Drain Technician
Company: Foss Recycling
Location: As Assigned
Job Type: Full-Time
Reports To: Location/U-Pull-It Manager
About the Role & Our Core Values
Foss Recycling, North Carolina's largest recycler and one of the East Coast's fastest-growing metal recycling companies, is seeking a dependable, safety-conscious, and hardworking Drain Technician to support vehicle recycling and processing operations.
We are supported by our Mission: \"Excellence in Recycling\". Our Core Values guide us. To succeed in this position, employees are expected to demonstrate these values in their daily work:
- Honesty: Accurately documenting vehicle processing, inventory information, material removal, and reporting discrepancies or safety concerns.
- Accountability: Taking responsibility for assigned vehicles, equipment, completed drainage procedures, inventory records, and work area conditions.
- Customer Service: Supporting efficient vehicle availability and processing while treating customers, coworkers, and visitors professionally.
- Hard Work: Maintaining productive vehicle processing, minimizing holding-area backlogs, and completing assigned tasks accurately and efficiently.
- Teamwork: Coordinating with the Location/U-Pull-It Manager, inventory personnel, cashiers, equipment operators, and other employees to support daily operations.
Key Responsibilities
Vehicle Preparation & Fluid Drainage
- Prepare incoming vehicles for placement in the U-Pull-It field or for crushing in accordance with company procedures.
- Safely remove gasoline, engine oil, transmission fluid, antifreeze, and other designated automotive fluids.
- Use approved draining equipment, tools, and procedures to prevent spills, injuries, and environmental contamination.
- Remove batteries, catalytic converters, and mercury switches as required by company procedures and applicable regulations.
- Remove tires from vehicles and demount tires from rims when assigned.
- Remove trash, clothing, jacks, and other designated loose materials from vehicles before processing.
- Verify that required fluid drainage and component removal procedures are completed before vehicles are released for their next processing stage.
- Handle and store recovered fluids, components, and recyclable materials in designated areas.
- Promptly report vehicles that cannot be safely or completely processed.
Vehicle Inventory, Identification & Placement
- Verify that each assigned vehicle is properly inventoried and identified with an accurate stock number.
- Ensure processed vehicles are placed in designated field locations or directed to the appropriate crushing area.
- Record vehicle row numbers, stock numbers, and placement locations accurately.
- Communicate vehicle placement and inventory information to the cashier or designated inventory personnel.
- Help maintain accurate computer inventory records by promptly reporting vehicle movements and discrepancies.
- Coordinate with equipment operators to move vehicles safely and prevent unnecessary damage.
- Maintain an organized vehicle holding area to minimize congestion and processing delays.
Equipment Operations & Material Handling
- Operate or assist with loaders, forklifts, skid steers, Bobcats, and other authorized equipment when properly trained and qualified.
- Use approved hand tools, air tools, and vehicle-processing equipment safely.
- Perform assigned material handling, component removal, and vehicle preparation tasks.
- Inspect tools and equipment before use and report defects or unsafe conditions.
- Follow applicable equipment operating procedures, manufacturer instructions, and company safety requirements.
- Maintain safe distances from moving equipment, suspended loads, and other operational hazards.
- Support equipment cleaning and routine housekeeping responsibilities as assigned.
Safety & Environmental Compliance
- Follow Foss Recycling safety policies, environmental procedures, operating instructions, and required training.
- Comply with applicable occupational safety and environmental requirements governing vehicle dismantling, fluid drainage, and material handling.
- Use required personal protective equipment, including appropriate eye, head, hand, foot, and hearing protection.
- Follow established engineering controls, administrative procedures, and safe work practices in addition to wearing personal protective equipment.
- Properly collect, separate, label, store, and manage recovered automotive fluids and regulated components in accordance with applicable requirements.
- Prevent unauthorized release of gasoline, oil, antifreeze, and other automotive fluids into the environment.
- Follow applicable procedures for handling batteries, mercury switches, catalytic converters, and other removed components.
- Use approved safety procedures when working beneath, around, or overhead on vehicles.
- Immediately report spills, injuries, near misses, equipment damage, unsafe conditions, and environmental concerns.
- Stop work and notify management when conditions present an immediate safety concern.
- Maintain awareness of applicable workplace safety and environmental requirements relevant to assigned duties.
Inventory Documentation & Recordkeeping
- Complete required vehicle inventory sheets and processing documentation accurately and legibly.
- Verify that vehicle stock numbers, row locations, and processing details are correctly recorded.
- Submit required inventory sheets and supporting documents to the Inventory Clerk daily.
- Communicate missing, incomplete, or inconsistent inventory information promptly.
- Assist with correcting vehicle placement or documentation discrepancies.
- Maintain accurate records of completed vehicle processing activities as required by company procedures.
Housekeeping & Operational Efficiency
- Maintain the drain area in a clean, orderly, and reasonably hazard-free condition.
- Remove debris, trash, and unnecessary materials from designated work areas.
- Keep tools, equipment, recovered fluids, and vehicle components in approved storage locations.
- Maintain organized vehicle processing and holding areas to support efficient workflow.
- Use available work time productively and assist with operational needs when primary duties are completed.
- Identify opportunities to improve drainage procedures, vehicle handling, processing time, and work area organization.
- Communicate recurring operational problems or improvement opportunities to management.
Customer Service & Team Support
- Communicate professionally and respectfully with coworkers, customers, management, and other personnel.
- Support timely vehicle processing to maintain customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
- Coordinate with cashiers, inventory personnel, equipment operators, and yard employees regarding vehicle status and placement.
- Participate in regularly scheduled recycling team meetings.
- Assist the Location/U-Pull-It Manager with related operational responsibilities as assigned.
- Follow established company operating procedures and lawful management instructions.
- Stay informed of updated procedures, materials, and regulations relevant to assigned work.
- Work cooperatively with other departments to support daily recycling operations.
Qualifications
Required
- Core Value Alignment: Demonstrated honesty, accountability, commitment to customer service, strong work ethic, and ability to work effectively as part of a team.
- Basic knowledge of automobiles, vehicle components, and general automotive systems.
- Ability to learn and follow vehicle fluid drainage and dismantling procedures.
- Ability to safely use assigned hand tools, air tools, and vehicle-processing equipment.
- Ability to follow workplace safety, environmental, and material-handling procedures.
- Ability to understand and follow written and verbal work instructions.
- Ability to communicate clearly in English as needed to perform assigned duties safely and accurately.
- Basic mathematical, reading, writing, and recordkeeping skills.
- Ability to complete vehicle inventory sheets and supporting documentation accurately.
- Ability to remain alert while working around vehicles, heavy equipment, and moving machinery.
- Ability to work independently while also functioning effectively as part of a team.
- Ability to work indoors, outdoors, and in covered work areas under varying weather conditions.
- Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
Skills
- Basic automotive component identification.
- Vehicle fluid drainage and dismantling procedures.
- Automotive fluid and regulated-component handling.
- Tire removal and demounting.
- Hand tool and pneumatic tool operation.
- Vehicle inventory identification and tracking.
- Basic material sorting and scrap-metal recognition.
- Safe equipment and vehicle movement awareness.
- Inventory documentation and recordkeeping.
- Workplace safety and environmental awareness.
- Time management, communication, and teamwork.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods while performing vehicle-processing duties.
- Ability to frequently bend, twist, reach, stoop, kneel, and use the hands and arms.
- Ability to perform overhead work using approved tools and equipment.