Top 12 Dock Worker Skills to Put on Your Resume

Crafting a compelling resume is crucial for aspiring dock workers aiming to stand out in a competitive job market. Show the skills that make freight move faster and safer. Align your strengths with real-world demands in maritime, shipping, and logistics—where precision, pace, and safety decide everything.

Dock Worker Skills

1. Forklift Operation
2. Pallet Jacks
3. Inventory Management
4. RF Scanners
5. Hazardous Materials Handling
6. OSHA Compliance
7. Container Stacking
8. Ship Loading
9. Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)
10. Cargo Securing
11. Time Management
12. First Aid/CPR Certified

1. Forklift Operation

Operating a forklift on the dock means moving cargo safely and quickly—loading, unloading, staging, and stacking without tipping, striking, or damaging freight or equipment.

Why It's Important

Efficient forklift operation keeps freight flowing, prevents injuries and product loss, and helps ships, trucks, and rail hit tight schedules.

How to Improve Forklift Operation Skills

1. Training with context: Practice load centers, ramps, blind corners, and tight aisles common on docks.
2. Pre-shift inspections: Brakes, forks, mast chains, horn, lights, hydraulics, tires—log it, fix it.
3. Safety discipline: Speed control, horn use, three-point contact, seatbelts, and no riders. Respect load charts.
4. Maintenance: Follow service intervals, swap damaged forks, keep batteries/LP systems in check.
5. Efficient moves: Plan routes, reduce empty travel, stage smartly, face loads uphill on ramps.
6. Telemetry and checklists: Use simple check apps or onboard monitoring to spot risky habits early.

How to Display Forklift Operation Skills on Your Resume

2. Pallet Jacks

Manual and powered pallet jacks move palletized goods across docks and warehouses—short, frequent, deliberate runs.

Why It's Important

They cut strain, speed staging, and keep lanes clear without tying up forklifts.

How to Improve Pallet Jacks Skills

1. Ergonomics: Use adjustable, grippy handles and proper stance; push when possible, don’t yank.
2. Durability: Solid wheels, reinforced frames, smooth bearings; replace worn rollers fast.
3. Battery care (powered): Swap batteries on schedule, watch charge cycles, inspect cables.
4. Safe technique: Control on slopes, never overload, keep feet clear, watch pinch points.
5. Simple tech: Add scale displays or location tagging where helpful; don’t overcomplicate.

How to Display Pallet Jacks Skills on Your Resume

3. Inventory Management

Tracking what arrives, where it goes, and what leaves—clean receipts, accurate counts, and smart slotting—so nothing wanders off or bottlenecks.

Why It's Important

Good control means fewer claims, faster turns, and less hunting for misplaced freight.

How to Improve Inventory Management Skills

1. Real-time visibility: Use barcodes or RFID with disciplined scan-on-receipt and scan-on-move.
2. Standard procedures: One way to receive, one way to stage, one way to ship—documented and followed.
3. Ongoing training: Refresh on exceptions, partials, cross-docks, and cycle counts.
4. Lean practices: Reduce touches, pre-label, and remove dead stock from prime space.
5. Quality checks: Verify counts and condition at handoff points to catch errors early.
6. Layout that works: Clear lanes, logical zones, fast-mover proximity, visible signage.

How to Display Inventory Management Skills on Your Resume

4. RF Scanners

Handhelds that scan barcodes or RFID to capture moves, counts, and locations instantly.

Why It's Important

They cut paperwork, reduce errors, and give live status to the yard, the dock, and the office.

How to Improve RF Scanners Skills

1. Ergonomics: Light, balanced devices with good grips and triggers reduce fatigue.
2. Ruggedness: High drop ratings, sealed against dust and moisture, bright screens for outdoor use.
3. Power: Long-life batteries and hot-swap options; charge stations where work happens.
4. Fast software: Minimal taps, clear prompts, offline queueing when Wi‑Fi drops.

How to Display RF Scanners Skills on Your Resume

5. Hazardous Materials Handling

Safe, compliant receipt, storage, and movement of regulated goods—knowing classes, labels, segregation rules, and emergency actions.

Why It's Important

It protects people, equipment, and the environment—and keeps operations on the right side of the law.

How to Improve Hazardous Materials Handling Skills

1. Proper training: Understand hazard classes, placards, compatibility, and response steps.
2. PPE: Wear the right protection for the hazard—gloves, eye/face, respirators when required.
3. SDS familiarity: Read Safety Data Sheets; know exposure risks and first-aid actions.
4. Labeling and storage: Clear marks, intact containers, segregate incompatibles, control ventilation.
5. Emergency readiness: Spill kits staged, eyewash available, drills practiced, routes known.
6. Equipment checks: Inspect containers, pallets, and handling tools before use.

How to Display Hazardous Materials Handling Skills on Your Resume

6. OSHA Compliance

Following Occupational Safety and Health standards on docks—training, PPE, machine safety, hazard communication, powered industrial trucks, and emergency action plans.

Why It's Important

Compliance lowers injuries, avoids fines, and builds a safety-first culture that keeps shifts running.

