Reach Truck Operator

Founded in 2013, Home Chef is the leading meal solutions company with both a retail and online presence. Available online at homechef.com and in retail at more than 2,100 Kroger grocery stores, Home Chef is committed to inspiring and enabling more people to cook simple, delicious meals, no matter how busy they are.

In 2023, Home Chef introduced a new brand, Tempo! Tempo features a rotating selection of ready-to-heat meals delivered directly to your door. These meals are better-for-you versions of familiar favorites, designed to save you time and reduce stress while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Our Tempo menu includes options that are protein-packed, fiber-rich, calorie and carb conscious, keto-friendly, and dietitian-approved.

Similar to our recipes, we recognize that variety is the spice of life, and therefore, our employees also bring their uniqueness and color to our fantastic team. We’re eager to work with humble team players and pragmatic next-level thinkers to innovate on Home Chef’s offerings.

This role follows a 1st shift schedule, working from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with designated days off on Monday & Tuesday.

Reach Truck Operators are primarily responsible for the movement of all received pallets through the facility, owning correct FEFO/FIFO as they manage organization of storage and proper rotation. They handle the loading of finished goods, transfers, and donations pallets on outbound trailers; keeping meticulous load diagrams. The operators perform all tasks and duties  in a safe, timely, and organized manner in accordance with SOPs and Home Chef's commitment to safety first, quality always.

Detailed Responsibilities

Receiving

• Ensure inbound trailers have been safely secured per safety guidelines prior to unloading.
• Unload pallets and stage in designated areas on dock for receiving and QA inspection.
• Palletize all mixed products onto separate pallets to assist with accuracy of inspection and receipt.
• Upon completion of receipt, scan pallets and ensure they have both QA sticker and Receiving License Plate and that the License Plate is fully completed.  Haul those tagged pallets to the correct storage location. 
• If there are older pallets of like product in elevated storage locations, the operator must rotate that down into the selection position and place the newly received pallet in an elevated storage location as close to the selection bin as possible.  This helps with inventory counting and item rotation for future shifts.
• Keep the dock clear of debris by cleaning up while working.  This precludes safety risks and food safety concerns.
• Keep pallets and receiving tools organized on the dock.

Production Support

• Verify all products being issued to production teams against drop list, production sheet, or boxing call out to preclude introducing the wrong product into assembly or portioning.
• Keep production drop zones stocked per guidelines communicated by lead/supervisor.
• Keep drop zones clean, organized, and free of debris or broken pallets.
• Ensure all pallets being returned to locations are not mixed and all boxes are taped and labeled per our food safety requirements. 

Shipping

• Ensure outbound trailer has been safely secured per safety guidelines and inspecting for debris, holes, pests, or temperature deviations prior to loading.
• Identify pallets to be loaded from the applicable staging area.
• Load pallets and complete load diagrams accurately.
• Seal truck and turn load diagram in to lead/supervisor for driver pick up.
• Remove the safety device once paperwork is turned in so the driver can hook up to the designated trailer upon arrival.
•  Keep the dock clear of debris by cleaning up while working.  This precludes safety risks and food safety concerns.
• Keep pallets and shipping tools organized on the dock.

Organize Warehouse

• Keep the warehouse organized by ensuring all products go back to the proper location after use.
• Keep items grouped together for easier location of product.  No mixed pallets in storage or pick bays.   
• Uses the reach truck to pull down existing pallets in higher elevations to put the newest product in those double or drive in locations PRIOR to placing newly received product in those storage locations. 
• Proactively ensures that older products are rotated down to floor selection/pick positions for quick retrieval by warehouse associates or inventory to supply production in an expedient manner. 
• Proactively keeps the selection/pick positions replenished to minimize downtime for warehouse associates to fulfill production requests.
• Remove broken pallets or empty pallets from selection bins as applicable.  
• Sort broken pallets from usable ones.  Stacking all usable pallets in quantities of 10-15 and wrapping in designated color.  All bad pallets are wrapped in red or designated color  and placed on a pallet trailer or designated area until removed from the facility.  All good stacks of pallets will be placed in the racks together for ease of counting.
• Assist with preparing all products on pallets for hold, donations, resale, or returning to the vendor.  This includes stacking, wrapping, tagging, and hauling to designated areas for disposition.

Support other Warehouse functions

• We are one team. Team members are expected to assist with completing any function needed for our company to deliver finished goods to the customer. This includes using all other equipment certified on, performing all warehouse tasks, or assisting other departments to get the job done for the day.

General Responsibilities

• Follow all safety procedures throughout execution of all tasks.  This includes, but is not limited to, performing pre-shift equipment checks for all equipment used and wearing required PPE. Safety first!
• Follow the facility GMPs and help enforce them throughout the facility.
• Sign for all equipment needed to perform your duties.  Ensure these are signed back in upon completion of shift. 
• Support the efforts of the company to maintain our food safety system (SQF) and quality programs. Quality always!  Forklift/Reach truck operators own the proper organization of all goods in the warehouse.  They are expected to be versed on all warehouse SOPS regarding this.
• Be respectful of others.  Team members are expected to carry themselves in a professional manner in all situations and at all times.

Qualifications:

• Previous experience using standup counterbalance forklift / reach truck preferred.
• General high school degree, or equivalent, (e.g. GED).

More About Us

Perks and Benefits

• Candidates can experience Home Chef as a customer - enter promo code PEOPLE30 for $30 off your first order!
• Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance available
• Paid holidays, sick time and vacation time
• 401k program
• Flexible spending accounts for qualified medical, dependent care, parking, or transit expenses

How We Work Together

We are humble team players.
We are warm and gracious with team members and customers. We seek feedback to improve ourselves - and respectfully listen to and accept input.

We are pragmatic next-level thinkers.
We come up with novel and unique ideas. We explore new strategies to avoid being constrained by conventional thinking.

We take ownership.
We approach ambiguous problems, prepared to dive in, get curious, and learn more. We are results-driven, always challenging ourselves to exceed goals.

Be at Home at Home Chef

We all show up authentically at Home Chef. Our team includes individuals with a variety of identities, backgrounds, and perspectives. You can trust that you’ll be able to bring your whole self to an inclusive and enjoyable workplace.

We welcome people of all races, colors, religions, national origin or ancestry, sex (including sexual identity), age, physical or mental disabilities, pregnancy, veteran or military status, unfavorable discharge from military service, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, order of protection status, citizenship status, arrest record or expunged/sealed convictions, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state, or local law.

Home Chef is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Home Chef will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact our People team at hr@homechef.com.

Home Chef offers the base salary range as posted below, with the exact offer depending on factors such as geographic location, experience, skills, and internal equity. While compensation is within the provided range, it is not typical for offers to be made at the upper end. In addition to base salary, Home Chef provides a comprehensive benefits package, including healthcare coverage, 401k match, and paid time off.

Illinois Pay Range$23.75—$23.75 USD

To view the California Applicant Notice click here