Transportation Loader

Greater Chicago Food Depository; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 24,796 - 34,440; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Parental leave

On-site gym

Wellness program

Referral bonus

Job summary

The Greater Chicago Food Depository is seeking a Transportation Loader to prepare, stage, and load outbound deliveries, ensuring on-time departures and minimal reloads. You will work closely with transportation leadership and drivers to maximize productivity and maintain quality checks before shipments.

Qualifications include a high school diploma (preferred), warehouse/shipping experience, and experience with an electric pallet jack or willingness to be certified.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Previous warehouse, shipping, transportation, or distribution experience preferred.
• Experience operating an electric pallet jack or willingness to become certified.
• Ability to communicate effectively with drivers, supervisors, and warehouse staff.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritize work in a fast-paced environment.
• Understanding of warehouse safety practices.
• Value-aligned in our mission to end hunger.

Responsibilities

• Follow all food safety, quality assurance, and workplace safety standards.
• Prepare and stage all outbound loads prior to driver arrival.
• Ensure all pallets are properly wrapped, labeled, organized, and ready for loading.
• Verify staged loads have been checked for accuracy and product quality.
• Understand the facility’s staging process and ensure staging lanes remain organized and operational.
• Assist with reorganizing staged product as routes or priorities change.
• Proactively prepare second- and third-leg deliveries to minimize driver downtime during reloads.
• Identify and communicate any product quality concerns, shortages, damages, or loading issues immediately.
• Assist in loading delivery vehicles using an electric pallet jack while following all safety procedures.
• Maintain continuous communication with the Transportation Supervisor and drivers regarding route readiness and timing.
• Support warehouse and transportation operations during peak periods as assigned.

Skills

Communication

Organizational skills

Prioritization

Safety awareness

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Transportation Loader

Job Location: Greater Chicago Food Depository - Chicago, IL 60632
Education Level: None
Salary Range: $21.30 - $21.30 Hourly
Job Shift: Day

The Transportation Loader is responsible for preparing, staging, and loading outbound deliveries to ensure on-time route departures and efficient reloads. Working closely with the Transportation leadership and drivers, this role helps maximize driver productivity and minimize shipment delays. As the final checkpoint before shipment, the Transportation Loader verifies load readiness, product quality, staging accuracy, and order add-ons to ensure accurate deliveries to community partners.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Follow all food safety, quality assurance, and workplace safety standards.
• Prepare and stage all outbound loads prior to driver arrival.
• Ensure all pallets are properly wrapped, labeled, organized, and ready for loading.
• Verify staged loads have been checked for accuracy and product quality.
• Understand the facility’s staging process and ensure staging lanes remain organized and operational.
• Assist with reorganizing staged product as routes or priorities change.
• Proactively prepare second- and third-leg deliveries to minimize driver downtime during reloads.
• Identify and communicate any product quality concerns, shortages, damages, or loading issues immediately.
• Assist in loading delivery vehicles using an electric pallet jack while following all safety procedures.
• Maintain continuous communication with the Transportation Supervisor and drivers regarding route readiness and timing.
• Support warehouse and transportation operations during peak periods as assigned.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Previous warehouse, shipping, transportation, or distribution experience preferred.
• Experience operating an electric pallet jack or willingness to become certified.
• Ability to communicate effectively with drivers, supervisors, and warehouse staff.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritize work in a fast-paced environment.
• Understanding of warehouse safety practices.
• Value-aligned in our mission to end hunger.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for up to 8 hours per shift.
• Frequently push, pull, and maneuver loaded pallets using an electric pallet jack.
• Ability to lift up to 60 pounds.
• Ability to bend, twist, reach, and stack packaged goods.
• Ability to work in dry, refrigerated, and freezer warehouse environments.

Success in This Role

• Drivers arrive to fully staged, accurate, and quality-checked loads.
• Second- and third-leg deliveries are prepared before drivers return for reloads.
• Driver warehouse dwell time is minimized.
• Staging areas remain clean, organized, and operational throughout the day.
• Product quality concerns are identified before deliveries leave the facility.
• Communication with drivers and management is proactive, resulting in smooth daily transportation operations.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance coverage
• Employer-paid life and disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Parental Leave
• On-site Gym
• $3,000 annual employer-paid ThrivePass lifestyle and wellness benefit program
• $250 employee referral bonus