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Rail intermodal equipment operator

Also called chassis estimator, intermodal helper, rail equipment operator

Rail intermodal equipment operators assist in the loading of trailers and containers on and off railcars and chassis. They manoeuvre tractor-trailer combinations around tight corners and in and out of parking spaces. They use an on-board computer peripheral to communicate with yard management computer system and to identify railcars.

Will there be jobs?Average prospects28 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Labourers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transportWhat does it pay?Below averageFrom about €800 (Bulgaria) to €4,300 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Labourers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transportWhat do I need to study?Basic schooling4 in 10 have basic schooling only. 8 in 10 train through vocational routes.Labourers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transportWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Freight handlers · ILO

What you'd do

Freight handlers · ILO
  • Packing office or household furniture, machines, appliances and related goods to be transported from one place to another
  • Carrying goods to be loaded on or unloaded from vans, trucks, wagons, ships or aircraft
  • Loading and unloading grain, coal, sand, baggage and other items by placing them on conveyor belts, pipes and other conveyances
  • Connecting hoses between main shore installation pipes and tanks of barges, tankers and other ships to load and unload petroleum, liquefied gases and other liquids
  • Carrying and stacking goods in warehouses and similar establishments
  • Sorting cargo prior to loading and unloading
Apply techniques for stacking goods into containersShunt inbound loadsClimb on railcarsOperate on-board computer systemsWork on uneven surfaces+ 12 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Mostly outdoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines now and then
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators"

Will there be jobs?

Average prospects

A typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as labourers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transport in the EU
4.98m5.67m5.76m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
88,000 new jobs 1,502,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Labourers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transport28
All jobs29
Right now
4 of 27 countries report a shortage of freight handlers, 12 a surplus.
Freight handlers · EURES

What does it pay?

Below average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €800 a month (Bulgaria) to €4,300 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among elementary occupations in the EU, women earn 9% less per hour than men. Elementary occupations · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Basic schooling

Most people start with basic schooling and learn on the job.

Highest qualification of labourers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transport (EU, 2025)
Degree 8%Vocational 36%General secondary 13%Basic schooling 42%
Fields that teach it
Transport services · Occupational health and safety
Vocational route, EU
8 in 10 trainees in this field

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.14 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 6 tasks
Packing office or household furniture, machines, appliances and related goods to be transported from one place to another0.17
Carrying and stacking goods in warehouses and similar establishments0.16
Loading and unloading grain, coal, sand, baggage and other items by placing them on conveyor belts, pipes and other conveyances0.15
Sorting cargo prior to loading and unloading0.14
Carrying goods to be loaded on or unloaded from vans, trucks, wagons, ships or aircraft0.14
Connecting hoses between main shore installation pipes and tanks of barges, tankers and other ships to load and unload petroleum, liquefied gases and other liquids0.10

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for freight handlers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).