Warehouse and Operations as a Career

Hi all, I’m Marty and welcome back to Warehouse and Operations as a Career. 

Today we’re talking about one of the more important roles on the shipping side of things, and oddly, it’s hardly ever brought up. I find myself discussing it today only because a listener wrote in that they had applied for the position and was told they would need at least 1 year of equipment experience for the position. We’re talking about the Short Chaser. 

If you’ve never worked in a high-volume grocery, retail, produce, or foodservice DC, this position may not even be on your radar. But if you have, well, you know why I mentioned it’s a very important role. When a trailer is staged, sealed, and about to be dispatched or leave the yard, yet the paperwork says we’re missing a case of product, there is only one person standing between our success and customer dissatisfaction. The Short Chaser. 

Today we’re going to break down why the position exists, how the WMS helps drive it, some of the different types of equipment used to accomplish the task, the pressure and safety considerations, and why it’s actually one of the best career-building roles in outbound operations. But then, as we’ve learned, in my humble opinion anyway, is that every position in the light industrial fields are great career building opportunities.  

So why is the short chaser needed or why is it such an important role? Well, in large distribution centers, outbound selection is built on speed and engineered productivity standards. The Order Selectors are measured by things like cases per hour (CPH), lines per hour, and maybe pallets per hour. And then you’ll have their Direct vs. indirect time metrics and travel time efficiency. In these environments, we cannot afford for selectors to stop and wait when a pick slot is empty. 

So here’s what happens. A selector travels down the aisle. They scan the location. The slot is empty. The Replenishment hasn’t been dropped yet or the inventory count is off for one reason or another. Instead of waiting, which would destroy productivity metrics and delay the batch, the selector marks the item short in their RF unit and continues moving. The Warehouse Management System (WMS) logs that short against the load. Multiply that by 40 to 60 selectors across a shift. It adds up quick! Now you have a short list or another batch created. 

Once the replenishment has been made, the WMS recognizes that inventory is now available. It then creates what most operations call a short batch. This batch includes load number, trailer number, stop number, SKU or item number, quantity shorted, slot location, and required completion time or dispatch time. The Short Chaser logs into their RF device and sees a prioritized list, usually sorted by the dispatch time. So, this role is a little bit selection, and a little bit loading, but really 100% recovery. The order selectors are pulling throughout the shift, the short chaser is of course running behind the original batch, gathering any missed or shorted cases. That means the Short Chaser operates closest to dispatch time. And in distribution, the dispatch time is sacred. If a trailer misses its dispatch window drivers lose hours, customer delivery windows are affected, route sequencing breaks down, we’re outside the WMS perimeters, think of it as manual mode, and of course overtime increases and service levels can drop. So the Short Chaser works under what I like to call controlled urgency. Not chaos or panic. But controlled urgency! 

Now Depending on the facility, the Short Chaser may use several types of powered industrial equipment. In the produce or specialty world we may be using the single electric rider pallet jack. Ideal for quickly grabbing partial pallets or a few cases and delivering them directly to dock or staging area for the loaders or even running the product out to the yard and adding them to the trailer. Fast, agile, and highly maneuverable. When multiple shorts are tied to the same trailer or dispatch times, the double rider jack allows movement of two pallets at once, reducing travel time and improving efficiency. We may even use the sit-down forklift, it could be used when handling full pallets, or delivering larger quantities of freight directly to trailers staged in the yard. Of course, the short chaser role requires certification and strong equipment handling skills. There is no room for unsafe operation, especially with urgency involved. 

I mentioned the yard, maybe I should explain what I meant. In many large operations, once trailers are loaded, they are pulled from dock doors and staged in the yard awaiting dispatch or the driver arriving. The Short Chaser’s job can expand beyond the building. They may need to identify the correct trailer in the yard, verify trailer number and route number, confirm the stop sequence, properly load secure the product, ensure the load stability and communicate back to dispatch that the load is complete and ready to go. 

Sounds simple right? Think about this though. Delivering a short to the wrong trailer is worse than not delivering it at all. Because now you’ve created two shortages. Again, in our environment, accuracy is critical. Let’s paint a real-world scenario. It’s 45 minutes before dispatch. Three trailers are staged. The short batch drops with 22 SKUs, across 3 routes, with 3 different dispatch times. What does a great Short Chaser do? They prioritize by dispatch time, our warehouse route complexity or the possible different pick path we’ll be taking, the items difficulty, or things like stack ability and weight. We can’t stack a 50 case on top of eggs, and then of course the yard location. They communicate early. They don’t wait until 5 minutes before dispatch to say, “I can’t find this item.” They involve replenishment or inventory control immediately. 

