Food System Support Driver

About the role

Solid Ground believes poverty is solvable and works to strengthen communities by supporting stability and breaking down barriers to overcoming poverty. The organization combines direct services with advocacy to meet basic needs, nurture success, and spread change. Through its programs, people gain stability and build skills to move forward in their lives. Through advocacy, Solid Ground works toward ending racism and other oppressions embedded in institutions, policies, and culture that hold people back from succeeding. The agency brings the voices of people experiencing poverty into the political process, furthering social justice and supporting the entire community to reach its potential. As the workforce evolves to reflect the diversity of the communities served, the agency and workplace will be enriched and strengthened, demonstrating initiative to learn and enhance skills that promote anti‑racism, cultural competency, and an understanding of oppression and its impact. Employees are expected to participate in intentional learning efforts, including events relating to understanding and dismantling institutional racism and building cultural competency.

Responsibilities

• Pick up food and non‑food items from food distribution warehouses (e.g., Northwest Harvest, Food Lifeline) and deliver them to various Seattle food banks according to program policies, procedures, and a predetermined delivery schedule.
• Make deliveries during inclement weather as needed.
• Communicate schedule changes and delays to program and food bank staff.
• Participate in all agency training and staff meetings as schedule allows; if unable to attend, obtain missing information via recordings or by checking in with a supervisor.
• Load and unload the truck; count, verify, and ensure all items on pallets match the pick list, working with the distributor to ensure order accuracy and noting any discrepancies to communicate to the receiving food bank.
• Document instances of incorrectly stacked or spilled pallets and communicate them to program staff or supervisor.
• Issue order forms to food banks for verification and signature.
• Pick up pallets, bread trays, milk cartons, wooden bins, etc., from food banks and return them to the proper warehouse as required.
• Provide input to Food System Support staff in developing and revising regular and holiday schedules for food pick‑ups and deliveries.
• Follow the set delivery schedule and communicate immediately with the supervisor if deviation becomes necessary.
• Make decisions regarding additional delivery or pick‑up needs as needed.
• Perform a daily vehicle and equipment inspection prior to use and a post‑trip inspection at the end of each shift, including:
  • Checking tire pressure, looking for leaks under the truck, and performing an air brake test before departing the SGT yard.
  • Ensuring the electric pallet jack is functional and fully charged.
  • Operating the lift/rail gate for the route.
  • Checking dashboard gauges (air brake pressure, oil pressure, coolant levels) for accuracy.
  • Visually inspecting tires for low pressure.
  • Checking lights (turn signals, brakes, parking, hazard) for blown bulbs.
  • Inspecting wiper blades for wear.

Schedule

Deliveries are made five days a week according to a predetermined delivery schedule; the driver must adhere to this schedule and promptly communicate any necessary deviations to the supervisor.