CDL Driver, Class B

Starting Pay: $28.00/hour

POSITION SUMMARY:

The CDL Class B Driver, contributes to Northwest Harvests mission by providing excellent customer service, transporting product in a safe and timely manner by picking up and dropping off product to additional sites and food banks within and throughout Seattle and surrounding areas while fulfilling assigned routes and time schedules.

This position is essential in providing support to the Auburn Operations team. This involves strategy alignment by acting as an ambassador to our brand and serves as a liaison between the organization and our external stakeholders to ensure deliveries are made with the highest quality by engaging in a courteous manner and consistently applying our six agreements and our PACI values.

In addition, the ideal candidate in this role engages in cutting hunger rates in half by 2028 through efficient and timely distribution of healthy and nutritious food to a diverse network of local and rural organizations throughout Western WA communities and will be able to work in a highly relational environment, is open to learning and using compassionate approaches to customer service, and brings a solid focus on advocating for hunger relief, collaboration, teamwork, and serving the organization’s mission while actively and collaboratively empowering the lives of Northwest Harvest employees to be challenging and fulfilling.

This position is regulated by the Department of Transportation and requires passing a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical exam and pre-employment drug test as required by federal and/or state department/s of transportation regulations, along with passing a vehicle road test conducted by Northwest Harvest. Due to the high awareness needed in this role, a constant state of alertness and operating in a consistent safe manner, it is important the CDL Class B Drivers have the ability to accept responsibility for their own safety, as well as the safety of others.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Class B Driver Duties

• Operation and maintenance of vehicle(s) in safe and effective manner in accordance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations
• Map delivery routes to ensure timely deliveries
• Pick-up loads, organize, and secure product in NWH vehicle(s)
• Transport pallet goods from place of origin to assigned destination
• Obtain signatures or warehouse scans to confirm and complete deliveries with customers
• Communicate with dispatch as needed
• Maintain and service vehicle as needed (refuel, change oil, tire pressure, repairs, etc.)
• Maintain detailed and accurate driving and delivery logs
• Record and report working hours in the appropriate system
• Adhere to the organization’s rules and regulations
• Obey all applicable traffic laws and drive according to the weather/road conditions
• Maintain a clean driving record and obeys traffic laws
• Adhere to established pick-up and delivery routes, and promptly communicate with the warehouse supervisor when schedule deviations are necessary
• Prioritizes treating external and internal stakeholders with dignity and respect while presenting a welcoming courteous demeanor when interacting with the public
• Responsible for notifying management and filing corrective action reports when maintenance or repairs are needed
• Immediately reports any traffic violations, accidents, or property damage to supervisor/manager.
• Utilize the Fleet Management and Routing Optimization System and tools this includes but is not limited to daily route pickups & deliveries, maximizes fuel and truck usage through routing optimization as determined by the system

General Warehouse Duties:

• Operate forklift, hand truck, pallet jack, and other warehouse equipment in accordance with OSHA standards
• Palletizes and works orders for shipping and receiving products
• Maintain inventory control of all incoming and outgoing products
• Assists with loading and unloading of other NWH vehicles if available
• Responsible for the loading and unloading of vehicle
• Help maintain cleanliness of warehouse facilities and performs other general housekeeping warehouse duties as assigned by the management

Event/Volunteer Support

• Prepare and set up for volunteer groups on an as need basis
• Maintain inventory control with product worked
• Delivery and set up for NWH sponsored events
• May be required to work volunteer or event shifts

Performs other duties as assigned by the Auburn Warehouse Supervisor

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to lift and/or move up to 5 pounds. The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to lift 50 pounds consistently and repeatedly, with reasonable accommodation when needed. The employee is regularly required to stand for long periods of time; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; balance; bend and reach with hands and arms; use feet to operate foot pedal operation; and talk or hear. Occasionally required to climb ladders, sit, stoop, kneel, squat, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Equity and Inclusion

Demonstrate the initiative to learn and enhance skills that promote anti-racism, cultural competency and an understanding of oppression and its impact

Participate in intentional learning efforts, including events relating to understanding and dismantling institutional racism and building cultural competency

RELATIONSHIPS:

Internal: This position encourages relationship building and frequent contact All Staff.