Here’s where, I feel, the role becomes powerful for career growth. A strong Short Chaser begins to recognize patterns. They see certain SKUs consistently being shorted, replenishments that seem to always take longer to be made, slotting inefficiencies, Mis-picks during selection and cycle count issues. They begin to understand the system says one thing, but the slot sometimes says another. This is how future inventory control specialists are born. This is how future supervisors learn to ask things like why are we shorting this item three times a week? I guess I’m saying the short chaser sees things and we should speak up and communicate. It’ll only help us in our careers.    

Ok, I’ve used the word urgency several times, but it cannot override our discipline. A few of the common risks in this role include speeding through the aisles, cutting through the cross aisles, yard traffic, blind corner visibility issues and fatigue late in shift when people are tired. The expectation must be clear. You cannot rush safety.  

When Short Chasers perform well, our success shows with improved on-time dispatch, higher fill rates, reduced customer claims, and reduced driver wait time. Operations managers know a strong short chasing process protects revenue, because incomplete deliveries damage our customer relationships. 

And our modern WMS platforms are becoming more advanced too. We now see real-time replenishment triggers, automated alerts for low slots, dynamic slotting has really helped the order selector, Voice-directed picking systems and even AI forecasting.  All these improvements reduce shorts, but they will never eliminate them entirely. Physical inventory and system inventory will never be perfect. There will always be human error, inventory discrepancies, slotting adjustments and late replenishments.  

Here’s why I believe this is one of the strongest development roles in outbound operations. The Short Chaser learns WMS navigation and logic, Dispatch prioritization, Yard operations and why trailers are staged where they are, Cross-department communication, Inventory issues, and how to balance productivity. This naturally transitions into dock Lead or outbound Lead roles. Dispatch Coordinator, Inventory Control assignments and even Supervisor positions. 

The best ones share some of these common traits. We’ll be calm under pressure, detail-oriented, and be a strong communicator, confident and skilled on the equipment, system literate and safety disciplined.  

So if you’re listening today and you’re working in sanitation, selection, loading, or general warehouse operations and you want to understand the bigger picture, pay attention to the Short Chaser role. 

When that trailer door closes and the seal goes on and the route leaves complete and accurate, that’s not luck. That’s execution. And the Short Chaser is often the last line of defense before that door shuts. 

Well, there’s a bit on another great light industrial position! I hope you all join us again next week, and that each of you sends over a topic you’d like to hear a bit about. We love getting mail each week! Until then, remember to put safety first in all that you do and to never get on or touch a machine or piece of powered industrial equipment you’ve not been trained on and certified to operate. Yall be safe out there.

Welcome back to Warehouse and Operations as a Career. I’m Marty, and today we’re talking about a piece of equipment that almost everyone in our industry recognizes, but not everyone fully understands it. If you’re a long time listener you’ll remember I spent about 6 years operating it on the 2nd shift, in the outbound operations within the food service distribution arena.

We’re going to talk about the cherry picker today. Now its proper name, or if your ordering one from the manufacturer, it’ll be referred to as an order picker. This machine helped shape the modern warehouse, the newer e-commerce departments, and really, distribution as a whole. It’s increased productivity, allowed us to build higher racking, with many more selection slots, helping reduce the buildings footprint, reducing the cost of real-estate needed. But it’s also one of the most unforgiving pieces of equipment to operate. So today, I want to really walk through where the order picker came from, why it exists, what it’s good at, where and what it struggles with, how it’s used, and most importantly, the dangers, limitations, and responsibility that come with it. This isn’t just about the equipment. And I know I harp on it, but it’s about our mindset, maturity, and our career. And you ought to know, I’m going to take this opportunity to again stating that you should never get on or even touch a piece of equipment or machine that you have not been trained and certified to be on. Now that all that’s out of the way, let’s talk about the cherry picker!

