A Career as a Longshoreman And Future Prospects

According to the Cambridge dictionary, a longshoreman/longshorewoman is a person whose primary job is to load and unload the cargo off ships at a port. They are also known as dockers or dockworkers. Further, we’ll see a comprehensive list of job opportunities that current and future longshoremen can pursue, along with details on the salary, requirements, benefits, etc. Let us know A Career as a Longshoreman And Future Prospects.

Longshoreman 

Salary

Range – $39000- $65000

Requirements 

Requirements for a longshoreman career are:

1. Communication skills – New clients, conveyance of information to team members, and scanning of shipping documents make good communication skills a necessity. 
2. Physical strength – The entire role involves heavy equipment. Hence, weight training, cardio exercises, etc. are recommended to build agility, dexterity, and balance. 
3. Hand-eye coordination – This is especially required for crane operators. 
4. No fears of confines of small spaces, heights, mechanical equipment, etc. 
5. Ability to follow through on routine tasks without supervision. 
6. Previous experience either in the docks or handling heavy equipment on a farm will prove to be useful.  
7. Most companies also require secondary school education. 

Age 

Workers can begin working as soon as they turn 18. 

Hours of work per day

6 – 8 

Job role 

The responsibilities of a longshoreman involve:

1. Looking after the safety of work areas, equipment safety, etc. 
2. To maintain cleanliness in the area of work. 
3. Following cargo loading and unloading protocol. 
4. Loading and unloading cargo from vessels.
5. Checking for damaged or dangerous cargo and reporting the same to the supervisor. 

Application Process 

One can become a longshoreman in two ways:

Option 1: Becoming a member of a union 

• Applying in a major port as a casual worker i.e., for workers not affiliated with a union to complete as many hours as possible. 
• This leads to becoming a recognized casual worker, someone familiar enough to be given an ID and preference over a new worker, but who is not a part of the union. Union workers are given first preference. 
• As soon as unions start their membership applications, apply for them. The level of competition is high thus, most likely, one will have to apply several times over to get accepted. Two of the most prominent unions are the ILWU (International Longshore and Warehouse Union) & ILA (International Longshoremen’s Association). 
• Membership in the union guarantees benefits like flexibility in work and job stability. 

Option 2: Checking out local port offices and websites for non-union work.

Benefits 

Benefits paid by employers to longshoremen in case of an injury are: 

· Compensation 

· Medical Benefits

· Retraining 

· Lawyer’s Fees

In case of a death event, their loved ones may receive: 

· Death Compensation

· Funeral Benefits

In 2015, the LA Times reported that about half of West Coast union longshoremen earned more than $100,000 per annum, the managers, more than $200,000; healthcare was free. 

Becoming a longshoreman can lead to further careers starting from deliveries, and as training proceeds, they can be assigned to managing forklifts, cranes, etc. this process may take 6-10 years. Furthermore, even electricians, mechanics, etc. have a place on the crew. 

Forklift operator 

It is only after theoretical and practical training that a longshoreman can become a forklift operator/ crane operator. 

Salary 

The pay range is the same as that for longshoremen. 

Requirements 

Along with the requirements of a longshoreman, the forklift operator must have: 

1. High school diploma
2. Driving license
3. The technical know-how of forklifts and knowledge of usage

Soft skills 

1. Mathematical proficiency 
2. An eye for detail 
3. Ability to work under pressure

Age 

The mean age for this job is higher as it also requires experience as a longshoreman. 

Hours of work per day

8 

Role 

Along with the job description of the longshoreman, a forklift operator has the following duties: 

1. Using a forklift to transport goods. 
2. Maintenance and repair of vehicles, equipment, etc. 
3. Following safety protocol. 

Application Process

A longshoreman can become a forklift operator in the following way:

• Enroll in a training program via OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), after gaining experience as a longshoreman. It should cost between $60 – $80. 
• The program must comprise a technical aspect, a practical aspect (with demonstrations and exercises on the forklift), and a final evaluation by the inspector in person. 
• This training will also have to be evaluated every three years. 

Benefits 

Apart from the benefits provided for longshoremen duties, forklift operators have the advantage of gaining: 

• Larger paycheck 
• Boosted confidence 
• Increased skill-set
• Social security 
• Pension

Port Crane operators 

Longshoremen are promoted to Crane operators only after an apprenticeship of 4 years or more. 

Salary

The salary for port crane operators can extend up to $ 80,000. 

Requirements 

A crane operator must have the following qualifications:

Hard skills 

1. Demonstrating lifting of cargo in dynamic environmental conditions under varied pressure of wind and water elements. 
2. Demonstrating excellent technical and operational knowledge of cranes and their inner workings. 
3. Demonstrating excellent technical and operational knowledge of lifting operations and wire ropes with prior experience in the same fields. 
4. Demonstrating excellent technical and operational knowledge of maintenance and safety checks conducted on cranes and related equipment.
5. Ability to maintain documentation 

Soft skills 

1. Excellent hand-eye coordination 
2. Ability to keep composure under pressure
3. Mathematical Aptitude 
4. Effective English Communication 
5. An eye for detail

Documents 

1. A training certificate from a valid institute 
2. Valid passport 
3. Proof of experience of at least 2 years 
4. Valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card 
5. A high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certificate 

Age 

The mean age for this job is higher as it also requires experience as a longshoreman. 

Hours of work per day

8

Job Role

The responsibilities of a crane operator are similar to that of a forklift operator.

1. Using a crane to lift heavy cargo, moving these goods into place.
2. Inspection and maintenance of equipment 
3. Ensuring activities in the port adhere to safety standards and efficiency of operation

Application Process 

To become a port operator, one undergoes a training course to acquire technical know-how of cranes, safety procedures with a practical component, and finally the evaluation of skills via testing. The National Training Centre for Drilling and Well Operators is one such institute that provides this kind of training. 

Benefits 

The benefits are the same as that of a forklift operator.

Dock supervisor 

Salary 

The salary for a dock supervisor can extend up to $100,000 per annum. 

Requirements 

The requirements for a dock supervisor are:

Soft skills 

1. Leadership abilities to lead the team effectively 
2. Ability to keep composure under pressure
3. An eye for detail 
4. Effective English Communication 

Documents 

1. A high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certificate 
2. A degree in logistics or transport 
3. Proof of experience in the docks as a lead longshoreman
4. Valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card 
5. Proof of leadership ability

Good to have 

1. A second language 
2. First-aid certification 
3. Any other licenses or certifications 

Age 

No age requirement 

Hours of work per day

10 – 12 

Job role

This role involves

1. Supervision of daily dock activities
2. Record keeping of workers and tasks completed by them 
3. Provision of feedback concerning worker performance  
4. Boosting employee productivity
5. Training new employees 
6. Conducting maintenance checks on equipment regularly 
7. Scheduling deliveries in the dock by coordinating with associated companies 
8. Correct review and documentation on incoming shipments 
9. Supervision of loading and unloading processes 
10. Providing training on safety procedures. 

Application process 

Having the given requirements, one must apply for the post whenever applications open. 

Benefits 

Apart from the benefits already mentioned for longshoremen, forklift, and crane operators, dock supervisors can go on to hold higher management positions in their company and become consultants for the same.

Thus, following are the careers prospects of longshoremen that people who currently working in the field or aspire to do so, can think about.