Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Walkie Operator

🎯 Role Definition

This role requires a reliable, safety-focused Walkie Operator to join our warehouse and distribution operations. The Walkie Operator (also known as a walkie stacker operator or powered industrial truck operator) is responsible for safe, efficient movement of pallets and materials using walkie stackers and other low-level powered equipment. This role demands strong attention to safety procedures, familiarity with warehouse layout and inventory systems, and the ability to work collaboratively with receiving, shipping, and inventory teams to maintain productivity and on-time order fulfillment.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Warehouse Associate / Order Picker
Material Handler
Receiving or Shipping Clerk

Advancement To:

Forklift Operator / Reach Truck Operator
Lead Material Handler / Team Lead
Inventory Control Specialist
Warehouse Supervisor or Shift Supervisor

Lateral Moves:

Shipping & Receiving Specialist
Quality Control Inspector
Maintenance Technician (equipment-focused)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Operate walkie stacker and other low-level powered industrial trucks (PITs) to transport, stack, and unstack pallets and materials safely within narrow aisles and confined warehouse spaces, following manufacturer guidelines and company safety policies.
Load and unload trailers, containers, and production lines using walkie equipment, ensuring accurate placement and secure stacking to prevent damage and enable efficient pick paths.
Perform pre-shift and post-shift equipment inspections (brakes, forks, controls, batteries, chargers) and log inspection results; report maintenance needs or safety hazards to supervision immediately to prevent downtime or accidents.
Execute put-away and picking tasks using handheld scanners or warehouse management systems (WMS), confirming SKU, lot, and location accuracy to maintain inventory integrity and minimize picking errors.
Stage and consolidate outbound orders by moving full pallets to staging lanes, staging areas, or trailers according to shipping schedules and load planning instructions.
Follow pick tickets, packing lists, and load manifests precisely; verify order quantities and product descriptions during staging and loading to ensure on-time order fulfillment and invoice accuracy.
Cycle count and assist with inventory audits by transporting counted pallets to designated areas, documenting discrepancies, and collaborating with inventory control to reconcile variances.
Position and arrange pallets to optimize storage density and accessibility, observing weight limits, load stability, and aisle clearance requirements to maintain safe operations.
Support cross-dock and flow-through operations by rapidly transferring incoming materials to outbound staging, minimizing dwell time and meeting tight delivery windows.
Use battery charging and maintenance protocols for electric walkie equipment, including safe battery swaps and proper handling of battery connectors and electrolyte (where applicable), to maintain equipment readiness.
Comply with lockout/tagout, confined space, and other site-specific safety procedures when performing tasks that require isolation of equipment or access to restricted areas.
Communicate with shipping, receiving, and production teams to coordinate material moves, prioritize urgent orders, and respond to schedule changes or rush requests to meet service levels.
Adhere to hazardous materials handling policies when moving regulated products; ensure packages are labeled and segregated according to DOT and company guidelines.
Escort and assist temporary workers or new hires in walkie-safe zones, providing on-the-job guidance on routing, staging, and load-securement practices when asked by supervisors.
Maintain clean and obstruction-free aisles, staging lanes, and work areas by returning empty pallets, straps, and packing materials to designated locations and disposing of waste in accordance with site procedures.
Apply proper load stabilization techniques (corner boards, stretch wrap, banding) in coordination with packaging teams to safeguard product integrity during intra-warehouse moves and transport.
Support returns processing by moving returned pallets to quarantine or inspection areas, staging for disposition, and coordinating with returns analysts to segregate damaged or nonconforming stock.
Participate in daily safety huddles and pre-shift briefings; raise near-miss observations and suggest improvements to traffic flows, rack layouts, or signage to reduce incident risk.
Maintain accurate move logs and WMS transaction records for all material movements performed with walkie equipment, ensuring traceability and audit readiness.
Operate in high-volume, time-sensitive environments while meeting production or shipping throughput targets and maintaining zero-tolerance for unsafe driving practices.
Assist with seasonal surges and special projects such as facility reconfigurations, bulk moves, or cross-docking initiatives by executing planned material moves safely and efficiently.
Ensure compliance with PPE requirements (safety shoes, hi-vis apparel, gloves) and company hygiene policies while performing material handling duties.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc loading and unloading tasks with hand trucks, pallet jacks, and manual handling where mechanized equipment is not suitable.
Assist inventory control with data entry corrections, WMS reconciliations, and labeling/relocation of odd-size or reworked inventory.
Help train new operators on facility-specific routes, staging procedures, and site safety expectations under the direction of a trainer or supervisor.
Coordinate with maintenance to schedule preventive maintenance or repairs for walkie equipment to minimize operational disruption.
Participate in continuous improvement initiatives by suggesting process changes to reduce travel time, improve put-away logic, or increase pallet utilization.
Provide basic housekeeping of equipment charging areas, ensuring chargers and electrical cords are stored safely and batteries are charged per schedule.
Document and escalate product damage discovered during moves, working with quality and claims teams to support replacement or return processes.
Support cross-functional teams during inventory counts, promotional events, or client-specific packing requirements by reallocating resources and operating walkie equipment as needed.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Certified operation of walkie stackers and familiarity with powered industrial trucks (PIT); knowledge of OSHA/PIT safety standards and site-specific certification requirements.
Proficiency with warehouse management systems (WMS) and handheld barcode scanners for cycle counting, put-away, and picking transactions (e.g., SAP WM, Manhattan, Oracle WMS, Fishbowl).
Strong material handling techniques including pallet inspection, load securement, weight distribution, and load stacking to industry best practices.
Ability to perform pre-operational equipment checks and basic troubleshooting (battery connections, charger faults, fork alignment) to reduce equipment downtime.
Familiarity with order picking methods (batch, zone, wave) and experience staging loads to shipping manifests and trailer loading plans.
Knowledge of proper battery charging, swapping, and storage procedures for electric walkie equipment, including safe handling of batteries.
Basic understanding of DOT/HazMat labeling and segregation requirements for handling regulated shipments within the warehouse.
Comfortable using tablets, mobile devices, and inventory software to record moves, update work orders, and follow digital workflows.
Ability to read and interpret pick tickets, packing lists, load plans, and rack location identifiers accurately.
Experience with shop-floor communication tools (radios, intercoms, mobile apps) to coordinate material moves and respond to urgent requests.

Soft Skills

Safety-first mindset with consistent adherence to protocols and the ability to influence peers to follow safe practices.
Strong situational awareness and spatial judgment to navigate tight warehouse aisles and crowded staging areas without incident.
Dependable time-management and organizational skills to prioritize tasks and meet throughput objectives under pressure.
Clear verbal and written communication skills for coordinating with supervisors, drivers, and production/warehouse teams.
Problem-solving capability to identify root causes of mispicks, misplaced pallets, or congestion and recommend pragmatic solutions.
Team-oriented attitude with the flexibility to support multiple shifts, overtime, and changing priorities during peak seasons.
Attention to detail for accurate inventory transactions, load sequencing, and damage prevention.
Adaptability to process changes, WMS updates, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Professionalism and customer-service focus when interacting with delivery drivers, vendors, and internal stakeholders.
Basic instructional ability to mentor new operators with patience and clarity.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent (preferred but not always required).

Preferred Education:

High school diploma or GED; vocational training in material handling or logistics is a plus.
Formal PIT/walkie operator certification or documented on-the-job training.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Industrial Technology / Vocational Training
Occupational Safety and Health

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

0–3 years for entry-level walkie operator roles; many employers prefer 1–2 years of hands-on warehouse experience.

Preferred:

1–3+ years operating walkie stackers, pallet jacks, or other powered industrial trucks in a distribution center or manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated experience using WMS and handheld scanning devices; prior exposure to high-volume fulfillment or retail distribution is highly valued.
OSHA/PIT certification or equivalent employer-specific qualification; experience with battery-electric equipment maintenance preferred.