Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Uplift Operator

🎯 Role Definition

An Uplift Operator is a hands-on heavy-vehicle specialist responsible for safe, timely and compliant uplift and delivery of containers, skips, bins and oversized loads across customer sites and depots. This role requires skilled operation of hooklift/skip loaders, tow tractors and associated lifting equipment, strong safety discipline (WHS/OHS), accurate record-keeping, and excellent customer and intra-team communication. Successful candidates combine practical machine skills (rigging, load restraint, pre-start checks) with situational awareness, regulatory compliance and a service-oriented attitude.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Warehouse operative, yard hand or general labourer with heavy vehicle exposure
Forklift operator or delivery driver transitioning to larger uplift equipment
Apprentice mechanic or plant operator seeking field experience

Advancement To:

Lead Uplift Operator / Senior Driver
Shift Supervisor / Site Coordinator
Fleet Operations Supervisor or Logistics Coordinator
Transport Manager or Operations Manager

Lateral Moves:

Crane operator / Rigger
Heavy vehicle (MR/HR) driver or tow truck operator
Yard / depot manager
Waste management or recycling operations specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Operate hooklift trucks, skip loaders, roll-on/roll-off units and associated lifting equipment to uplift, transport and deliver containers, bins, skips and oversized loads to customer sites and depots while maintaining full compliance with load rating and manufacturer guidelines.
Perform thorough pre-start and pre-operational inspections of uplift vehicles and lifting systems (hydraulics, hook arm, controls, tyres, brakes, lights and safety interlocks) and document any defects in the vehicle’s daily log and maintenance system.
Secure and restrain loads using chains, straps, binders, edge protectors and rated lifting gear in accordance with load restraint standards and company procedures to prevent load shift, drop or damage in transit.
Plan and execute safe uplift and delivery sequences on-site, including traffic control, safe approach and exit routes, ground condition assessment and coordination with site personnel to minimize property and equipment damage.
Read load tickets, work orders and site instructions accurately, capture uplift/delivery times, customer signatures and site notes using electronic handheld devices or paper logbooks and upload records to dispatch or fleet management systems.
Adhere to all national and local transport regulations, heavy vehicle mass and dimension laws, chain of responsibility obligations and company safety policies while driving and performing uplift operations.
Communicate proactively with dispatch and operations staff to confirm job priorities, route adjustments, delays or safety issues and use telematics and GPS routing tools to optimize travel time and fuel efficiency.
Conduct safe rigging, slinging and dogging operations for heavy or awkward loads, selecting correct slings, tag lines and lifting points and liaising with certified riggers or crane crews when required.
Execute customer-focused on-site interactions with professionalism—explain uplift procedures, confirm placement or pickup locations, obtain access authorizations and resolve straightforward site queries.
Operate within environmental and waste handling guidelines when handling waste streams, contaminated loads or regulated materials; ensure correct segregation, containment and documentation for disposal or recycling.
Manage yard and depot uplift activities including staging of containers, organising returned assets, performing minor cleaning and preparing containers for next deployment to maintain yard efficiency and availability.
Respond to and document incidents, near-misses and equipment failures promptly using incident reporting systems and participate in subsequent investigations and corrective action implementation.
Perform minor on-the-spot maintenance such as topping up fluids, checking tyre pressures and replacing simple components; escalate mechanical issues promptly through the fleet maintenance ticketing process.
Follow lock-out/tag-out and isolation procedures during vehicle servicing and when operating around site machinery and powerlines; ensure all safety exclusion zones are established and observed.
Comply with fatigue management, driver logbook and shift handover procedures; maintain accurate work-rest records and communicate any impairment or unfit-for-duty conditions immediately.
Train, mentor and provide practical coaching to junior uplift staff and relief drivers on safe operation, load restraint best practices and company uplift protocols.
Execute scheduled and ad-hoc customer uplift programs, including multi-stop collection runs, scheduled depot exchanges and emergency call-outs while maintaining service level agreements.
Support heavy or complex lifts with additional personnel and resources, coordinating with site supervisors, crane operators or traffic controllers to execute lifts safely and in compliance with site rules.
Manage customer returns, damage claims and inspection findings—record photographic evidence, complete paperwork for service recovery and liaise with operations and customer service teams to resolve issues.
Maintain high standards of housekeeping for assigned vehicle and uplift area, ensuring no debris, loose tie-downs or hazardous materials remain after operations and that containers are left secured and locked as required.
Participate in toolbox talks, safety briefings and continuous improvement activities; contribute practical feedback to refine uplift procedures, risk assessments and SOPs.
Monitor and report fuel usage, idling behaviour and component wear to support fleet cost control and scheduled maintenance planning.
Assist in seasonal or project-based activities such as large-scale container redeployments, festival or temporary site support and night-shift uplift operations as required by business demands.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc inventory checks and container audits, reconciling physical counts with depot records and reporting discrepancies for resolution.
Assist dispatch with real-time updates during busy periods, advising on capacity constraints and suggested redeployments of containers to meet customer demand.
Contribute to the development of site-specific risk assessments and method statements for complex or high-risk uplift tasks.
Collaborate with the environmental compliance team to support audits, waste documentation and chain-of-custody requirements for regulated materials.
Provide input to fleet procurement and specification decisions based on day-to-day operational experience and equipment performance feedback.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficient operation of hooklift, skip loader, roll-on/roll-off and similar uplift vehicles with demonstrated safe handling of hydraulic hook arms and lift systems.
Valid heavy vehicle licence appropriate to the fleet (e.g., MR, HR, or equivalent) and a current national/state driver's licence with a clean driving record.
Forklift / plant operator certification and experience with yard forklifts, side-loaders or telehandler equipment.
Strong competency in load restraint, tie-down techniques and use of rated lifting gear, slings and shackles in line with load restraint codes.
Rigging and dogging knowledge or certification (where required) to prepare and secure complex or suspended loads.
Pre-start inspection and basic mechanical troubleshooting skills, including using maintenance ticketing systems to report faults.
Experience with electronic job management systems, telematics, GPS routing and mobile handheld devices for recording pickups and deliveries.
Working at Heights, Confined Space and Safe Lifting awareness (certifications where applicable) for sites requiring elevated access or restricted areas.
Knowledge of WHS/OHS legislation, chain of responsibility obligations and site permit-to-work processes.
Hazardous materials handling and segregation experience when dealing with contaminated loads or regulated waste (certifications where required).
Ability to read and interpret site maps, work orders, load charts and simple engineering drawings for placement and uplift tasks.
Familiarity with basic documentation: manifests, delivery receipts, damage reports and incident forms.

