SHIPPING & CRATING WORKING LEAD
Custom Sign Center INC.ShippingCrating Working Lead Department: Shipping, CratingFinal Assembly Reports To: Shipping/Transportation Manager or Plant Manager Position Type: Full-Time, Hourly Schedule: Monday–Friday, with overtime, early starts, and occasional Saturdays as production and shipping schedules require Position Summary Custom Sign Center is seeking an experienced, hands-on ShippingCrating Working Lead to coordinate daily shipping and crating activities while actively working alongside the department. This position is responsible for building custom wood crates and pallets for finished signs and components, preparing shipping documents and labels, operating forklifts, and safely loading box trucks, dry-van trailers, and flatbed trailers. The Working Lead must lead by example, organize the daily workload, train employees, hold the department accountable, and ensure every shipment is complete, properly protected, accurately labeled, and loaded onto the correct truck or carrier. This is not a desk-only supervisory position. The Working Lead will spend most of the workday actively building crates, packaging products, operating equipment, and loading shipments. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Leadership and Department Coordination Review the daily and weekly shipping schedule and establish department priorities. Assign work to shipping and crating employees based on shipment deadlines. Work alongside the team while providing direction, training, and support. Lead by example in productivity, quality, attendance, organization, and safe work practices. Hold employees accountable for completing assigned work accurately and on time. Train employees on proper crating, packaging, labeling, material handling, loading, and forklift procedures. Monitor workload and communicate labor, material, equipment, or scheduling concerns to management. Coordinate with production, project management, installation, and other departments when products, hardware, or paperwork are missing. Ensure completed products are staged and organized according to shipping priority. Help develop and maintain written SOPs for crating, packaging, labeling, loading, and shipping verification. Custom Crating and Packaging Review work orders, drawings, measurements, and finished products to determine the proper crate or pallet design. Measure, cut, and assemble custom wood crates and pallets in different shapes and sizes. Build crates and pallets capable of protecting signs, sign cabinets, channel letters, faces, poles, hardware, and other components during transportation. Determine appropriate blocking, bracing, padding, foam, wrapping, banding, and securement methods. Make efficient use of lumber, plywood, fasteners, packaging materials, and department labor. Inspect finished products for visible damage before packaging. Protect painted, printed, acrylic, polycarbonate, aluminum, and other finished surfaces from scratching, bending, rubbing, or impact damage. Ensure all loose parts, hardware, installation components, and accessories are included and secured. Clearly identify crate contents, job numbers, customer names, destinations, handling instructions, and crate orientation. Verify that crates and pallets are properly constructed before they are moved or loaded. Shipping Documentation and Labeling Prepare and verify bills of lading, packing slips, shipping labels, crate labels, and other required shipping documentation. Create UPS and FedEx shipping labels using the appropriate shipping software. Verify customer name, delivery address, job number, number of pieces, carrier, shipment method, and special delivery instructions. Confirm all items for the job have been pulled, packed, labeled, and staged before shipment. Identify and clearly document any backordered or missing items. Maintain organized shipping records and completed paperwork. Communicate with carriers, drivers, and internal departments regarding pickup and loading requirements. Report shipping damage, shorta…