delivery driver

Pacific Maritime Association

Be prepared to get dirty. This means dawning coveralls or clothes you wouldn't mind throwing away afterwards. I personally have a pair of coveralls that haven't been washed in years specifically set aside for lashing. Throw on some gloves, a hard hat, and you're steel-toe shoes and you're ready to climb the gangway to the ship. Well almost ready. The only tool you will need (hopefully) is a lashing bar. Really it's just a piece of rebar that's been cut to about a foot and a half long. You're job as a lasher is to hook up the lashing. The lashing locks the shipping containers to the deck of the ship so that as they are rolling about in the Pacific they don't have any containers take a swim. For each container there are a total of four bars (each is about 8 feet tall and maybe 30 pounds) that connect to the top two corners of a container and the bottom two corners of the container stacked on top of the other container. Each bar connects to a turnbuckle (lock that you spin on a threaded screw to lock in place, each weighing about 35 pounds) which connects to the catwalk (raised platform between the stacks of containers on the ship). So basically all you do is connect the bars to the container, connect the turnbuckle to the bar and spin the turnbuckle till it's snug, then use that handy lashing bar we brought up earlier to further tighten the turnbuckle. On the containers closest to the sides of the ship there are two special bars that are about 16 feet high and about 50 pounds that need to be connected. Sounds easy enough. But try doing it with rusty gear, in the rain and cold for ten hours. Then tell me how how you're back, arms and fingers feel. Why pay for a gym member ship when you can get paid to work out? And as you can imagine it's pretty dangerous up there on the ship. Plenty of people get hit by bars that come loose. Slips, trips, and falls also are quite frequent, and I'm petty sure most of these ships aren't up to any safety code. Of course not every shift is quite so difficult and there are guys who love to lash. But they also know the ships that aren't horror stories, have a crew of seasoned veterans teaming up so no one is carrying others, and only take jobs on ships that aren't going have them there working all day long.

A typical day would require reporting to the hall, trying to get work, which is dispatched out based on seniority, then skill and availability. When you first start out as with many union jobs, it requires an investment and persistence. The position of longshoreman offers a lot of opportunity to learn new skills in a fast paced and teamwork-based setting. There are a lot of different positions with different skill sets, working on heavy equipment, cranes, dock, and in the ships hold area. Some of the work can be repetitive, but goes by quickly. Once you have a routine down with the crew you're working with you always have to be alert because there are dangers all around but if you listen to the rules and explanation of senior workers, and follow them you will be okay and go home safe. The workplace itself... Employer takes care of all of the safety gear, is on top of payroll, very good about making sure the training is distributed quickly, and once you put the time in as a casual ID, and progressed to a B man or A man the pay is very good! There is also a retirement, and aside from that the union is very solid. The other huge benefit is the flexibility of schedule. When you first start out you have to take to work when it's available do you make the required hours. If you do not, you risk losing your book or the opportunity to progress from a casual. The flexibility comes and being able to work as many hours as you need when the work is available and not having a set schedule, allowing work in the morning or p.m. again as a casual you're focused on just getting work period. Many of the employees members are long timers because it is a great place after you have put the investment in to stay and have a secure job.

As an identified casual longshoreman working at the Port of Tacoma, I’ve been consistently getting out at least three times a week, which speaks volumes about the amount of work available here compared to Seattle and Portland. If you’re looking for steady opportunities, Tacoma’s port is a solid option.

The work environment is generally good, and I get along with most of the people. That said, you’ll encounter a wide range of personalities, so it’s not guaranteed that you’ll mesh well with everyone. Still, if you can navigate that, you’ll find it manageable.

One of the unique aspects of this job is that you don’t need a formal resume to apply. There are two main ways to get in: either by getting an interest card from a registered longshoreman or by getting lucky enough to land on the lottery list. It’s a non-traditional hiring process, but once you’re in, it’s a rewarding job with flexible work opportunities.

A typical work day is not controlled by hour but by cargo being removed from vessels and loaded as well. You work in groups or what longshoremen like to call "gangs" on the dock or on deck of the vessel. While working on the dock your duties are to put locks on or remove locks from containers that are loaded by the crane onto or off the ship. If you recieve a lashing job you will be on deck of the ship securing containers with metal rods or unlashing where you remove the rods for the crane to unload the cargo. The most hard part of this job is you always have to be aware of your surroundings and work carefully as possible, your working with heavy equipment that can cause serious injury and in some cases death.

A longshoreman is a wonderful career to have if you have established your A or B books.  This allows you to work everyday, overtime, weekends, and holidays.  However, I am just a Casual.  And with being a Casual you have to wait until your number is called in order for you to work.  Some of my co-worker just received there B book and they've been there for 10years, some for 14 years!  This is entirely to long to have to wait before you're able to receive benefits. This is not for every Port.  Some of the Ports you're able to move up within 2-4 years.  Like the Port of Oakland which seems to always have a lot of work.  However, I am with the Port of Stockton and it's minimal work in Stockton.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Great pay, most registered and some casual members were easy to work with.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
And "injury to one is an injury to all". It sounds good, it's practice wasn't more than just the "sounds". With "less action".


What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Confusing! The learning, or training appears backwards. Several accidents may have been avoided if supporting elements were easier to locate.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Forefilling, justice in the maritime was the confusing part.

working at the port is always different, you don't do the same thing everyday like normal companies. you have the opportunity to select what job to work for that day. plus you don't have the same boss on a daily basis. co-workers are fun to work with they make your job fun. this is a lifetime job and the benefits are great. you also are able to select your days of work. bottom line is, if you don't work you don't get paid. but you are required to meet the monthly requirements to keep your card for employment.

I loved working as a longshoreman, I learned so many things in so many different areas. I also liked all my co-workers, they made it very enjoyable. The hardest part of the job was Porter for the cruise ships because it was very physical , by that I mean lifting suitcases sometimes weighing 100 pounds or more and throwing them into bends on cruise ships. The most enjoyable part of the job were the people that I worked with. They made it fun by their personalities.
All The Supervisors that we worked with were very professional and great to work for.

The work environment is a good one, full of positive energy and everyone seems to like their job when we get work.  The work was plentiful in the first few years then it started to petter of and now we rarely work. 
The hardest part of the job is trying to chase the work down when it becomes available and also the hours are random at times.  You never know what time of day you will work, you could potentially work a night shift then sleep for a few hours then have to work a mid day shift.  It is all dependent of ship traffic and the amount of people that show up to work.

What is the best part of working at the company?
It was my dream job. Good pay, made my own schedule, the job was available 365 days a year. Salary and benefits was the best. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
It became too physically demanding as I got older. I was on the job for over 20 years 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Very diverse. I worked with different people everyday. I never had a problem with anyone.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Every day was different. Too vast to explain.

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