Soft Skills

Strong situational awareness and risk assessment mindset with proactive safety-first decision making.
Customer-focused communication with professional on-site manner and ability to de-escalate site concerns.
Time management and route-planning skills to meet tight pickup/delivery windows while complying with road rules and fatigue requirements.
Team player who communicates effectively with dispatch, yard staff and site supervisors.
Problem-solving attitude to adapt to unexpected site conditions, traffic and equipment faults.
Attention to detail for accurate paperwork, container identification and compliance records.
Physical resilience and endurance to perform manual handling, climb in/out of vehicles and work outdoors in variable conditions.
Reliability and flexibility to work rostered shifts, early starts, occasional night shifts and emergency call-outs.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma / secondary school completion or equivalent (or substantial verifiable hands-on experience operating heavy uplift equipment).

Preferred Education:

Certificate III in Driving Operations, Logistics or Heavy Vehicle Operations, or trade/TAFE qualifications in Transport, Plant Operations or Mechanical Studies.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Logistics, Transport & Supply Chain
Heavy Vehicle/Plant Operation
Mechanical or Automotive Technology
Occupational Health & Safety

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years operating uplift/plant equipment in transport, waste management, recycling, construction or container logistics.

Preferred: 3+ years’ experience operating hooklift/skip or roll-on/roll-off vehicles with demonstrable safety record, experience working in depot and on customer sites, and familiarity with telematics and job management systems.