At Old Dominion, we don't just move freight—we help businesses keep their promises. As one of the nation's leading LTL carriers, we've earned our reputation by putting people first, delivering premium service, and staying true to the values that have guided us for more than 90 years. Our PROMISES values shape how we work, our family culture shapes how we treat one another, and our commitment to being the Best in the Game drives everything we do. If you're looking for more than just a job, you'll find a career built on trust, teamwork, and opportunity at OD.
Step into a dynamic role as a Lead Dock Worker and Switcher for Old Dominion, where you'll be the go-to partner for our Dock Supervisor, making crucial decisions to keep freight moving smoothly and efficiently. You'll lead on the dock, ensuring each load is handled accurately and on time, overseeing trailer prep, and coordinating with the team to optimize every shift. If you're ready to bring your dock experience, multitasking finesse, and clear communication to a high-energy, impactful role, join us and drive the action in our operations!
Job Summary
A Combo Dockworker Lead S is responsible for assisting the dock supervisor in any tasks related to the loading and unloading of freight. This person also serves to assist in the monitoring of operations, making decisions to ensure that the proper freight is loaded in the proper location at the proper time.
This role is also responsible for operating switcher tractors to move trailers to and from staging areas and loading/unloading docks.
Primary Responsibilities
- Load and unload freight on trailers using a motorized forklift, pallet jack or manually in compliance with state and federal DOT guidelines. Use various loading techniques, such as loading tight or cross loading.
- Transport self and/or freight continuously throughout the service center on non-forgiving surfaces.
- Utilize Dock Yard Management System to consistently monitor freight shipment locations throughout the service center.
- Read and interpret shipping labels. Familiarity with, and in some cases ability to complete the various forms utilized in freight movement such as shipping orders, city stripping manifests, freight bills, overage/damage movement reports and exception forms.
- Hand load, rewrap or stack freight as necessary.
- Ensure the quality loading of all trailers.
- Secure freight inside trailers using appropriate tools and supplies (e.g. pallets, straps, rope).
- Frequent contact with service center personnel; fast-pace and deadline oriented.
- This is not an all-inclusive list of job responsibilities and duties. Employees are expected and must be able to perform all duties and tasks assigned.
- Serves as an assistant to the supervisor.
- Monitors the loading quality of all trailers.
- Coordinates with the supervisor to promote and run a productive shift.
- Assists with coordinating freight, information, and people in a systematic way to optimize efficiency while minimizing duplication of effort.
- Back trailer to loading docks, open bay doors and assist dock workers in loading/unloading trailers
- Perform daily maintenance checks on the switcher unit and report any malfunctions to the maintenance shop
- Fuel the switcher tractor at the end of each shift
- Couple and uncouple tractor-trailer units and connect/disconnect brake lines as needed
- Secure all equipment and complete all necessary paperwork at the end of the shift
- Work on the dock either daily or at least one full day each week as assigned by management. Perform dock operations duties as directed, with minimum of 20% of scheduled hours each work week spent loading freight onto trailers.
- Always follow all safety policies and procedures
- Always follow all operating procedures and safety guideline
- Always wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- This is not an all-inclusive list of job responsibilities and duties. Employees are expected and must be able to perform all duties and tasks assigned.
Job Qualifications
Education:
- High school diploma or equivalent preferred
- Proper training with a supervisor required
Experience:
- Dock experience and promotion is based on performance and progress
- Must be able to speak clearly and engage in active listening
- Experience driving a tractor trailer
- Experience in using handheld computers/scanners
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Detail oriented
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.
- (Standing/Walking) Must be able to withstand regular standing while hooking up the truck to the trailers repeatedly for a minimum of 8 Hours/shift, 5-7 days per week. Must be able to walk frequently throughout the work shift back and forth between the truck and the trailers, walking to close doors, and walking in and out of trailers. Must be able to stand and walk on unforgiving surfaces such as concrete, pavement, wood and metal sometimes on slippery and wet surfaces.
- (Sitting) Must be able to sit and remain alert while driving trailers in the service center yard for an aggregate period of up to 10 hours as well as occasionally in forklifts to load/unload freight. Must be able to sit on a forklift up to 8 hours/shift 5 -7 days per week.
- (Moving/Walking) Must be able to walk up to 8 hours a day on non- forgiving surfaces such as concrete, wood and metal and sometimes on wet and slippery surfaces.
- (Bending/Stooping/Kneeling) Must be able to perform frequent bending and squatting to handle, position, and secure freight. Must be able to perform frequent and occasional bending and kneeling and squatting to place tags on trailers and hooking up the truck to the trailer as well as while performing inspections.
