What are the responsibilities and job description for the Warehouse Associate position at Forward?
Position: Warehouse Associate
Compensation: $19.00-$21.00 per hour
Schedule: 8am - 5pm
Responsibilities
- Load, unload, move, stage, sort, and position inventory from loading docks, delivery trucks, and storage areas using approved lifting techniques and appropriate material handling equipment (MHE) such as pallet jacks, carts, and dollies.
- Pick, pack, label, and prepare freight for shipping and delivery in accordance with operating procedures.
- Label, scan, track, and document freight using handheld scanners and company systems to ensure accuracy and documentation integrity.
- Verify incoming shipments against packing lists and ensure compliance with consolidating, receiving, and staging procedures.
- Store cargo in assigned locations using cargo boards, pallets, and designated storage methods.
- Fulfill daily picking and order requirements in accordance with KPIs and client SLAs, following established picking procedures.
- Report inventory discrepancies, shortages, or picking issues promptly to the Warehouse Supervisor.
- Perform Value Added Services (VAS) according to client and department store guidelines, including ticketing, labeling, hanging, folding, and inspecting inventory.
- Follow inventory control procedures to manage shortages, discrepancies, and adjustments, coordinating with the Inventory Supervisor as needed.
- Complete quality checks and cycle count requests, documenting findings and reporting results as required.
- Ensure outbound shipments meet quality assurance standards based on designated carrier, order type, and client requirements.
- Pack and process orders according to client‑specific and order‑type procedures to ensure accuracy and shipment integrity.
- Apply correct packing and shipping labels, ensuring proper placement and compliance with shipping requirements.
- Stage completed orders in assigned outbound locations based on order type and carrier.
- Execute replenishment activities by transferring pallets and cartons to designated pick or pallet locations to support open orders.
- Inspect and process returns by identifying damaged inventory versus stock eligible for return to inventory and restocking accordingly.
- Communicate space constraints, operational roadblocks, or safety concerns to the Site leadership.
- Support daily/routine maintenance of the warehouse/site, including but not limited to sweeping, collecting empty boxes, debris, and shrink wrap from the floor, gathering and disposing of trash, and operating a cardboard baler.
- Safely operate and assist with material handling equipment and dock tools, following all safety, OSHA, and PPE requirements.
- Work assigned schedules, including nights, weekends, holidays, and overtime as required by business needs.
- All other duties as assigned to meet evolving business needs.
Qualifications
- Education: High School Diploma or General Education Development (GED) equivalent required.
- Certification/Licensure: Valid forklift certification/licensure (or ability to obtain prior to operating equipment) preferred.
- Willingness and ability to learn and use warehouse, logistics, and shipment‑tracking systems, handheld scanners, and office tools in a fast-paced, metrics-driven environment.
- Communication: Ability to communicate effectively in English, verbally and in writing, to understand safety and operational instructions, work assignments, and freight documentation.
- Ability to recognize numbers, labels, barcodes, and freight markings accurately, and to perform basic arithmetic to verify freight counts, quantities, and weights.
- Basic arithmetic skills to verify freight counts, quantities, and weights.
- Technology: Willingness and ability to learn and use basic computer systems, handheld scanners, and freight-tracking devices.
- Equipment: Ability to safely operate box cutters, cardboard balers, and material handling equipment (MHE) such as pallet jacks, dollies, hand trucks, order pickers, pallet riders, conveyors, dock plates, dock levelers, sit-down/stand-up forklifts and reach trucks (with company-assisted certification/training), and/or other specialized MHE as required by the site.
- Ability to maintain regular and predictable attendance.
- Physical Demands: Extensive standing, walking, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, and twisting for 8-12 hours per/shift, with the ability to lift, push, pull, and carry freight up to 50lbs without assistance, with occasional lifting of freight up to 75lbs with assistance or mechanical aids throughout each 8-12 hour shift, multiple times per/week.
- Vision, hearing, and verbal communication skills sufficient to work safely in a noisy dock environment.
- Demonstrated discretion and confidentiality in handling and protecting sensitive information.
- Environment: Comfort commuting to/from and working in a 100% on‑site setting (listed in this posting). Ability to work safely around moving equipment, vehicles, and freight in a non-climate-controlled environment, including frequent exposure to temperature extremes (both hot and cold), occasional outdoor work and/or exposure to precipitation (rain, sleet, snow, etc.), regular exposure to moving equipment, vehicle traffic, exhaust, dust, and moderate to loud noise.
Forward Air is an Equal Opportunity employer.
Salary : $19 - $21