Freight and Furniture Handlers

Freight and Furniture Handlers load and unload trucks, containers and rail cars, and transfer cargo between ships and other forms of transport and storage facilities.

**Indicative skill level:**

Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with the qualifications outlined below.

#### In Australia:

- AQF Certificate I, or compulsory secondary education (ANZSCO Skill Level 5)

#### In New Zealand:

- NZQF Level 1 qualification, or compulsory secondary education (ANZSCO Skill Level 5)

For some occupations a short period of on-the-job training may be required in addition to or instead of the formal qualification. In some instances no formal qualification or on-the-job training may be required.

**Tasks include:**

- labelling goods with customers' details and destinations - loading goods into trucks, containers and rail wagons, and securing loads - assisting to tie down loads and cover them with tarpaulins - guiding truck drivers into loading bays and through confined spaces - performing clerical functions to record and check cargo on arrival, storage and despatch - opening and closing hatches and securing cargo to prevent shifting during voyages - transferring loads using moving equipment and directing equipment operations using communication systems - stacking cargo on pallets, trays, flats and slings to facilitate transfer to and from ships