Dock Worker/Forklift Operator

Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.; West Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Vision & Dental

Disability insurance

401k retirement plan

Life Insurance

Wellness Program

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Old Dominion Freight Line is hiring a Dockworker to efficiently load and unload freight, ensuring items are placed correctly on trucks. Safety and accuracy are paramount as you operate forklifts and perform manual handling within a fast-paced service center environment.

The role emphasizes adherence to DOT guidelines, proper securing of freight, and willingness to work across a team to meet delivery schedules. A strong work ethic and reliability are essential traits for success.

Qualifications

• High school degree or equivalent.
• Experience with safe and efficient lifting and transporting procedures.
• Knowledge of loading techniques such as tight loading and cross loading.
• Ability to use dock yard management system to monitor shipment locations.

Responsibilities

• Load and unload freight on trailers using a forklift, pallet jack or manually in compliance with DOT guidelines.
• Apply proper loading techniques to secure freight and prevent damage.
• Transport personnel and freight around the service center on various surfaces.
• Read and interpret shipping labels and related freight documents.
• Ensure quality loading of all trailers and secure freight with straps or airbags.

Skills

Safety awareness

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Forklift operation

Education

High school degree or equivalent

Tools

Forklift

Pallet jack

Dock Yard Management System

Job description

At Old Dominion, we don't just move freight—we help businesses keep their promises. As one of the nation's leading LTL carriers, we've earned our reputation by putting people first, delivering premium service, and staying true to the values that have guided us for more than 90 years. Our PROMISES values shape how we work, our family culture shapes how we treat one another, and our commitment to being the Best in the Game drives everything we do. If you're looking for more than just a job, you'll find a career built on trust, teamwork, and opportunity at OD. We are looking for a dedicated and detail-oriented individual to join the OD Family as a Dockworker. This role is vital to ensuring the safe, efficient loading and unloading of freight, as well as supporting overall warehouse and material handling operations. The ideal candidate will have a strong work ethic, a commitment to safety, and team driven. As a critical part of our team, you will help uphold our promise of delivering customer freight accurately and on time, contributing to the success of our OD Family culture.

Job Summary

The dockworker must efficiently load and unload freight, ensuring that the correct items are placed on the right trucks. Safety is paramount, and Dock Workers use equipment like forklifts and manual techniques to handle materials. Proper securing of freight with airbags and cardboard, as well as using straps, is crucial to prevent damage during transport. The dock worker position directly impacts the reliability of deliveries to customers.

Primary Responsibilities

• Load and unload freight on trailers using a motorized forklift, pallet jack or manually in compliance with state and federal DOT guidelines.
• Use various loading techniques, such as loading tight or cross loading.
• Transport self and/or freight continuously throughout the service center on non-forgiving surfaces.
• Utilize Dock Yard Management System to consistently monitor freight shipment locations throughout the service center.
• Read and interpret shipping labels.
• Familiarity with, and in some cases ability to complete the various forms utilized in freight movement such as shipping orders, city stripping manifests, freight bills, overage/damage movement reports and exception forms.
• Hand load, rewrap or stack freight as necessary.
• Insure the quality loading of all trailers.
• Secure freight inside trailers using appropriate tools and supplies (e.g. pallets, straps, rope).
• Frequent contact with service center personnel; fast-pace and deadline oriented.

This is not an all-inclusive list of job responsibilities and duties. Employees are expected and must be able to perform all duties and tasks assigned.

Job Qualifications

Education: High school degree or equivalent
Experience: Must have working knowledge of safe and efficient lifting and transporting procedures. Must have working knowledge of procedures surrounding all aspects of freight transportation. Must have knowledge of different loading techniques such as loading tight and cross loading. Familiarity with, and in some cases ability, to complete the various forms utilized in freight movement such as shipping orders, city stripping manifests, freight bills, overage/damage movement reports and exception forms. Ability to utilize the dock yard management system permitting consistent monitoring of shipment locations as freight moves through the various terminals. Must be available for work at all times in order to meet customer pickup and delivery schedules. Must have the ability to properly operate hand held tablet when needed.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• (Standing) Must be able to remain standing for a up to 8 Hours/shift, 5-7 days per week on non-forgiving surfaces such as concrete, wood, metal that are sometimes wet and slippery.
• (Sitting) Must be able to sit on a forklift up to 8 hours/shift 5 -7 days per week.
• (Moving/walking) Must be able to walk up to 8 hours a day on non- forgiving surfaces such as concrete, wood and metal and sometimes on wet and slippery surfaces.
• (Bending/Stooping/Kneeling) Must be able to perform frequent squatting to handle, position and secure freight.
• (Climbing) Must be able to get onto and off of the forklift many times throughout the day, must be able to climb about and move about easily in small spaces to adjust freight.
• (Moving Materials). Must be able to load and unload full trailers of freight weighing as much as 500 lbs., with or without a dolly or cart.
• (Pushing/Pulling) Must be able to perform frequent pulling and pushing of freight with or without the help of freight pulling equipment up to 100lbs. Must also be able to push and pull forklift blades, forklift gas tanks, deck bars, and other freight related items.
• (Hearing/Speaking) Must be able to see parts in and on the forklift mechanical equipment for pre and post inspections. Must be able to hearing the horns of other forklifts and shouted instructions and warnings.
• (Reaching) Must be able to frequently reach for freight at waist level and occasionally reach for freight above shoulder height or below waist level. Must be able to reach for forklift controls, pushing deck bars, and placing/strapping airbags/straps/cardboard. Must be able to reach while sweeping work areas clean of debris.
• (Lifting) Must be able to frequently lift and handle objects weighing up to 100 lbs. of varying sizes or shapes, using OSHA guidelines and lifting techniques, distances of 1 foot but usually no less than 100 feet. Must be able to use right, left or both hands to get in and out of the forklift, wrapping and unwrapping shrink wrap, securing and unsecuring pallets, using pallet jack or hand truck, using the steering wheel, buttons on lift gates, etc. Must be able to grip with right, left or both hands to use handles to get in and out of the forklift, holding tablet, using pallet jacks or hand trucks, controlling and pushing the buttons on the forklift, holding the steering wheel, securing straps, cardboard, airbags, etc. Must be able to pinch fingers on the right, left or both hands to shrink wrap, secure and unsecure straps, utilize clip boards, utilize tablets, etc. Must be able to use cognitive skills for: paying attention to surroundings, including cross-dock traffic, forklift inspections, freight, gates, etc.
• (Other) Must be able to work a variety of times and shifts in order to meet customer pick up and delivery schedules. Ability to work in extremely hot or cold climates, ability to work in an environment where noise and odors may be present. Attendance is a requirement.

Working Days

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

Working Shift: Early Morning. Work days/shifts may change based on scheduling and business needs and are provided as guidelines at the time of posting.

Benefits

• Great Health Benefits including a Zero premium medical plan for employee only coverage
• Vision & Dental
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Flex Spending Accounts
• 401k Retirement plan with company match and additional company annual discretionary match opportunity
• Life Insurance
• Wellness Program
• Tuition Reimbursement for Drivers and Technicians
• Training and growth opportunities to build a career

Additional Opportunities

We prioritize our OD family of employees. Ability to advance through our promote from within philosophy. National Career Opportunities Available at our 260+ service centers.

EEO Statement

Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity, and/or gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, military status, Vietnam Era and/or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law(s).