Believe it or not, the cherry picker didn’t start in a warehouse. Its earliest versions were used in agriculture, specifically for harvesting fruit. Farmers needed a way to lift workers safely into trees so they could hand-pick produce without ladders or unsafe climbing. The concept was simple, instead of bringing the fruit down, bring the worker up. As warehousing evolved, especially in the mid-20th century, that same idea became essential indoors. Warehouses started growing up instead of out. Land became expensive. Inventory counts increased. SKU or item counts exploded. Full pallets weren’t always the answer anymore. Traditional forklifts could move pallets just fine, but they couldn’t safely lift people to pick individual cases. And that’s where the order picker was born. By combining a powered industrial truck with an elevated operator platform, warehouses could store product higher, pick individual cases efficiently, reduce walking and ladder use, and dramatically increase picking productivity.

Over time, these machines were refined with better controls, safety systems, harness requirements, and more stable designs. What we ended up with is one of the most productive, and demanding machines in the building.

The defining feature of an order picker is simple but powerful, the operator rises or goes up in the air, up to the higher pick slots with the platform and forks, with a pallet usually. And that changed everything. Instead of pulling pallets down to floor level or relying on ladders and mezzanines, the operator works directly at the pick face or pick slot.

Here’s why that matters. First, vertical access.

Order pickers allow warehouses to fully utilize high-bay racking. Space that would otherwise be wasted becomes valuable inventory real estate. Second, case-level picking. This machine is built for piece and case selection, not full pallet movement. That makes it ideal for retail, grocery, and e-commerce operations where accuracy matters as much as or more than speed. Third, productivity and accuracy. A trained operator following a clean pick path can maintain a strong cases-per-hour average while reducing errors, with less walking, less searching for the product, less backtracking. And fourth, when used properly, reduced physical strain. The machine does the lifting, not the operator. No constant ladder climbing. No unsafe stretching to reach the product. And no carrying cases long distances. But, and this is a biggie, all of those benefits only exist when the equipment is used correctly and the warehouse is layed out and slotted properly.

It needs to be said that order pickers are a specialized piece of equipment. They are not one-size-fits-all machines. They perform best in the high-bay warehouses, and narrow-aisle configurations. They require clean, dry, flat floors, and facilities with defined pick paths and in operations with high SKU and item counts.

They are common in retail distribution centers, grocery warehouses and those large e-commerce fulfillment operations. They are not ideal for outdoor use, on uneven or damaged flooring, and up front in our dock areas or congested pedestrian zones and walkways. If your facility isn’t designed for elevated picking, an order picker becomes more risk than reward.

Now we get to the part that separates training from experience. The order picker is one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment in the warehouse if misused. The biggest risk is obvious, falls from height. That’s why harnesses and are not optional and why lanyards must be properly anchored and why gates must be closed before elevation. A fall from an order picker is rarely a minor incident. It’s usually life-altering or worse.

Another major risk is stability. Order pickers are designed to lift vertically, not travel or turn at height. Sudden movements, improper positioning, or failure to fully lower before traveling can and will create serious tip-over hazards. Then there are the pinch points and struck-by hazards. Operators work inches from steel racking, the beams, and product. One moment of distraction can result in crushed fingers, head injuries, or worse. And I want to point out, one of the most common unsafe behaviors, and that is overreaching. Instead of repositioning the truck, operators may stretch just a little farther. That’s when our balance can be or is lost, and that’s when falls happen. Your machine will always win that fight.

A professional order picker operator follows a rhythm and the rules. It starts with his or her pre-shift inspection. Brakes, tires, controls, mast, chains, horn, lights, harness, and lanyard. This isent just more paperwork or a law, it’s self-preservation! Mounting the platform means three points of contact. Harness on. Lanyard secured and the gate closed and latched.

Traveling means forks down, eyes up, horn used when needed, and awareness of surroundings. When elevating, the operator is square to the rack, lifts smoothly, and keeps their body inside the platform. No leaning and no shortcuts. After the pick is completed, the platform comes all the way down before travel every time. That consistency, following the procedure is what prevents injuries.

Lets see, what else, uh, let’s talk about some of the controls. Theres several different models but most order pickers share common controls, forward and reverse travel, lift and lower, steering controls, a horn, an emergency stop, a deadman switch, and a battery indicator, and a pallet clamp or pallet grab vice. A trained operator doesn’t just know what each control does. They know to use them.