External: This position will uphold Northwest Harvests commitment to ending hunger by acting as an Ambassador to the Northwest Harvest brand by communicating effectively and frequently with vendors, donors, visitors, community members, and other organizational stakeholders

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

A combination of the real-life experience, education, and training listed below which provides an equivalent background to perform the work of this position.

Successful completion of a background check is required.

Knowledge of:

• Local, state, and federal applicable Department of Transportation regulations
• Non-profit organizations and issues related to hunger, poverty, and food justice
• General knowledge of basic math skills and demonstrated attention to detail
• General knowledge in warehouse operations and how product moves through a warehouse system
• Experience in a warehouse atmosphere, including operating warehouse equipment – forklifts, pallet jacks, and other equipment
• Working knowledge of volunteer tracking software
• General knowledge or the willingness to learn new systems such as Microsoft Office applications; Outlook, Teams, Zoom and ability to work effectively with other organizational technology and platforms this includes but is not limited to ADP, SharePoint, Microsoft Dynamics, NAV Systems, smart phones

Ability To:

• Understand and provide empathy to individuals who have experienced poverty or food insecurity
• Demonstrate interest and commitment to supporting equity and inclusion for members of historically marginalized groups, such as (but not limited to): racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ populations, people living with disabilities or chronic illnesses (including substance use), people experiencing homelessness, and people who do not speak English as their primary language
• Commit to Northwest Harvest’s PACI Values: Purpose-Driven, Anti-Racist, Connected, Interwoven
• Commit to Northwest Harvest’s Six Agreements: speak truth responsibly, listen to understand, stay engaged, experience discomfort and do things differently, expect and accept non-closure, and honor confidentiality
• Integrate equity principles and practices into all functions
• Ability to read, interpret and apply laws, rules, regulations policies and/or procedures
• Communicate and listen effectively, and successfully de-escalate potentially volatile situations
• Flex communication style to multiple cultural environments
• Provide compassionate, trauma-informed customer service in demanding or potentially difficult situations
• Builds a high aptitude for developing trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Capable of working unsupervised in a safe and efficient manner
• Ability to respond quickly to inquiries and issues; customer service skills are essential
• Ability to take initiative and think critically by identifying, analyzing, and solving problems
• Ability to clearly communicate information in writing and verbally so others will understand
• Ability to work independently in a dynamic environment of change, challenge and multiple deadlines/priorities demonstrating organization, flexibility, efficiency, follow-through, and diplomacy
• Ability to work with a wide variety of people both internally and externally, in a skilled, helpful, and positive manner
• Ability to plan, prioritize, and organize work to meet schedules and timelines

EDUCATION AND TRAINING:

High School Diploma, GED Certification or equal combination of education and relevant work experience

EXPERIENCE:

Minimum two (2) + years’ experience in commercial driving, customer service, human services, warehouse environment or food bank environment.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in a nonprofit organization is desired but not required
• The ability to speak an additional language(s) is desired but not required

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS:

• Valid Washington State Driver license with fully insurable driving record
• Valid Class B driver's license and ability to pass a Department of Transportation (DOT) standard drug screen and physical
• A current driver abstract obtained within the last (30) days via The Department of Licensing (DOL) is required
• Satisfy conditions as it applies to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) driver regulations
• Forklift/electric pallet jack certification is desired or can be completed within 30 days after date of hire

DISCLAIMER:

The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, or to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and objectives required of employees assigned to this job. As an adaptive organization, responsibilities can and will change in alignment with greater efficiencies and mission metrics.

BENEFITS AND OTHER COMPENSATION:
Northwest Harvest offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package this includes but is not limited to; medical/dental/ vision/ insurance, long term disability insurance, Life/AD&D insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), 401(k) retirement plan, Vacation and Sick leave, 8 paid holidays; New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day, Floating holidays for you to use should you observe a holiday not outlined in Northwest Harvests current observed holidays or at your discretion, and birthday holiday. Employees are eligible to participate in payroll deducted supplemental benefits i.e., Flexible Spending account-HRA and DCE, various AFLAC and New York Life plans.