Material Handler at Cedar Crest Dairy – Hudsonville, Michigan

About Cedar Crest Dairy

Brothers Rob and Rick Becker purchased Cedar Crest Farms in 1978. At the time, the business included one small truck and a few customers. Over the years, the business has expanded to serve grocery and convenience stores, ice cream shops, and schools. Today, Rob's three children are part of the family business to help continue Rob's vision for Cedar Crest. For 40 years, Cedar Crest has continued to be a local, family run, West Michigan company.

About the role

The Warehouse Material Handler is a key operations role responsible for managing the timely and accurate loading of all outbound transport and depot trucks, as well as assisting with receiving inbound shipments. This position works in cold storage environments, including freezer and cooler areas, and requires coordination with pallet builders, checkers, drivers, and receiving personnel. The ideal candidate is an experienced warehouse professional who can transition between transport loading, receiving, and order picking while maintaining a clean, organized workspace and operating equipment independently.

What you'll do

• Take ownership of the loading process: Ensure all pallets are loaded onto the correct transport or depot truck while pallets are being built and checked in real time.
• Verify load accuracy: Match shipping documentation and transport schedules to ensure correct pallets are loaded and accounted for.
• Assist with receiving activities: Unload inbound shipments, verify product against bills of lading and purchase orders, and report discrepancies.
• Ensure items are undamaged, labeled correctly, and meet quality and safety standards.
• Transition between loading and picking: Move between loading and order selection tasks as needed, without impacting operational flow.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and efficient work area: Keep bays free from obstruction and debris; organize pallets, wrap zones, and receiving areas.
• Operate warehouse equipment independently: Use electric pallet jacks, forklifts, and other powered equipment safely and efficiently.
• Communicate across teams: Coordinate with supervisors, pallet checkers, receivers, and drivers to ensure accurate and timely shipments.
• Support cross-functional warehouse tasks: Assist in cooler and freezer areas as required.
• Follow all company safety protocols and procedures.
• Perform additional tasks as assigned by supervisors or management.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• 2+ years of experience in a warehouse environment, preferably in cold storage.
• Previous experience in loading transport trucks, receiving shipments, and/or order picking required.
• Proven ability to work independently and manage loading and receiving processes.
• Strong attention to detail for verifying both outbound and inbound shipment accuracy.
• Ability to multitask and shift between roles without supervision.
• Solid communication and teamwork skills.
• Strong commitment to safety and efficiency in cold environments.

Physical Demands

• Frequent exposure to cold storage and freezer temperatures.
• Able to lift up to 60 lbs., stand or walk for extended periods, and perform repetitive movements.

Work Environment

• This position requires working in three distinct warehouse environments:
• • Freezer Warehouse: Cold temperatures, typically below 0°F (-18°C)
  • Refrigerator (Cooler) Warehouse: Chilled environment, typically between 34°F – 40°F (1°C – 4°C)
  • Dry Goods Warehouse: Ambient temperatures, typically room temperature conditions.
• Ability to work in temperature-controlled environments for extended periods is required.