become accustomed to the various equipment required to handle materials, as well as learn how to read packing instructions and gain experience with the tasks required for successful material handling and distribution. Working toward a technical degree while working part-time in a distribution warehouse is recommended to become a material handler and excel in the industry.
Employees who have a technical degree or certification in materials or distribution management will have a leg up on the competition when it comes to becoming material handlers. The procedures for handling hazardous materials, route mapping, and equipment safety are typically covered in a certification program. Students may also learn management and supervisory skills in order to supervise warehouse workers.
The majority of vocational certificates take a year to complete. Obtaining a two-year associates degree in industrial systems technology may be advantageous. When applying for material handler positions, an associate’s degree will give you a competitive advantage and negotiation leverage.
Advancement opportunities may arise as a result of current employment, or they may be sought through outside resources. Many vocational and technical schools offer job placement services to help students find stable jobs with competitive pay. After obtaining a degree and several years of work experience, other material handlers may approach their employers and request a promotion to material handler or distribution manager.
Regular workshops or seminars on warehouse safety procedures may be required of material handlers. These workshops teach employees how to operate heavy equipment safely and lift heavy materials without injuring themselves. Material handlers may be required to attend training courses on new equipment operation and repair as technological equipment advances.