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Equipment Operator/Forklift Driver - Shipping - 1st shift

Smithfield Foods
$22.00 / hr
United States, Iowa, Orange City
101 14th Street Southeast (Show on map)
Jul 23, 2025

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A great job-and a great future-awaits you at Smithfield Foods. We are an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. We're looking for motivated people who want to join our team and grow lasting and meaningful careers with us. Apply Now!

Your Opportunity

Our team members receive industry-leading wages and are eligible for great benefits packages:

  • Hourly Competitive Starting Pay - $22.00/hour
  • Comprehensive Health Insurance, Retirement Benefits and More.

Job Summary:

This position is responsible for the loading and unloading trailers with miscellaneous freight, perform various handling duties but not limited to upkeep of a high lift stand-up forklift, recording the use of materials out of and into the freezer, properly managing product storage and material flow in the frozen warehouse, processing all relevant paperwork correctly and the basic forklift maintenance.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities: (To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Other duties may be assigned)

  • Follow all Personnel Safety and Food Safety policies/procedures, GMP's and plant rules.
  • Prior to using equipment, performs operations and safety check including, battery,
  • brakes, lift controls, fluids, and fire extinguisher. Signs off on daily equipment check list certifying everything is in good operating condition.
  • Safely drives forklift to assigned area and proceeds to load/unload shipments checking documents required to assure job is being done correctly and without damage.
  • Carefully inspects freight for damage, verifies piece count and notates any discrepancies on the trailer manifest.
  • Assists other employees when needed with loading, lifting, and searching for freight.
  • Operate Forklift in a safely manner - Use caution when driving around corners, backing up and in or out of different departments. Forklift Operators must sound the horn before any of the above moves and must drive in control at all times. Excessive speed will not be tolerated.
  • Report any new damage to supervisor before forklift usage.
  • Parking forklifts at the end of the day at their appropriate stations for re-charging batteries
  • Establish and maintain a positive working relationship with other employees and supervisors.
  • Ability to work overtime as department and plant operations demand.
  • Flexible hours as needed.
  • All other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily according to the work instructions and must be certified as competent on the job by the direct supervisor. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education, Certifications and Experience requirement

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Must be able to get forklift certified through Premium Pet Health Company before employment and/or promotion begins per OSHA regulations

Minimum: Basic mathematical skills required; addition, and subtraction. At least six months of prior Forklift operator experience/certification in Warehouse/Dock areas. Six months of solid work history within a manufacturing plant, food industry or Warehouse. Must write legibly.

Preferred: High school diploma or equivalent. Previous high lift forklift experience.

Language and Technical Skills requirement

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals written in English.

Ability to work with or without supervision. Ability to interact properly and efficiently with people. Also, ability to work effectively and safely under pressure. Organization, communication, teamwork, and communication skills. Ability to recognize materials, products, equipment and tools in detail.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as weights being loaded.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to solve practical problems (such as organizing racks, getting to hard to reach materials). Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Key Contacts

  • Extensive contact with, Warehouse Manager
  • Extensive contact with, shift operation supervisors (Day and Night shifts)
  • Extensive contact with other employees

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

  • Must be able to pass a pre employment drug and physical test
  • Must be dependable, reliable, and mature enough to handle equipment safe and sensible manner
  • Must be able to operate a non-motorized pallet jack
  • Must have the ability to operate a forklift and stand-up forklift
Relocation Package Available No

EEO Information

Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757-357-1595.

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