It’s important to understand that training is not optional. Operating an order picker is not a right, and it’s a lot of responsibility. Of course that proper training includes classroom instruction, demonstration of the controls and handling, a hands-on evaluation, a review of the site-specific hazards and the observation and certification. Our powered industrial truck training or PIT training. And here’s another opportunity for me to state to never, ever, get on or touch a piece of equipment or machine that you’ve not been trained or certified to be on or operate!

And remember that authorization can be removed if unsafe behavior is observed or we don’t act and operate it responsibly, and that’s not punishment, that’s our own fault and for our own good and the good of others. Because the goal isn’t speed. The goal is going home.

Here’s the bigger takeaway. The order picker rewards discipline, patience, awareness and respect for process and position.

By the way, those same traits are what make great leads, supervisors, and managers. People who master this equipment often become the people others trust because they understand the consequences. The cherry picker teaches you that rushing doesn’t save time. Shortcuts don’t make you efficient and safety isn’t a rule, it’s a responsibility.

I loved my time on the cherry picker, it is one of the most powerful tools in the warehouse and one of the most dangerous when disrespected. The difference in those two statements isn’t the machine. It’s the operator.

I always love talking about the many different pieces of equipment and the machines we use in our industry. If you have any positions or tools used in the light industry world, shoot us an email to [email protected] or post a comment on our Facebook page using @whseops, or hit us up on Instagram at waocpodcast and I’ll do my best to find us an answer! Well, I hope you enjoyed today’s episode and thanks for spending your time with us, and I’d appreciate it if you’d share the show with a friend or two! Remember to respect our equipment, to be safe at all we do, and that we have others depending on us and waiting for us to return home each day! Y’all be safe out there!

Let’s talk about something that doesn’t get people excited. No machines, nothing about forklifts, and no mention of productivity or numbers. I’d like to talk about paperwork. I know I know, but this isn’t boring paperwork. This is the paperwork of life. The kind of documents that quietly follow you from your first job all the way to retirement. The kind that, when handled correctly, makes life easier, and when ignored, can create stress, delays, lost money, or even lost opportunities. 

I was looking for the right word here, I highlighted the words personal responsibility, and that’s not what I’m looking for, but there are things we, ourselves, need to make sure we get right. So instead of harping on what we need to do I’ll just speak to it in an, “I’ve seen how this plays out” kind of way. Because here’s the truth, no company, no HR department, no recruiter, no government agency cares about your paperwork more than you do, and they never will. 

When someone gets a job offer, they’re excited. And they should be. But onboarding isn’t just about orientation videos and a badge. From day one, you’re asked to complete documents like I-9 employment verification, W-4 tax forms, Direct deposit information, Benefit elections, Emergency contacts, Policy acknowledgments. And these aren’t just forms. These documents determine whether you can legally work, how and when you get paid, how much tax is withheld, whether you have insurance, and who gets called if there are any problems or emergencies. 

When onboarding paperwork is filled out incorrectly, or rushed through, problems can start immediately. Delayed paychecks. Incorrect tax withholdings. Missed benefits. And the worst part? Most of those problems are preventable. Here’s a tip or an opinion I guess, if a document affects your pay, your health, or your job security, slow down. Ask questions if you do not understand something. Especially anything like deductions. Read what you’re signing. If you don’t understand a box, don’t guess. Guessing on official paperwork almost always comes back around to us. 

The I-9 form is one of the most misunderstood documents in employment, and one of the most important. This form verifies your identity and your legal authorization to work in the United States. It requires specific documents, completed within a specific timeframe. If our hiring agent doesn’t properly complete the I-9 you may not be allowed to start work. Your employment could be delayed, or you could be terminated, not for performance, but for a compliance issue. This isn’t personal. It’s just the law. As a worker, our responsibility is simple but serious. We need to bring valid, acceptable documents, make sure names match exactly, and pay attention to dates and signatures. Just this week I’ve heard about 3 individuals that met all the qualifications for a position, interviewed great, was offered the position, only to say that they didn’t bring 2 forms of I.D. Their hiring process was delayed until they could return with their documents. For one of them the position was filled before she could return. And to our recruiter, being unprepared for an I-9 and the onboarding sends a message, fair or not, that you didn’t take the process seriously. 

Taxes are another area where people often say, I’ll just fill it out the way I always do. That mindset can cause problems for us. Your W-4 determines how much money is withheld from each paycheck. Too little withheld? You might owe money at tax time. Too much withheld? You’re giving the government an interest-free loan all year. And it’s important to remember that life changes, marriage, kids, second jobs, side work, all affect how your W-4 should be filled out. Here’s another tip or opinion! Our paycheck is our responsibility. If something looks off, ask about it immediately. Waiting six weeks doesn’t fix it, it only multiplies the problem. 

I want to mention a bit on our personal records too. Health records, Immunizations, Vaccinations, Physicals. In warehousing, manufacturing, transportation, and logistics, these come up more than people realize. Certain jobs, sites, or clients may require proof of Tetanus shots, Hepatitis vaccinations, physical capability exams or ergonomic testing, even drug screening history. Yes, these request or needs are rare in our field, but if you can’t produce records, you may be delayed from starting a job, or even be excluded from certain assignments or have to repeat tests at your own expense. Keeping copies of our health records is important, it’s about preparedness. Create a simple system, a physical folder at home, or digital copies on a secure drive with clear file names and dates. This is one of those, future you will be thankful for, habits. 

Oh and many people assume education records don’t matter once they’re working. That’s not always true. High school diplomas, GEDs, college transcripts, certifications, licenses, these documents can come up when applying for leadership roles, moving into safety or compliance positions, transitioning into office or management roles and applying for specialized training. Saying I completed it is not the same as proving it. If you’ve earned something, keep the documentation. You worked for it. Don’t let missing paperwork slow your progress later. 

And here’s another free opinion! Your resume should never be written in a panic. It should be updated after each role, after learning new equipment, when gaining certifications, and after taking on leadership tasks. Too many people try to rebuild their entire work history the night before applying for a job, and details get lost. Dates get fuzzy. Job titles blur and we’ll leave off some of our accomplishments. A resume isn’t just for job hunting. It’s a record of our career. Here’s another unsolicited opinion of mine! Keep a running document. Add bullet points as you go. That away when opportunity shows up, you’ll be ready. 

Now let’s talk about open enrollment, this is where people can get hurt financially. Open enrollment windows are like written in stone. Miss them, and you may be locked out of Health insurance, Dental and vision, Life insurance or Disability coverage until the next enrollment period. Saying “I didn’t know” doesn’t reopen the window. This happened to me last year. I asked about the dental and vision offerings, but I didn’t follow up when no one got back to me. So I didn’t have dental and vision insurance! Understanding your benefits isn’t optional adulthood, it’s more like survival planning. If you don’t understand a benefit, ask HR. That’s what they’re there for. And don’t hesitate to follow up if you haven’t heard back. Ignoring enrollment because it feels overwhelming can cost thousands of dollars later. 

Here is a hard truth, deadlines don’t care about your schedule, your stress, or your intentions. Miss a form deadline and benefits don’t activate, our coverage can lapse, pay adjustments don’t happen. Professionals respect deadlines, even when the task isn’t exciting. And we are professionals, right? That’s part of being dependable. 

And all this documentation follows us right into retirement as well. At the end of your career, paperwork doesn’t stop, believe it or not it actually increases! Retirement accounts. Pension records. Social Security documentation. Healthcare elections. People who kept records throughout their career transition more smoothly. People who didn’t often scramble at the worst possible time. Your future self deserves better than all that last-minute chaos! 

I recently read something by a government agency. It said that paperwork isn’t the enemy, neglect is. It made me think a bit! 

The paperwork of life isn’t glamorous, but it is important. Careers don’t fall apart because of one bad day on the floor. They fall apart because of missed details spread out over time. Let’s all be sure to handle our paperwork with the same pride we bring to our work ethic. 

Oh, and I mentioned retirement a minute ago. One of the biggest myths is that retirement planning begins when you’re close to retirement. It doesn’t. It begins with your first benefit election, and your first 401(k) form, and your first beneficiary designation. The people who retire smoothly didn’t magically get organized at 60, they stayed consistent for decades. Every form you complete correctly today reduces stress tomorrow. Every document you keep track of becomes a gift to your future self. 

Let me leave this part with something simple and honest. Paperwork is how the world keeps score. It records who you are, what you’ve earned, what you’re entitled to, and how you’re protected. Ignoring it doesn’t make it go away, it just hands control to someone else. So lets take ownership of it, ask questions, respect those deadlines, and keep records.  

Ok, I’ll leave it at that. I don’t want it to sound like I’m standing up on a soap box here, but I’ve seen so many people struggle and take financial hits over the very things we discussed today. If you have any questions about anything I brought up, check with your HR department or a member of your management team, ask questions. And as always, feel free to send us an email to [email protected] and I’ll help find you an answer. Thanks for checking in and as always, please be safe in all you do.

When I talk about warehouse sanitation, I often say, “It’s a great way to get your foot in the door.” And every now and then, someone pushes back and says, “I don’t want to clean restrooms or take out trash.” I understand that reaction. On the surface, sanitation doesn’t sound exciting. It doesn’t come with a forklift, a title, or a clipboard. It came up again this week so I wanted to explain a little better what the warehouse sanitation role really is, what it teaches you, and why it has launched more warehouse careers than people realize.

Because warehouse sanitation is not just cleaning. It’s operations support. It’s safety. It’s compliance. And for the right person, it’s a proving ground. Think of it like this. At its core, warehouse sanitation exists to protect people, product, and the process. A clean warehouse is a safer warehouse, a compliant warehouse, and ultimately a more productive warehouse. Yes, sanitation associates may clean restrooms and remove trash, although a lot of times that’s more of a role for the janitorial folks and departments, anyway, that work matters more than people realize. But in a warehouse or production environment, sanitation includes maintaining dock areas, storage aisles, production zones, and shared spaces so that operations can run without interruption and bottlenecks.

Sanitation associates are often the first ones to notice leaks, spills, or damaged flooring, broken pallets and debris buildup, blocked exits or fire equipment, and unsafe conditions developing in the aisles, cross aisles, and dock areas over time. In many operations, especially your larger distribution operations, sanitation is not a background function, it is a frontline safety and compliance role. Auditors, inspectors, and customers notice cleanliness immediately, and sanitation teams are often the unsung reason a facility passes inspections.

One of the most valuable things a sanitation associate learns is Good Manufacturing Practices, or GMPs. GMPs teach the why behind the rules. Why food can’t touch the floor. Why personal items are restricted in production areas. Why cleaning tools and equipment are color-coded and why documentation is so important and matters.

Sanitation associates learn how contamination happens through people, equipment, and behavior. They learn how one mistake in one area can affect product quality downstream. Once someone understands GMPs, they become valuable across the entire warehouse. Receiving, picking, packing, shipping, and quality all rely on the same principles. GMP knowledge changes how people move, touch, store, and think about product. Sanitation associates don’t just follow rules, they help enforce a culture of cleanliness and accountability.

And sanitation work is structured. There are daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly cleaning schedules that must be followed. Sometimes called the Master Sanitation List. This teaches sanitation associates how to manage time independently, how to prioritize critical areas, and how to complete work without constant supervision, and then most importantly, how to properly document completed tasks.

Schedules don’t care if someone is motivated or not, the work still has to be done. Associates who learn to stay on schedule develop discipline quickly. When managers look for leads or trainers, they often look for people who can manage their time without reminders. Sanitation associates who consistently complete schedules are already proving they can handle responsibility.

We also may be given classes, training, and certifications on handling cleaning chemicals, another area where sanitation roles quietly build professional skills. Associates are trained on proper dilution ratios, PPE requirements, SDS sheets, and safe storage practices. They learn that stronger is not better, and that improper mixing can create hazards instead of preventing them. Chemical misuse can damage floors and equipment, create slip hazards, most importantly violating safety regulations. Learning to follow chemical procedures teaches precision, patience, and respect for process. Again, traits that are essential in equipment operation, quality roles, and leadership. Those next steps we’re all after.

Ok, what else did I make notes on. Alright, this is where the sanitation role starts to surprise people. Warehouse sanitation often involves powered and equipment and machines, and that equipment brings even more responsibility into play.

Think of Industrial floor sweepers, walk-behind or ride-on, remove debris that creates safety hazards. Sanitation associates trained on sweepers learn to perform pre-use inspections, monitor battery levels, and operate safely around pedestrians and forklifts. They learn right-of-way rules, speed control, and awareness of blind spots. Now, we need to remember that sweepers operate in active aisles. That means sanitation associates must anticipate traffic patterns, understand dock activity, and adjust their cleaning routes based on production flow. This isn’t random driving, it’s operational awareness and has to be treated as such.

And the floor scrubbers require even more thought. These machines deep clean concrete floors and are essential in GMP environments. Associates learn how water flow, detergent concentration, and recovery systems work together. They quickly learn that too much water or chemical creates slip hazards and damages floors. Scrubbers require planning, which areas are active? Which areas can be blocked for a while? How to communicate wet floors? That kind of forward thinking kind of mirrors the decision making required of supervisors and leads.

Oh, and trash compactors. Trash compactors are powerful machines with strict safety rules. Sanitation associates learn load limits, prohibited materials, cycle timing, and lockout awareness. Compactors teach one key lesson, procedures exist for a reason. There are no shortcuts, no “just this once.” They can be dangerous. This mindset, follow the process every time, is exactly what safety managers look for when selecting people for advancement.

And Balers. Many facilities recycle their cardboard, shrink wrap, and slip sheets. We’ll learn how to sort materials properly, safely load the baler, tie off the bales, and document counts or weights. Many facilities track recycling metrics, which introduce sanitation associates to cost control and sustainability efforts. Balers build organization skills and attention to detail, two traits essential in inventory control and leadership roles.

What else did I note here, Sanitation associates work everywhere. They see inbound, outbound, production, and all of the common areas. They notice how shifts hand off work, where bottlenecks form, and where safety issues seem to repeat themselves. That exposure creates, what I like to call, big-picture thinkers. People who understand how departments interact often become strong supervisors because they already understand the operation as a whole. Remember how I’m always mentioning to understand the task before and after ours?

So where can all this take us? Sanitation experience often leads to general warehouse associate roles, Forklift and equipment operator positions, quality control or safety support roles, inventory control or clerical positions, facilities or building maintenance support, and yes, front line management. Some of the most effective leaders I deal with started in sanitation, and they respect every role and understand compliance better than most.

So about that, I don’t want to clean mindset. Here’s the truth I share often, careers aren’t built by avoiding necessary work. Sanitation teaches discipline, humility, consistency, and accountability. Remember, managers notice who shows up, with a positive attitude, follows procedures, and does the work, even work that others avoid.

Sanitation isn’t about trash. It’s about trust. Warehouse sanitation doesn’t have to be a forever job, but it can be a powerful starting point. And it can be a great career. It builds safety awareness, equipment experience, operational understanding, and work ethic. Sanitation isn’t a dead end. It’s a foundation. And as we’ve learned, strong foundations support long careers.

Well, I have to get back to work now myself. I hope I shed some light on why I feel sanitation is one of the strong starting points in our industry. I’d appreciate it if you’d pass the episode along to a friend, ask them to subscribe on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or any of their favorite Podcatchers, we’re even on YouTube! Let’s all do our part to bring more of those entering the workforce into our Industry. Until next week, please give every action and movement the respect it deserves, our family and friends need us to be safe and come back home as well and in as good of health as we left!

Today’s episode comes directly from a listener’s question, and I love these because they tell me people are thinking about their futures. The listener didn’t share a name, just their email address. Anyway, their question was what are the three best jobs in the distribution field? Now, before I answer that, I want to say, and it’s the truth, in my opinion anyway, there are no bad jobs in distribution. We’ve learned that every role matters. Every position contributes to the movement of product, safety, productivity, and ultimately the success of the team and operation.

But if you’re asking me, and I’m familiar with most all of them, from loading trucks to executive leadership, the three positions that consistently stand out as strong, long-term career roles, my answer is the putaway forklift operator, the order selector, and the front-line lead and supervisor positions.

I’ll share some thoughts about all three, and then I want to share a bit about something just as important. Three of my go to entry level positions, or my favorite get your foot in the door tasks. Unloaders, loaders, and sanitation, because those are often the doors that open other opportunities in this industry.

Ok, we’ll start with the putaway forklift operator. This is the person responsible for taking inbound product and placing them into their correct warehouse location, often at height, at quite the pace, and always with safety and accuracy in mind.

Put-away operators are trusted with the inventory, operating expensive equipment, they may be working in narrow aisles, with tall vertical storage, and the accuracy of the entire picking operation downstream. If the put-away goes wrong, everything past that step goes wrong. A mis-slotted pallet can cause lost inventory, missed orders, wasted man hours, and indirect time that can never be recovered. That’s why experienced put-away operators are respected and valued. This role hones our forklift skills, teaches us system disciplines, and the importance of inventory accuracy, focus and patience. It’s also a position that often leads to an Inventory control future, replenishment roles, lead operator positions and a track to Supervisor and front line management.

And here’s something people don’t always realize, put-away operators are usually among the highest paid hourly associates in a facility, especially when experience, certifications, and productivity are factored in. It’s not flashy. But it’s an important position. And it’s absolutely a career role.

And If distribution has a heartbeat, the order selector is it. Order selectors are the engine that drives outbound operations. They take the orders, pick the product, build the pallets, and prepare shipments for delivery. This role teaches discipline and accountability in a way few others do. Order selectors live in a world of measured productivity, accuracy expectations, time standards and quality checks.

And it’s not for everyone, people sometimes look down on order selecting because it’s so physically demanding. But in reality, it’s one of the best training grounds in distribution. Selectors learn product knowledge, slotting logic, warehouse flow, time management, and personal accountability. They also learn how operations truly work, because when something upstream fails or gets messed up, selectors feel it immediately.

The great selectors often become, lead selectors, trainers, safety champions, and Supervisors. I’ve seen countless leaders start as selectors, and the reason is simple,

they understand the operation at ground level. And that experience cannot be taught in a classroom.

Now let’s talk about leadership. Front-line leads and supervisors are where experience turns into influence. This role is not just about numbers. It’s about people. Supervisors are responsible for Safety, Productivity, Attendance, Training, Conflict resolution, Coaching, and Communication. They bridge the gap between Management expectations, and front-line realities. It’s one of the most challenging roles in any warehouse, and, I believe, one of the most rewarding. Great supervisors, know the work, respect the team, always lead by example, hold everyone to the same standards, and I hope Coach instead of just correct their teams. This role opens doors to Operations management, Safety leadership, Training and development, Inventory and planning, and Executive leadership.

In my humble opinion the best supervisors usually come from the floor. They’ve unloaded trucks. They’ve selected orders. They’ve operated equipment. And because of that, they lead with credibility.

Ok, there’s a little on three positions in the distribution field that many aspire to master. Now I want to talk about 3 positions that can help get us to them. When I’m asked how to break into warehousing I share some thoughts on the Unloader, Loader, and Sanitation positions. These jobs don’t always get the respect they deserve, but they are not dead end jobs. They’re great entry points and they are how many careers begin.

First up is the Unloader. Unloaders are the first link in the inbound chain. They break down freight, handle every inbound piece, and set the tone for accuracy and safety on the dock.

Unloaders learn product handling, teamwork, how to handle a quick pace and the Warehouse layout and inbound systems. I’ve seen many unloaders move into forklift roles, Receiving, Inventory and Lead positions.

The flip side of the unloader is the loader. Loaders are responsible for the final step before product leaves the building. This position carries with it a lot of pressure. They must understand Weight distribution, Load integrity, Accuracy and Timing or dispatching, when the drivers will be leaving. Loaders develop attention to detail, physical discipline, and accountability. Many loaders become Drivers, Dispatchers leads and Supervisors, even Safety leaders.

And then we have the sanitation position. Sanitation teams keep facilities Clean, Safe, compliant and audit ready. Without sanitation Slips and falls increase, Equipment breaks down from running over debris and Product quality can suffer. Sanitation can offer us Steady work, Consistent hours, and a foot in the door to our industry. And I’ve seen sanitation associates move into building maintenance, Equipment operation, Safety roles, and Supervisory tracks.

Here’s the truth about distribution careers. Very few people start at the top. Most start where opportunities or positions are open. I believe what separates those who grow into other positions from those who stay stuck in one isn’t the starting job. It’s showing up, being on time, Learning the operation, saying yes to or accepting training, maintaining a positive attitude, and always Following safety and procedures as instructed.

I’m going to say it again, this industry rewards consistency. If you prove you can be trusted with Time management, Equipment, Safety, and People, more doors open for us.

So, when someone asks me, what are the best jobs in distribution? I struggle with my answer. Yes, put-away forklift operator, order selector, and front-line lead or supervisor are outstanding career roles. But every career usually starts somewhere else. Unloaders. Loaders. Sanitation. Those aren’t just jobs. They’re starting points. And in distribution, if you’re willing to learn, work, and grow, there’s no ceiling on where you can go. So honestly, I think the best job in the distribution industry is the one you love doing. Thanks again for the question and thank you for spending a few minutes of your day with me. Always be planning your next step, and remember the safety of you and your team always comes first!