Warehouse Associate

Forward Air

Irvine, CA

JOB DETAILS
SALARY
$18–$20
SKILLS
Administrative Skills, Cargo/Freight, Communication Skills, Computer Systems, Documentation, English Language, Forklift, Forklift License, Information/Data Security (InfoSec), Inventory Cycle Counts, Inventory Management, Inventory Reports, Leadership, Lift/Move 50 Pounds, Loading Dock, Loading/Unloading, Logistics, Maintain Compliance, Metrics, Mobile Devices, OSHA, Operational Support, Operations Processes, Order Picking/Packing, Order Processing, Order/Customer Fulfillment, Pallet Jack, Performance Metrics, Physical Demands, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Procedure Development, Quality Assurance, Quality Metrics, Regulatory Compliance, Returns Processing, Service Level Agreement (SLA), Shipping Requirements, Shipping/Receiving, Space Operations, Warehousing
LOCATION
Irvine, CA
POSTED
Today

The Warehouse Associate is responsible for daily customer order fulfillment activities within an assigned facility. They are cross-trained in multiple warehouse disciplines and are responsible for supporting warehouse operations and administrative functions, including receiving, order filling, picking, packing, shipping, returns, replenishment, inventory, and value-added service. They play a key role in ensuring inventory is handled safely, accurately, and efficiently while supporting the flow of operational documentation and information from warehouse offices. They work closely with site leaders, carriers, drivers, and internal support teams to maintain safety, productivity, accuracy, and service quality. 

 

Compensation:  $18.00-$20.00 per hour

 

Responsibilities

  • Load, unload, move, stage, sort, and position inventory from loading docks, delivery trucks, and storage areas using approved lifting techniques and appropriate material handling equipment (MHE) such as pallet jacks, carts, and dollies.
  • Pick, pack, label, and prepare freight for shipping and delivery in accordance with operating procedures.
  • Label, scan, track, and document freight using handheld scanners and company systems to ensure accuracy and documentation integrity.
  • Verify incoming shipments against packing lists and ensure compliance with consolidating, receiving, and staging procedures.
  • Store cargo in assigned locations using cargo boards, pallets, and designated storage methods.
  • Fulfill daily picking and order requirements in accordance with KPIs and client SLAs, following established picking procedures.
  • Report inventory discrepancies, shortages, or picking issues promptly to the Warehouse Supervisor.
  • Perform Value Added Services (VAS) according to client and department store guidelines, including ticketing, labeling, hanging, folding, and inspecting inventory.
  • Follow inventory control procedures to manage shortages, discrepancies, and adjustments, coordinating with the Inventory Supervisor as needed.
  • Complete quality checks and cycle count requests, documenting findings and reporting results as required.
  • Ensure outbound shipments meet quality assurance standards based on designated carrier, order type, and client requirements.
  • Pack and process orders according to client‑specific and order‑type procedures to ensure accuracy and shipment integrity.
  • Apply correct packing and shipping labels, ensuring proper placement and compliance with shipping requirements.
  • Stage completed orders in assigned outbound locations based on order type and carrier.
  • Execute replenishment activities by transferring pallets and cartons to designated pick or pallet locations to support open orders.
  • Inspect and process returns by identifying damaged inventory versus stock eligible for return to inventory and restocking accordingly.
  • Communicate space constraints, operational roadblocks, or safety concerns to the Site leadership.
  • Support daily/routine maintenance of the warehouse/site, including but not limited to sweeping, collecting empty boxes, debris, and shrink wrap from the floor, gathering and disposing of trash, and operating a cardboard baler. 
  • Safely operate and assist with material handling equipment and dock tools, following all safety, OSHA, and PPE requirements.
  • Work assigned schedules, including nights, weekends, holidays, and overtime as required by business needs.
  • All other duties as assigned to meet evolving business needs.

