Job Description: Industrial Truck Operators drive a variety of industrial vehicles, commonly called forklifts or lift trucks, which have forks and hydraulic lifting mechanisms to carry loaded pallets.
Tractor Operators drive tractors which pull trailers containing equipment and material.
Both types of operators may work indoors and outdoors moving materials in factories, warehouses, freight terminals, supply yards, wholesale businesses, and loading areas. They may be responsible for assisting in the loading and uploading of freight cars, trucks, aircraft, and ships as well as refueling or recharging their vehicles, checking oil levels and battery conditions, and providing minor mechanical service and repairs. When not working as Truck or Tractor Operators, some may work as stock clerks, shipping clerks, receiving clerks, or warehouse workers.
Wages - Statewide:
To give you an idea of how much you might earn, we have given you the average hourly wages and average yearly wages for this career throughout California. Wages can vary greatly in different parts of the State.
Hourly Average Wages:
$
34,037
Yearly Average Wages:
$
34,037
Source: California Occupational Employment and Wage Data, 2008
Job Openings:
An average of 2510 job openings will be available statewide per year. The number of openings includes both new jobs and replacement openings as workers leave the occupation.
Source: California Occupational Employment Projections 2004 - 2014
