Career & application guide

First-Line Supervisors of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators

Get to know the work, the skills that matter, and how to prepare your next application.

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What do first-line supervisors of material-moving machine and vehicle operators do?

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of material-moving machine and vehicle operators and helpers.

This describes a U.S. occupation, not a live vacancy. Individual employers may use different titles and requirements.

Job titles to recognize in your search

O*NET reports these titles for this occupation. Compare the responsibilities in each posting before treating titles as equivalent.

  • Cargo Manager
  • DC Supervisor (Distribution Center Supervisor)
  • Dock Supervisor
  • Driver Manager
  • Fleet Manager
  • Shipping Manager
  • Street Supervisor
  • Trainmaster

Core tasks to compare with a job posting

  • Enforce safety rules and regulations.
  • Interpret transportation or tariff regulations, shipping orders, safety regulations, or company policies and procedures for workers.
  • Resolve worker problems or collaborate with employees to assist in problem resolution.
  • Confer with customers, supervisors, contractors, or other personnel to exchange information or to resolve problems.
  • Plan work assignments and equipment allocations to meet transportation, operations or production goals.
  • Examine, measure, or weigh cargo or materials to determine specific handling requirements.
  • Explain and demonstrate work tasks to new workers or assign training tasks to experienced workers.
  • Review orders, production schedules, blueprints, or shipping or receiving notices to determine work sequences and material shipping dates, types, volumes, or destinations.
  • Drive vehicles or operate machines or equipment to complete work assignments or to assist workers.
  • Inspect or test materials, stock, vehicles, equipment, or facilities to ensure that they are safe, free of defects, and consistent with specifications.

Prepare an application for this occupation

  1. Check the employer’s requirements, location, schedule and any licenses against your situation.
  2. Choose two or three tasks above that match the posting and your actual experience.
  3. Build a resume evidence worksheet using the skills and software relevant to that employer.
  4. Practice explaining your contribution, decisions and results before an interview.

Ready to plan your search?

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