- (Climbing) Must be able to enter and exit the vehicle's cab many times a day. Cab floor level is generally 36 to 66 inches above ground level, with entry and exit achieved with the assistance of various configurations of steps and hand holds; also requires occasional bending, twisting, climbing, squatting, crouching and balancing. Must be able to get onto and off of the forklift throughout the day, must be able to climb about and move about easily in small spaces to adjust freight.
- (Moving Materials). Must be able to load and unload full trailers of freight weighing as much as 500 lbs., with or without a dolly or cart. This could involve for example moving 100lb containers to and from floor level to carts, stacks or platforms over 4 feet high, balancing 300 lb. drums on their rims and rolling them into positions, rolling and lifting tires, or stowing cartons or other merchandise overhead that weigh as much as 100 lbs. each.
- (Pushing/Pulling) Must be able to perform frequent pulling and pushing of freight with or without the help of freight pulling equipment up to 100lbs. Must also be able to push and pull forklift blades, forklift gas tanks, deck bars, and other freight related items.
- (Hearing/Speaking) Must be able to hear the horns of other forklifts and shouted instructions and warnings. Must be able to see parts in and on the forklift mechanical equipment and switcher truck for pre and post inspections.
- (Reaching) Must be able to frequently reach for freight at waist level and occasionally reach for freight above shoulder height or below waist level. Must be able to reach for forklift controls, pushing deck bars, and placing/strapping airbags/straps/cardboard. Must be able to reach while sweeping work areas clean of debris. Must be able to reach controls of switcher truck while driving.
- (Lifting) Must be able to frequently lift and handle objects weighing up to 100 lbs. of varying sizes or shapes, using OSHA guidelines and lifting techniques, distances of 1 foot but usually no less than 100 feet.
- Must be able to use right, left or both hands to get in and out of forklift and switcher truck, wrapping and unwrapping shrink wrap, securing and unsecuring pallets, using pallet jack or hand truck, using the steering wheel, buttons on lift gates, etc.
- Must be able to grip with right, left or both hands to use handles to get in and out of the forklift and switcher truck, holding tablet, using pallet jacks or hand trucks, controlling and pushing the buttons on the forklift, holding the steering wheel, securing straps, cardboard, airbags, etc.
- Must be able to pinch fingers on the right, left or both hands to shrink wrap, secure and unsecure straps, utilize clip boards, utilize tablets, etc.
- Must be able to hook/unhook various commercial vehicle combinations, manually lower and raise landing gear, operate the fifth wheel release lever, lock and release pintle-hooks, attach and release safety chains, open and close cargo doors, climb into and out of vehicles, fuel vehicles and check engine oil and coolant levels.
- Must be able to use cognitive skills for:
- paying attention to surroundings, including cross-dock traffic, forklift inspections, freight, gates, etc.
- long-term and short-term memory for inspecting areas, breaking down pallets, carrying products, driving in cross-dock traffic and for safety
- logic and reasoning in reading manifests, tablets, reading boxes and order numbers
- Auditory and visual processing to inspect forklifts and switcher truck, driving, reading, listening for horns and/or other cross-dock traffic and speaking with other dock workers. Must be able to see parts in and on the forklift and switcher truck, for pre and post inspections. Must be able to see and read bills of lading, tablets for yard management systems, and read printed materials. Must be able to see and scan areas of work for debris and defects.
- (Other) Must be able to work a variety of times and shifts in order to meet customer pick up and delivery schedules. Must be able to install and remove tire chains when required due to inclement weather.
- Attendance is a requirement
Work Environment
The work environment described below represents those that an employee would encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions of the job.
While performing the duties of the job, the employees will be exposed to various work environments which may include working with or around others while loading and unloading, working in an enclosed vehicle while driving, loading and unloading in an enclosed trailer, exposure to all weather conditions, noise levels that vary from quiet to loud and with lighting conditions that could be extremely bright or low light.
Working Days:
Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday,
Working Shift:
Afternoon
Work days/shifts may change based on scheduling and business needs and are provided as guidelines at the time of posting.
Join the OD Family Today!
As a Full Time member of our Family, you and your family are eligible to receive:
- Great Health Benefits including a Zero premium medical plan for employee only coverage
- Vision & Dental
- Short Term & Long Term Disability
- Flex Spending Accounts
- 401k Retirement plan with company match and additional company annual discretionary match opportunity
- Life Insurance
- Wellness Program
- Tuition Reimbursement for Drivers and Technicians
- Training and growth opportunities to build a career
- We prioritize our OD family of employees
- Ability to advance through our promote from within philosophy
- National Career Opportunities Available at our 260+ service centers
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity, and/or gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, military status, Vietnam Era and/or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law(s).
If you have questions regarding this posting or require assistance with the application process, please click here for contact information.
