Air transport ramp attendants operate ramp-servicing vehicles and equipment, groom the aircraft while it is on the ground, handle cargo and baggage, and perform other ground support duties at airports. These workers are employed by airline and air services companies and by the federal government. While a high school education is the norm, more and more companies are demanding a college diploma in either Environmental Studies or Airport Management.

Air transport ramp attendants perform some or all of the following duties:

• Drive and operate ramp-servicing vehicles and equipment such as towing tractors, food service trucks, de-icer sprayers and lavatory servicing trucks
• Position passenger loading stairs and operate aircraft cargo doors
• Marshal or tow aircraft to gate positions for passenger boarding and deplaning, and for loading and unloading of cargo
• Sort and load cargo and passenger baggage according to instructions forwarded by load planner to achieve proper balance
• Unload, sort and route cargo and baggage
• Transport freight between aircraft and airport warehouse
• Clean and prepare aircraft interior for passengers and wash aircraft exterior