 

Qualifications

  • Education: High School Diploma or General Education Development (GED) equivalent required.
  • Certification/Licensure: Valid forklift certification/licensure (or ability to obtain prior to operating equipment) preferred.
  • Willingness and ability to learn and use warehouse, logistics, and shipment‑tracking systems, handheld scanners, and office tools in a fast-paced, metrics-driven environment. 
  • Communication: Ability to communicate effectively in English, verbally and in writing, to understand safety and operational instructions, work assignments, and freight documentation.
  • Ability to recognize numbers, labels, barcodes, and freight markings accurately, and to perform basic arithmetic to verify freight counts, quantities, and weights.
  • Basic arithmetic skills to verify freight counts, quantities, and weights.
  • Technology: Willingness and ability to learn and use basic computer systems, handheld scanners, and freight-tracking devices.
  • Equipment: Ability to safely operate box cutters, cardboard balers, and material handling equipment (MHE) such as pallet jacks, dollies, hand trucks, order pickers, pallet riders, conveyors, dock plates, dock levelers, sit-down/stand-up forklifts and reach trucks (with company-assisted certification/training), and/or other specialized MHE as required by the site.
  • Ability to maintain regular and predictable attendance.
  • Physical Demands: Extensive standing, walking, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, and twisting for 8-12 hours per/shift, with the ability to lift, push, pull, and carry freight up to 50lbs without assistance, with occasional lifting of freight up to 75lbs with assistance or mechanical aids throughout each 8-12 hour shift, multiple times per/week. 
  • Vision, hearing, and verbal communication skills sufficient to work safely in a noisy dock environment.
  • Demonstrated discretion and confidentiality in handling and protecting sensitive information.
  • Environment: Comfort commuting to/from and working in a 100% on‑site setting (listed in this posting). Ability to work safely around moving equipment, vehicles, and freight in a non-climate-controlled environment, including frequent exposure to temperature extremes (both hot and cold), occasional outdoor work and/or exposure to precipitation (rain, sleet, snow, etc.), regular exposure to moving equipment, vehicle traffic, exhaust, dust, and moderate to loud noise. 

About the Company

F

Forward Air

Since 1990, Forward Air has been a leading provider of ground transportation and related logistics services to the North American air freight and expedited LTL market. We offer surface shipping on an accelerated “time-definite” basis, delivering cargo at a specific time, but under less time-sensitive situations – supplying you with a cost effective, reliable alternative to air transportation. We work with companies of all sizes to develop tangible advantages and build the best products to meet your specific needs. Forward Air presents to the wholesale transportation community (logistics companies, freight forwarders, integrated air cargo carriers, passenger/ cargo airlines, and non-traditional shippers), a single-source provider that can deliver more supply chain services and a superior menu of choices. Throughout the years we have added supplementary lines to our linehaul service, such as full truckload operations (Truckload Services), final-mile coverage (Complete® Cartage), and an Airline Logistics program, and we will continue to expand our services to meet the changing needs and growth of our customer base.

Forward Air is structured to optimize both savings and service to our customers. Direct partnerships with owner-operators and other surface transportation providers, enable us to remain cost-competitive. The Forward Air network is designed with over 90 facilities located at or near major U.S. and Canadian airports, 12 regional sort centers and over 300 beyond points (secondary airports provided through our Complete Cartage service), creating one of the most comprehensive linehaul networks in the industry.

The foundation product for Forward Air is our expedited linehaul service, offering consistent and reliable transit and on-time, damage-free deliveries. By locating terminals on or near airports and maintaining a scheduled transportation network, we are able to arrange for convenient and consistent service with broad geographic coverage. Shipments of varying sizes (TL/LTL) are received at our terminals and transported by contracted service providers either (1) on a direct truck to the destination terminal, (2) through our Columbus, Ohio central sorting hub, or (3) through one of our 12 regional hubs, where they are unloaded, sorted, and reloaded in rapid fashion. After reloading the shipments, our contracted service providers deliver them to the destination city for early morning recovery. Through our Forward Air Complete® cartage service, customers also can have shipments picked up from the shipper, delivered to the final consignee, or transferred at the airport, simplifying the freight management processes. These options allow us to maximize handling efficiency of each shipment while minimizing freight loss and damage, improving transit times over traditional ground transportation.

COMPANY SIZE
2,500 to 4,999 employees
INDUSTRY
Transport and Storage - Materials
FOUNDED
1981
WEBSITE
https://www.forwardair.com/content/careers-0