Position Summary
The Loading Dock Lead is responsible for overseeing daily dock operations in a pallet recycling facility. This role ensures efficient loading/unloading of pallets, accurate documentation, and safe handling practices while leading a team of dock workers and forklift operators.
Key Responsibilities
1. Dock Operations
Supervise all loading and unloading of inbound and outbound pallet shipments
Coordinate trailer scheduling, dock doors, and workflow prioritization
Ensure pallets are sorted, stacked, and staged correctly for recycling or shipment
Monitor turnaround time for trucks to maintain efficient dock flow
➡️ Dock leads typically oversee freight flow, staging, and shipment accuracy as part of daily operations. [careerxray.com]
2. Team Leadership
Assign daily tasks to dock workers and forklift operators
Train new employees on pallet handling, sorting, and safety procedures
Monitor productivity and enforce performance expectations
Provide coaching and address attendance or performance issues
➡️ Warehouse leads commonly supervise teams, assign workloads, and provide training to maintain efficiency. [megainterview.com]
3. Shipping & Documentation
Verify pallet counts against BOLs, invoices, and pickup orders
Complete and review shipping paperwork (Bills of Lading, delivery receipts)
Report shortages, overages, or damaged pallets
Coordinate with dispatch, drivers, and office staff
➡️ Dock supervisors manage shipping documentation and ensure accurate records of inbound/outbound freight. [interviewguy.com]
4. Safety & Compliance
Enforce OSHA and company safety policies on the dock
Ensure proper use of forklifts, pallet jacks, and PPE
Maintain a clean, organized, and hazard-free dock area
Report incidents and ensure proper procedures are followed
➡️ Safety enforcement is a core responsibility of dock supervisors and warehouse leads in high-risk environments. [interviewguy.com]
5. Inventory & Quality Control
Inspect pallets for quality (repair vs. scrap vs. resale)
Maintain accurate inventory counts of pallets
Track inbound/outbound volumes and report discrepancies
Support audits and inventory adjustments
➡️ Warehouse leads manage inventory accuracy and quality control as part of daily operations. [megainterview.com]
6. Equipment & Facility Oversight
Ensure forklifts and dock equipment are maintained and operational
Report maintenance or repair needs
Monitor dock organization and space utilization
Qualifications
2–5+ years of warehouse, dock, or pallet yard experience
Prior leadership or supervisory experience preferred
Forklift certification (or ability to obtain)
Strong knowledge of shipping/receiving processes
Ability to lift heavy pallets and work in a fast-paced environment
Key Skills
Leadership and team coordination
Problem-solving and decision-making
Attention to detail (counts, BOLs, inventory)
Time management and multitasking
Strong communication with drivers, dispatch, and office staff
Work Environment
Outdoor/warehouse pallet yard environment
Frequent forklift operation and physical labor
Exposure to weather, dust, and heavy equipment
Fast-paced, high-volume shipping environment
How this fits your operation
Based on your work (BOLs, pallet counts, invoicing, dock issues), this role directly:
Prevents errors like missing pallets or incorrect BOLs
Improves load accuracy and tracking
Keeps communication tight between dock + office + customers
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.