- Job Definition
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Collect and dump refuse or recyclable materials from containers into truck. May drive truck.
- Job Zone
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Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed.
- Interests
- Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
- Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
- Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
- Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
- Skills
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Equipment Maintenance - Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Tasks
- Sort items set out for recycling and throw materials into designated truck compartments.
- Organize schedules for refuse collection.
- Provide quotes for refuse collection contracts.
- Operate equipment that compresses the collected refuse.
- Inspect trucks prior to beginning routes to ensure safe operating condition.
- Refuel trucks and add other necessary fluids, such as oil.
- Fill out any needed reports for defective equipment.
- Drive to disposal sites to empty trucks that have been filled.
- Drive trucks along established routes through residential streets and alleys, or through business and industrial areas.
- Operate automated or semi-automated hoisting devices that raise refuse bins and dump contents into openings in truck bodies.
- Dismount garbage trucks to collect garbage and remount trucks to ride to the next collection point.
- Communicate with dispatchers concerning delays, unsafe sites, accidents, equipment breakdowns, and other maintenance problems.
- Keep informed of road and weather conditions to determine how routes will be affected.
- Tag garbage or recycling containers to inform customers of problems such as excess garbage or inclusion of items that are not permitted.
- Clean trucks and compactor bodies after routes have been completed.
- Wages
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In 2008, the California average annual wage was $41,120.00.
Most people employed in this occupation were paid between $29,180.00 and $57,380.00.
- Outlook
During 2006, there were approximately 14,300 people employed in this field in California. It is projected that there will be 15,300 employed in 2016. This occupation will have about 100 openings due to growth and about 390 replacement openings for approximately 490 total annual openings. This occupation .
- Colleges and Training
- There are currently no programs listed for this occupation.
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- Job Openings
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