Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators

Move levers or controls that operate lifting devices, such as forklifts, lift beams with swivel-hooks, hoists, or elevating platforms, to load, unload, transport, or stack material.

AI: Fully automatable - Autonomous and teleoperated forklifts and actuatorized lifting systems are commercially deployed and can reliably move controls to lift, load, unload, and stack in structured environments.

Move controls to drive gasoline- or electric-powered trucks, cars, or tractors and transport materials between loading, processing, and storage areas.

AI: Fully automatable - Autonomous yard trucks, industrial AGVs/AMRs and automated forklifts can drive materials between areas in controlled facilities and are in commercial use.

Weigh materials or products and record weight or other production data on tags or labels.

AI: Fully automatable - Weighing and automated data capture (scales, printers, WMS integration) are straightforward to automate and widely implemented.

Operate or tend automatic stacking, loading, packaging, or cutting machines.

AI: Fully automatable - Tending and operating automated stacking, loading, packaging and cutting machines is routinely automated with PLCs, robots and vision systems in modern factories.

Signal workers to discharge, dump, or level materials.

AI: Fully automatable - Signaling (lights, alarms, digital signals, radio/vehicle-to-infrastructure messaging) to coordinate discharging or leveling is easily automated and commonly used.

Inspect product load for accuracy and safely move it around the warehouse or facility to ensure timely and complete delivery.

AI: Partial - Computer vision, barcode/RFID and automated handling systems can inspect and move many loads, but variable packaging, subtle quality checks, and exception handling still require human judgment in mixed environments.

Manually or mechanically load or unload materials from pallets, skids, platforms, cars, lifting devices, or other transport vehicles.

AI: Partial - Automated palletizers, robotic arms and conveyors can load/unload many standardized materials, but irregular, delicate or highly variable loads often still need manual intervention.

Position lifting devices under, over, or around loaded pallets, skids, or boxes and secure material or products for transport to designated areas.

AI: Partial - Autonomous forklifts and guided systems can position lifting devices under standard pallets and move them, but complex securing or non‑standard loads frequently require human skill.

Perform routine maintenance on vehicles or auxiliary equipment, such as cleaning, lubricating, recharging batteries, fueling, or replacing liquefied-gas tank.

AI: Partial - Some routine tasks like battery charging/swapping and automated cleaning are automatable, but many maintenance tasks (safe refueling, complex servicing) still need human technicians.

Hook tow trucks to trailer hitches and fasten attachments, such as graders, plows, rollers, or winch cables to tractors, using hitchpins.

AI: Partial - Automated hitching and attachment systems exist in research and niche deployments, but complex, variable trailer coupling and attachment pinning still often require human dexterity and oversight.

Turn valves and open chutes to dump, spray, or release materials from dump cars or storage bins into hoppers.

AI: Partial - Actuation of valves and chutes can be automated in many industrial settings with actuators and control systems, but highly variable or safety-critical setups and ad hoc manual tasks mean full automation is not universal by 2025.