A dock worker, also called a stevedore or a longshoreman, loads and unloads cargo on and off ships. Cargo may include perishables (fruit and meat), machinery, or chemicals. As a dock worker, your responsibilities and duties include working safely and efficiently to load and unload cargo, inspecting and documenting the items for accounting purposes and reporting damages, and maintaining the dock facilities. Depending on the shipment, you may operate special machinery to move the freight, such as a tower crane.