Job Title: Material Handler
Job Description
The Material Handler supports a high-volume steel distribution operation by safely moving, loading, and unloading structural steel using overhead cranes and related equipment. This role involves extensive walking in both indoor and outdoor environments, working around flatbed trucks and railcar systems, and learning a color-coded inventory system to accurately locate, pull, and document materials. The position offers hands-on training, opportunities to advance into equipment operation roles, and a work setting that closely resembles a heavy industrial or construction environment.
Responsibilities
Train on first shift for the initial period, typically up to two weeks, to learn inventory locations, safety procedures, and operational standards.
Shadow an experienced trainer to learn daily workflows, including general housekeeping, warehouse organization, and proper use of cranes and other equipment.
Learn and apply the color-coded inventory system for steel beams, including identifying painted beam ends, memorizing locations, and accurately pulling materials.
Operate indoor and outdoor overhead cranes to move steel beams and other materials safely throughout the warehouse and yard.
Walk extensively, approximately 8-10 hour shifts and up to roughly 8 miles per day, to locate, move, and stage materials across large indoor and outdoor storage areas.
Load flatbed trailers and railcars, including rigging steel, climbing onto and off the backs of trailers, and positioning materials securely for transport.
Receive incoming inventory, verify materials, and move products to appropriate locations or to loaders using overhead cranes and other equipment.
Fill out shipping reports, bills of lading, and other documentation accurately for all outgoing loads, ensuring traceability and compliance with procedures.
Work safely around flatbed trucks, railcar systems, and heavy equipment, strictly adhering to all safety rules and non-negotiable safety practices.
Perform housekeeping tasks such as clearing work areas, organizing materials, and maintaining a clean and safe work environment.
Follow mechanical and rigging practices to secure loads properly, including banding and stacking steel in a safe and stable manner.
Support logistics operations by assisting with truck loading and unloading, material staging, and coordination with loaders and drivers.
Use tape measures and other basic tools to verify dimensions and ensure materials meet required specifications.
Adapt to working on uneven gravel and concrete surfaces in a large steel storage environment that feels similar to a construction site.
Participate in ongoing training and may cross-train to operate saws, brakes, forklifts, steel bending machines, beam saws, or cutters as promotional opportunities arise.
Maintain awareness of surrounding equipment and personnel, communicating clearly with co-workers to coordinate movements and prevent incidents.
Demonstrate consistent reliability, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently once fully trained and deemed proficient.
Essential Skills
Heavy industrial or construction experience is required, with exposure to working around heavy equipment and large materials.
Ability to read a tape measure accurately, verified through testing or references.
Ability to learn and retain information based on color, including using a color-coded inventory and coding system for painted beam ends.
Clear color vision to distinguish and memorize color codes and corresponding inventory locations.
Capability to walk for 8-10 hour shifts, covering long distances in a large indoor and outdoor facility.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds, even though most products are handled by crane due to their size.
Comfort with physical demands such as reaching, stooping, squatting, climbing, and jumping on and off trailers and elevated surfaces safely.
Experience operating or working closely around heavy equipment in construction, heavy industry, or similar steel-related environments.
Familiarity with overhead crane operations in a heavy industrial, construction, or military setting, or the ability to transfer related experience from construction or similar fields.
Demonstrated ability to operate equipment safely and effectively while following strict safety protocols.
Flexibility to train on day shift for several days up to two weeks before moving to an off-shift assignment once fully proficient and safe.
Comfort working inside and outside in extreme temperatures, including very hot summers and very cold winters, surrounded by large quantities of steel.
Experience in construction (1-2 years) and/or manufacturing (1-2 years), particularly in environments involving heavy industry or industrial operations.
Ability to work in a highly physical role rather than solely in heavy equipment operation, with a focus on manual tasks such as rigging and climbing.
Strong attention to safety, including consistent adherence to safety rules, personal protective equipment requirements, and non-negotiable safety standards.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Experience with material handling, loading, and unloading trucks, including flatbed trailers.
Exposure to banding, rigging, and securing loads in heavy industry or construction settings.
Mechanical aptitude and familiarity with fabrication, general labor, or industrial environments.
Experience in construction, machine operation, forklift operation, or bobcat operation.
Prior experience with overhead cranes, crane operation, or crane-assisted material handling.
Experience with band saws, industrial saws, or cutting equipment used in steel processing.
Experience in heavy equipment environments, even if not the primary focus of the role.
Ability to work comfortably in environments with a strong construction feel, including hard hat, steel-toe, and safety vest requirements.
Willingness to train into promotional roles such as saw or brake operator, forklift operator, steel bending machine operator, or beam saw/cutter operator.
Comfort working on uneven gravel surfaces and in large open steel storage areas.
Strong memory and organizational skills to manage a large, color-coded inventory system across multiple yards and indoor storage areas.
Why Work Here?
This opportunity offers a highly competitive hourly wage with clear pathways for pay increases upon permanent hire and advancement into higher-skilled roles. In addition to strong base pay, team members participate in a share-based incentive program that rewards profitability, safety, and performance, providing quarterly bonus potential that significantly enhances total earnings. The incentive structure has been redesigned to provide more predictable income through higher hourly pay while still offering upside through shares, creating a more stable and rewarding compensation package. Employees appreciate the transparent, performance-driven culture and the chance to earn additional shares through promotions into roles such as forklift operator or machine operator. The work environment supports growth, skill development, and long-term career progression in a setting where safety, teamwork, and reliability are highly valued.
Work Environment
The work environment combines indoor and outdoor steel storage areas, including a large building and two separate yards on site. The facility stores extensive quantities of steel beams, creating a setting that feels much more like a construction site than a traditional manufacturing plant. Temperatures can be extreme, with very hot conditions in the summer and very cold conditions in the winter, and the presence of large amounts of steel can make it even colder inside during colder months. Employees work around flatbed trucks, railcar systems, and overhead cranes, moving and rigging large steel beams throughout the facility. The flooring is predominantly gravel, with some concrete areas, so walking surfaces are uneven and require sure footing and awareness, similar to a construction environment. The role requires extensive walking, climbing onto and off trailers, and working at height on flatbed trailers to rig and stack steel. Personal protective equipment is mandatory, including a hard hat, safety glasses, and steel-toed boots with metatarsal protection, along with a safety vest and other required gear. The environment is highly physical and safety-focused, with a strong emphasis on adherence to safety rules and procedures while working in and around heavy equipment, cranes, and large steel structures.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Petersburg, VA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $20.00 - $21.00/hr.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:
Medical, dental & vision
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
Short and long-term disability
Health Spending Account (HSA)
Transportation benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Petersburg,VA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on May 27, 2026.
About Aerotek
We know that finding work is hard, and finding meaningful work is harder. Aerotek connects 180,000+ light industrial and skilled trades workers with 14,000+ employers each year, helping our workers navigate an evolving labor market and find jobs that meets their goals, skills and interests. Since 1983, we have provided a variety of career opportunities across North American industry - from short-term assignments at Fortune 500 companies where you can build your skills, to long-term opportunities where you can play a vital role solving for companies' construction, manufacturing and maintenance challenges. Our 1,500+ experienced recruiters across 250+ offices work relentlessly to put our workforce in a position to thrive. Let us rise to meet your challenges and put our people-are everything spirit to the test as your career continues to grow.
Aerotek offers weekly pay, employee benefits including medical, dental & vision, life insurance, health advocacy and employee assistance programs, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.