How to Improve OSHA Compliance Skills

1. Frequent training: Short toolbox talks on real incidents, plus required certifications.
2. Right gear, every time: High‑vis, helmets, gloves, eye/ear protection, fall protection where needed.
3. Equipment care: Lockout/tagout, scheduled inspections, prompt repair of defects.
4. Clear hazard comms: Labels, SDS access, signage, and radio discipline.
5. Emergency plans: Evac maps, muster points, spill response, first-aid roles—drilled and known.
6. Report and learn: Encourage near-miss reporting; fix root causes, not just symptoms.
7. Regular audits: Walk the floor, involve crews, close gaps quickly.

How to Display OSHA Compliance Skills on Your Resume

7. Container Stacking

Arranging containers by weight, destination, and handling needs to maximize space and minimize reshuffles—stable stacks, smart tiers.

Why It's Important

Safe stacks prevent topple risks, speed retrieval, and keep cranes and yard trucks moving smoothly.

How to Improve Container Stacking Skills

1. Plan by weight and turn: Heavy on bottom, quick-turn and hazardous where access is clean.
2. Use simple digital plans: Real-time yard maps reduce rehandles and hunting.
3. Check locks and fittings: Twist-locks engaged, corner posts aligned, no damaged hardware used.
4. Respect wind and ground limits: Don’t overstack; watch weather advisories.
5. Keep training current: Yard equipment, hand signals, and communication standards.

How to Display Container Stacking Skills on Your Resume

8. Ship Loading

Transferring cargo aboard with balance, sequence, and stowage plans that respect stability, weight limits, and voyage conditions.

Why It's Important

Proper loading protects the vessel and the cargo, saves time in port, and prevents dangerous shifts at sea.

How to Improve Ship Loading Skills

1. Pre-plan the stow: Weight distribution, lashing points, hazardous segregation, and discharge sequence.
2. Use guidance and tools: Follow company and international standards; keep plans visible to crews.
3. Safety first: Exclusion zones, spotters, radios, and strict crane/forklift coordination.
4. Maintain gear: Slings, spreaders, hooks, and hoists inspected and fit for load.
5. Talk constantly: Bridge, stevedores, yard, and gate aligned on timing and changes.
6. Keep learning: Review post-voyage feedback and near misses to sharpen the process.

How to Display Ship Loading Skills on Your Resume

9. Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)

Software that directs inventory, tasks, and flows—what to receive, where to put it, when and how to pick, and who does what next.

Why It's Important

WMS trims errors, speeds turns, and gives managers live control of labor and space.

How to Improve Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) Skills

1. Real-time capture: Pair scanners and mobile devices to update counts and moves as they happen.
2. Automate the routine: Labels, task assignment, replenishment, and alerts set to rules.
3. Mobile workflows: Simple screens, large buttons, and clear exceptions for dock crews.
4. Training that sticks: Hands-on practice with common errors and unusual cases.
5. Dock scheduling: Appointments and door assignments that cut waiting and congestion.
6. Layout alignment: Let the WMS reflect the real floor; update when layout changes.
7. Scalability: Choose tools that handle seasonality and new processes without chaos.

How to Display Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) Skills on Your Resume

10. Cargo Securing

Lashing, blocking, bracing, and protecting cargo so it doesn’t shift, crush, chafe, or break during transport.

Why It's Important

Good securing prevents injuries, damage, delays, and costly claims.

How to Improve Cargo Securing Skills

1. Know the rules: Follow recognized cargo securing guidelines and company standards.
2. Match gear to load: Straps, chains, dunnage, edge protectors—rated and intact.
3. Risk assess first: Consider weight, center of gravity, stacking, and expected forces.
4. Torque and tension: Apply proper tension and recheck after settling or movement.
5. Inspect and document: Photos and checks before release; re-inspect at breaks.

How to Display Cargo Securing Skills on Your Resume

11. Time Management

Organizing tasks against vessel cutoffs, truck appointments, and yard capacity—moving the right load at the right moment.

Why It's Important

It shortens dwell time, avoids demurrage, and keeps crews productive without burnout.

How to Improve Time Management Skills

1. Prioritize by impact: Urgent and high‑value moves first; batch similar tasks.
2. Set practical targets: Clear shift goals and checkpoints; adjust when conditions change.
3. Use simple tools: Task boards, timers, and pick paths that cut deadhead travel.
4. Reduce interruptions: Tight radio protocols, defined roles, and clean handoffs.
5. Review often: Quick end‑of‑shift debriefs to fix tomorrow’s bottlenecks.

How to Display Time Management Skills on Your Resume

12. First Aid/CPR Certified

Certification that you can deliver immediate care—including CPR and AED use—until medical help takes over.

Why It's Important

Docks are high‑risk. Fast, correct response can stop bleeding, restore breathing, and save a coworker’s life.

How to Improve First Aid/CPR Certified Skills

1. Refresh routinely: Re-certify on schedule; practice compressions and rescue breaths.
2. Dock-specific drills: Simulate crush injuries, falls, heat stress, drowning, chemical exposure.
3. Know your gear: AED locations, bleed-control kits, eyewash stations—memorized.
4. Micro-learning: Short scenario reviews before shifts build confidence.
5. Record readiness: Track expirations, attendance, and post-incident improvements.

How to Display First Aid/CPR Certified Skills on Your Resume