Shipping Loader

Shipping Loader

Summary

The Shipping Loader is responsible for loading fresh and frozen poultry products onto trailers for shipment while ensuring product accuracy, proper handling, and compliance with food safety and company standards. This position supports warehouse and shipping operations by safely moving products, maintaining product integrity, and ensuring timely loading activities within a refrigerated poultry processing environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Load poultry products onto trailers according to shipping schedules and customer orders.

• Verify product counts, labels, pallet configurations, and shipment accuracy before loading.

• Safely operate pallet jacks, forklifts, and other warehouse equipment as required.

• Ensure proper handling of products to prevent damage and maintain product quality.

• Maintain FIFO (First In, First Out) product rotation procedures during loading activities.

• Assist with staging pallets and organizing products in coolers and freezers.

• Inspect trailers for cleanliness, temperature, and overall condition prior to loading.

• Follow USDA, HACCP, GMP, OSHA, sanitation, and company safety requirements at all times.

• Maintain cleanliness and organization of shipping docks, loading areas, and warehouse spaces.

• Report damaged product, inventory discrepancies, equipment issues, or safety concerns to supervisors.

• Assist with inventory counts and general warehouse duties as needed.

• Work closely with shipping clerks, forklift operators, supervisors, and transportation personnel to ensure efficient operations.

• Support continuous improvement and productivity initiatives within the shipping department.

Qualifications

To Perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Note for level:

• Basic: Incumbent is able to use their knowledge/skill with support by more experienced individuals.

• Advanced: Incumbent is able to independently use their knowledge/skill.

• Expert: Incumbent is able to train others on their knowledge/skill.

Education and/or Experience

• High School diploma or GED preferred

Knowledge

• Previous warehouse, shipping, manufacturing, or food processing experience preferred.

• Experience operating forklifts or pallet jacks preferred.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced refrigerated environment.

• Ability to read shipping labels, product codes, and basic documentation.

• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow instructions.

• Ability to work flexible schedules including  weekends, holidays, and overtime  as needed.

Skills

• Basic PC skills required – MS office suite

• Forklift certification preferred.

• Experience in poultry processing or food manufacturing environments.

• Basic understanding of warehouse and shipping operations.

• Ability to work effectively as part of a team.

• Strong work ethic and reliability.

Supervisory Responsibilities

List the supervisory responsibilities the position must perform; include the department or position titles responsible for and the level of authority exercised in performing the responsibilities.

• N/A

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.

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, lift, push, and pull throughout the work shift.

• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds regularly.

• Ability to work in refrigerated, wet, and noisy environments.

• Ability to safely operate warehouse equipment and wear required PPE including gloves, hairnets, hearing protection, safety glasses, and steel-toe boots.

Work Environment

This position operates within a poultry processing and cold storage environment with exposure to refrigerated temperatures, moisture, moving equipment, noise, and raw poultry products.

Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment