A professional who fabricates wooden crates or boxes, using woodworking handtools and powered tools, and packs such items as machinery, vehicles, or other large or odd-shaped products. Responsibilities include:

• Reads blueprints, shipping notices, and other specifications, and inspects product to determine size and shape of container, materials to be used, and types of supports and braces to be used.
• Lays out dimensions on materials with ruler, measuring tape, and pencil.
• Saws materials to size, using handsaws and powered saws.
• Assembles materials, using nailing or stapling machine, screws, bolts, glue, and handtools.
• Places product in container, manually or using hoist.
• Bolts heavy pieces to bottom of container or skid.
• Wraps and pads product with excelsior, paper or other packing material.
• Builds crate around large or odd-shaped articles.
• Nails cover on crate.
• Wraps and tightens metal bands around crate, using banding equipment.
• Attaches identification labels or stencils containing such information as shipping destination, weight, and type of product contained on crate.
• Repairs broken crates.
• May cover military tanks and other equipment with neoprene or other protective covering to protect them during shipment.
• May count items to be packed to ensure compliance with shipping orders.
• May weigh loaded crate.
• May move container to shipping area, and move lumber, paper, and other wrapping supplies to crating area, using hand or industrial truck.
• May sharpen saw blades, using file.
• May be designated according to item crated as machinery crater; refrigerator crater, or specific duty performed as crate repairer.