TRUCK DRIVER – CASTROVILLE, CA


January 31, 2025

The Truck Driver is responsible for hauling product, harvest equipment and packaging materials from one location to another.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

General Duties:

  • Ensure product is transported from field to cooler following customer’s policies
  • Check vehicles to ensure that mechanical, safety, and emergency equipment is in good working order before, during and after each shift/workday
  • Operate equipment, such as radios and cellular telephones, to exchange necessary information with supervisors, foremen and office personnel
  • Report vehicle defects, accidents, traffic violations, or damage to the vehicles
  • Collect delivery instructions from Supervisor and Foremen, verifying instructions and routes
  • Drive trucks with capacities greater than 3 tons, including tractor-trailer combinations, to transport and deliver products or other materials
  • Check conditions of trailers after contents have been unloaded to ensure that there has been no damage
  • Perform basic vehicle maintenance tasks, such as adding oil, fuel, or radiator fluid or performing minor repairs
  • Maintain logs of working hours or of vehicle service or repair status, following applicable state and federal regulations
  • Check all load-related documentation to ensure that it is complete and accurate
  • Ensure trucks are positioned in a safe zone and manner for loading or unloading as guided crew by foreman or other personnel; ensure packaging materials and cartons are positioned correctly
  • Give directions and supervise laborers/loaders packing product, equipment and packaging material onto trailers; ensure accuracy of materials ordered by foreman
  • Perform emergency roadside repairs such as changing tires and installing light bulbs, and tire chains
  • Drive trucks to weigh stations before and after loading and along routes to document weights and to comply with state regulations
  • Couple or uncouple trailers by changing trailer jack positions, connecting or disconnecting air or electrical lines, or manipulating fifth wheel locks
  • Secure cargo for transport, using ropes, blocks, chain, binders, straps or covers
  • Obtain receipts or signatures for delivered goods and collect payment for services when required
  • Climb ladders to inspect loads, ensuring that cargo is secure

Safety:

  • Must meet and comply with Department of Transportation, state and Company policies and regulations
  • Must be able to provide current DMV printouts, issued less than 30 days prior to employment
  • Must be able to undergo pre-employment-controlled substance test
  • Must enroll into a Random Drug & Alcohol Testing Program (DOT); required to quarterly testing as required
  • Required to attend safety training regarding vehicle/equipment inspection, load inspection, filling out the daily logbook and in-service forms as required
  • Must wear safety vest and hardhat when loading and unloading
  • Responsible for providing fuel to harvest equipment as needed, including keeping daily and weekly records

Other duties:

  • Perform other duties as assigned

Job Requirements and Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Agriculture, Engineering, or a related field
  • Minimum of 10 years of experience in cooling operations, preferably within the agriculture or food industry
  • Minimum of 3 years of managerial experience in operations, distribution, transportation, or a related field
  • Proven leadership experience managing multiple facilities and large teams
  • Ammonia Safety Certification (A.S.T.I.) or equivalent
  • Proficiency in using computers and software relevant to cooler operations, including MS Office and Famous software
  • Valid California Driver’s License (Class C) and insurability
  • Forklift License Certification
  • Strong leadership and supervisory skills with the ability to provide feedback, conduct performance reviews, and train staff
  • Strong collaborator with ability to interact with all levels of staff in the organization
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Ability to multitask in a high volume, multi-deadline environment
  • Must exercise a high degree of initiative, judgment, discretion and decision-making
  • Travel between all locations as needed