Dock Worker/Forklift Operator - Full Time

Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.; City of Tonawanda (NY); On-site; USD 26,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Great benefits

Team‑oriented culture

Promotional opportunities

Job summary

Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. in Tonawanda, NY is seeking a Dockworker to load and unload freight, operate forklifts, and support warehouse operations. You will ensure cargo is secured, read shipping labels, and help keep deliveries on time.

Candidates should have a high school diploma or equivalent, be physically able to lift up to 100 lbs, and pass safety guidelines. Shift: Monday–Friday, evenings; OD’s family culture and opportunity for growth await.

Qualifications

• High school degree or equivalent.
• Experience with safe lifting and transporting procedures.
• Experience with freight transportation procedures.
• Familiarity with shipping forms and freight movement reports.
• Ability to monitor shipment locations with yard management systems.
• Willingness to work various shifts to meet customer schedules.

Responsibilities

• Load and unload freight on trailers using forklift or manually.
• Use loading techniques such as tight or cross loading.
• Transport freight across service center.
• Monitor freight locations via Yard Management System.
• Read and interpret shipping labels and forms.
• Secure freight inside trailers with straps and other supplies.
• Ensure quality loading of all trailers.

Skills

Forklift operation

Reading shipping labels

Safety procedures

English literacy

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Dock Yard Management System

Handheld tablet

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.
• Experience: Must have working knowledge of procedures surrounding all aspects of freight transportation.
• Experience: Must have knowledge of different loading techniques such as loading tight and cross loading.
• Experience: 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.
• Experience: Ability to utilize the dock yard management system permitting consistent monitoring of shipment locations as freight moves through the various terminals.
• Availability: Must be available for work at all times in order to meet customer pickup and delivery schedules.
• Skill: Must have the ability to properly operate hand held tablet when needed.
• Physical Demands: Must be able to read, write, and speak English.
• Physical Demands (Standing): Must be able to remain standing for up to 8 hours per shift, 5‑7 days per week on non‑forgiving surfaces such as concrete, wood, metal that are sometimes wet and slippery.
• Physical Demands (Sitting): Must be able to sit on a forklift up to 8 hours per shift 5‑7 days per week.
• Physical Demands (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.
• Physical Demands (Bending/Stooping/Kneeling): Must be able to perform frequent squatting to handle, position and secure freight.
• Physical Demands (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.
• Physical Demands (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.
• Physical Demands (Pushing/Pulling): Must be able to perform frequent pulling and pushing of freight with or without the help of freight pulling equipment up to 100 lbs.
• Physical Demands (Hearing/Speaking): Must be able to see parts in and on the forklift mechanical equipment for pre and post inspections.
• Reach: Must be able to frequently reach for freight at waist level and occasionally reach for freight above shoulder height or below waist level.
• Lifting: Must be able to frequently lift and handle objects weighing up to 100 lbs. ...
• Other: Must be able to work a variety of times and shifts in order to meet customer pick up and delivery schedules.
• Other: 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.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of the job, the employees will be exposed to various work environments which may include working with or around others while loading and unloading, working in an enclosed vehicle while driving, loading and unloading in an enclosed trailer, exposure to all weather conditions, noise levels that vary from quiet to loud and with lighting conditions that could be extremely bright or low light. This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities that management may deem necessary from time to time.

Working Days

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.

Working Shift

Evening. Work days/shifts may change based on scheduling and business needs and are provided as guidelines at the time of posting.

Compensation Range

$19.05 - $33.40

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
• 12 Days Paid Time Off
• 9 Paid Holidays including a birthday holiday
• Tuition Reimbursement for Drivers and Technicians
• Training and growth opportunities to build a career
• 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

Equal Opportunity 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).

Company Culture

Welcome to Old Dominion. If you are looking for a new career with the best LTL (Less‑than‑Truckload) carrier in the industry you’ve come to the right place. Many companies tout their family atmosphere, but at OD it truly is a reality. We’ve grown from our humble beginnings of a single truck and one route in 1934 started by Earl and Lillian Congdon to a company of over 23,000 employees. At OD we strive daily to keep the family spirit alive and help the world keep promises.