Warehouse Production Laborer-Operator - Pallet Sorter

Warehouse Production Associate & Equipment Operator

Are you a hard-working, motivated, and energetic individual seeking a dynamic role at a leading wood pallet logistics site? We are looking for versatile Warehouse Production Associates & Equipment Operators to join our team. This multi-faceted position involves a variety of crucial tasks including manual sorting (pallets, boxes, RPCs), material handling, and offers the opportunity for training and certification to operate balers and forklifts. If you thrive in a physically demanding, fast-paced environment and are eager to learn new skills, we are ready to train the right candidate!

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, PLA is a national supply chain solutions provider offering Pallet Management Services, 3PL Services, Reverse Logistics Services, and Freight Brokerage & Transportation Management Services, handling over 115 million pallets per year for over 1,500 customers. Now one of the largest pallet manufacturing and recycling companies in the United States, PLA has over 76 facilities, employing upwards of 3500 employees across 23 states, and is still looking for opportunities for growth, both organically and through acquisition.

Pay Rate: $17.50 an hour

• Guaranteed Progression : 50-cent per hour increases at 90 days, 1 year, and annually thereafter for a total of 5 years, reaching the maximum rate at 5 years in this role

Work Schedule:

• Weekend Shift: Friday - Tuesday 3pm-1:30am

Here's What We Offer:

• Daily Pay Option – Access your earnings before payday.
• Weekly Pay – Get paid on time, every week.
• PTO (Paid Time Off).
• Full Benefits: Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance – 3 medical plan options through Blue Cross Blue Shield with low weekly premiums starting at $28.75.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) – Company contribution up to $750 annually with tax-advantaged savings.
• 401(k) retirement plan featuring up to a 4% employer match, eligibility the first of the month after 90 days, and access to a Financial Wellness Consultant.
• Flexible Benefits – Multiple plan options to fit your needs and budget.
• Prescription Drug Coverage – Low copays starting at $10 for generic medications.
• FREE Life Insurance & AD&D – Basic coverage provided at no cost upon employment.
• Vision Benefits – $10 eye exams and $150 frame allowance through Superior Vision by MetLife starting at $1.46 per week.
• Dental Coverage – 100% preventive care coverage with MetLife plans starting at $5.76 per week.
• Voluntary Short-Term Disability (STD) – Income replacement up to 60% of weekly covered earnings for a non-work-related injury or illness.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Free and confidential support for work stress, grief, legal/financial issues, and more.
• Additional Voluntary Benefits – MetLife Legal and Identity Theft Services and Pet Insurance with ASPCA.
• LifeMart employee discounts (through ADP) on everyday stuff and larger purchases.
• Dell Employee Purchase Program (EPP) discounts available for personal use.

What You'll Be Doing:

This dynamic role encompasses various responsibilities essential to our production and logistics site. Duties may vary based on assigned area and daily operational need, including:

As a Production Laborer (Pallet Sorter, Box Sorter, RPC Sorter, Material Handler):

• Manually sorting pallets, RPCs, boxes, or other materials by hand in a neat and orderly fashion.
• Ensuring specific criteria are met while sorting (e.g., condition, type, vendor).
• Inspecting items during sorting to verify quality and maintaining established production rates per hour.
• Breaking down boxes that are not received in a broken-down state.
• Inspecting boxes for damage and reusability, and stickering acceptable boxes.
• Palletizing sorted boxes by size.
• Moving materials and supporting overall warehouse functions.
• Maintaining a clean work environment, including sweeping debris around warehouse and dock areas.

As a Potential Baler Operator (upon successful evaluation and certification):

• Swapping full totes of bad boxes with empty totes for box sorters.
• Tracking damaged cardboard placed in the baler by counting boxes.
• Placing damaged boxes in the baler, tying bales with wire strands once complete, ejecting bales, and calling a forklift driver for safe removal.
• Strapping and removing full pallets from sorters.
• Tracking the amount of full pallets each sorter completes daily.
• Maintaining a clear area and communicating with lift drivers regarding loads for trailers.

As a Potential Forklift Driver (upon successful evaluation and certification):

• Ensuring the forklift is in safe operating condition and completing daily inspections using a checklist.
• Safely moving pallets, RPCs, and boxes from one area to another.
• Ensuring all moved materials are properly accounted for and marked for documentation.
• Maintaining accuracy of load sheets and being the last to inspect all trailer loads.
• Following all safety policies and procedures diligently.
• Maintaining clear and open communications with managers, supervisors, and other team members.

General Responsibilities for All Areas:

• Complying with all Propak policies and procedures, as well as federal and state safety rules.
• Adjusting to new reporting relationships, work assignments, and work schedules to meet company needs and business requirements.
• Working cooperatively and well with team members and management.
• Meeting fast-paced productivity goals and standards.
• Consistent and reliable attendance is an essential function of this job.

What We're Looking For:

• Ability to perform repetitive physical work in a demanding warehouse environment.
• Hard-working, motivated, and energetic individuals.
• Must be open to learning new skills; we are willing to train the right candidate, even if you do not have prior experience.
• Strong attention to detail for sorting, inspection, and documentation.
• Ability to meet fast-paced productivity goals and standards.
• Accountability: Ability to accept responsibility and account for your actions.
• Oral Communication: Ability to communicate effectively with others using the spoken word.
• Reliability: The trait of being dependable and trustworthy; must show up to work on scheduled days.
• Responsible: Ability to be held accountable for your conduct.
• Safety Awareness: Ability to identify and correct conditions that affect employee safety.
• Teamwork and cooperation are required for proper job performance.
• High School Diploma or equivalent preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• This position requires constant standing, bending, stooping, and walking.
• Ability to lift and handle material with weight up to 75 pounds or more frequently (if working with pallets) or 35 pounds frequently (if working with boxes or RPCs).
• Requires the ability to perform repetitive work for extended periods.
• Requires good manual dexterity, tactile sensitivity, and hand-eye coordination for sorting, handling materials, and operating tools/equipment.
• Ability to hear and understand verbal instructions and safety alarms in a warehouse environment.
• Excellent vision (including close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral