Shop Assistant

The Shop Assistant plays a critical role in maintaining an organized, efficient, and safe heavy truck repair facility. This position supports lead mechanics and shop management by assisting with Preventative Maintenance (PM) services, handling shop organization, running parts, driving support vehicles for pickups/deliveries, parts organization, and executing general shop upkeep.

Parts Running

• Drive support vehicles to pick up repair parts, shop supplies, hardware, and specialized tools from local dealers and machine shops.

Receiving & Stocking

• Receive, unpack, inspect, and shelf incoming inventory; verify delivery slips against purchase orders.

Inventory Organization

• Maintain clean, labeled bin locations; perform periodic inventory counts and notify management of low stock.

Core & Warranty Returns

• Tag, stage, and log core returns and warranty items for vendor pickup.

Logistics

• Driving parts and/or drivers as needed.
• Transport parts, small equipment, or driver team members between facilities, job sites, and service vendors.
• Safely drive non-CDL support vehicles (or CDL power units, if certified) under local road and weather conditions.
• Coordinate driver drop-offs and vehicle transfers across regional yard locations.

Shop Operations, Safety & Housekeeping

• Perform daily sweeping, floor scrubbing, fluid spill cleanups (oil, coolant, fuel), and scrap metal disposal.
• Properly store and label waste oil, drain filters, scrap batteries, and oily rags in compliance with OSHA and EPA guidelines.
• Ensure shop tools, pressure washers, hydraulic jacks, and equipment are cleaned and returned to proper storage daily.
• Assist with shop yard organization, staging repair trailers, and parking heavy power units safely in designated bays/slots.

PM Assistance

• Assist technicians with routine Preventative Maintenance (PM) inspections, chassis lubrication, fluid top-offs, and filter replacements.

Vehicle Inspections

• Perform daily pre-trip and post-trip safety checks on shop support utility trucks and vans.
• Assist mechanics with staging heavy components, fluid drainage, catching waste oil, and tool hand-offs during heavy repairs.
• Track tire inventory, dismount scrap tires, stack/stage casings, and assist with mounting or moving heavy truck tires.

Education & Experience

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• 1+ years of experience working in a heavy truck, automotive, diesel equipment, or industrial shop environment preferred.
• Basic knowledge and comfort working with mechanical hand tools, power tools, pneumatic equipment, and hydraulic jacks.

Certifications & Licenses

• Valid Driver’s License with a clean motor vehicle record (MVR) required.
• Class A or B Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is a strong plus or willingness to obtain.
• Forklift Operator Certification preferred (training provided upon hire).

Physical Requirements

• Ability to regularly lift, push, pull, or move items weighing up to 50–75 lbs.
• Ability to stand, stoop, kneel, squat, climb truck cabs/ladders, and perform physical work for 8-10 hour shifts.
• Comfort working in non-climate-controlled shop environments (exposed to ambient heat/cold, shop noise, fumes, dust, and grease).
• Reliability & Punctuality: Dependable attendance to keep shop workflow moving smoothly.
• Safety-First Mindset: Strict adherence to PPE, lockout/tagout awareness, safety protocols, and safe lifting practices.
• Proactive Initiative: Ability to identify tasks (e.g., restocking, sweeping, organizing) during shop downtime without constant supervision.
• Communication & Teamwork: Follows direction accurately from lead technicians and shop management while working collaboratively.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting a maintenance shop, diesel fleet, heavy equipment operation, recycling facility, industrial operation, or multi-site organization.

Physical and Work Environment Requirements

Position includes office/administrative work as well as periodic work in maintenance shops, yards, warehouses, recycling facilities, and vendor locations. Must be able to safely walk through industrial environments, climb steps as needed, and work around trucks, heavy equipment, noise, dust, and changing weather conditions. Must be able to lift and carry parts, packages, or supplies up to approximately 40 pounds when assisting with pickups and deliveries. Some travel between Foss Recycling locations and local vendors is expected based on operational needs. Schedule flexibility may occasionally be required for urgent maintenance needs, project coordination, or time‑sensitive deliveries.

Work Schedule

The regular work schedule for this position is 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on scheduled workdays. The daily schedule includes the following breaks:

• 15-minute break at 10:00 a.m.
• One-hour meal break.
• 15-minute break at 3:00 p.m.

Schedule flexibility and additional hours may occasionally be required based on maintenance emergencies, project requirements, deliveries, or other operational needs.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, qualifications, or working conditions. Responsibilities may be modified based on business and operational needs.