Driver at Operation Food Search, Inc. – St. Louis, Missouri

About Operation Food Search:

Founded in 1981, Operation Food Search is a hunger relief organization that provides food, nutrition education, and innovative programs in order to reduce food insecurity and increase equitable access to food. We serve more than 200,000 people every month through a network of more than 600 partners in 24 counties in Missouri and Illinois. As Missouri’s largest independent food bank, we use a combination of immediate food assistance and supportive services, while also working on long-term solutions and systemic changes to help solve the problem of hunger.

Our Mission is to heal hunger with innovative and collaborative solutions that provide food today and help create a hunger-free tomorrow.

Our Vision is a region where everyone has equitable access to the food they need to lead healthy lives.

Our Goals are to:

· Meet the immediate need for food for children, individuals, and families by providing high-quality nutrition through our distribution network.

· Empower long-term skills through nutrition education and by teaching how to shop and prepare healthy food on a budget.

· Champion change through advocacy and innovative programs and by addressing systemic inequities.

For more information about OFS, please visit our website at www.operationfoodsearch.org.

Driver: Primary Duties – Driving & Route Operations (Approximately 75%)

· Operate assigned refrigerated or dry-van truck on established daily routes to pick up donations and deliver product to partner agencies and program sites.

· Conduct pre-trip and post-trip vehicle inspections; verify cargo is secured and refrigerated units are set to appropriate temperatures.

· Execute scheduled agency equity deliveries and respond to occasional urgent or “extra” pickups.

· Maintain accurate route logs, delivery documentation, and vehicle inspection reports.

· Communicate with Director of Warehouse & Distribution regarding route changes, delays, or inventory discrepancies.

· Coordinate vehicle drop-off and pick-up for routine maintenance while minimizing disruption to service schedules.

· Provide excellent customer service and maintain positive relationships with partners, vendors, and agency staff.

Secondary Duties – Warehouse Support (Approximately 25%)

(These duties are intentionally lighter than the original role.)

· Assist with loading and unloading trucks at OFS and partner sites, including handling perishable items requiring cooler/freezer access.

· Verify inbound deliveries against manifests, reporting discrepancies to the Inventory Control Specialist.

· Place incoming product in designated staging or receiving zones (dry, cooler, or freezer).

· Support warehouse team with light tasks during downtime, such as:

o Organizing staging areas

o Moving pallets with pallet jack

o Assisting with product rotation or basic inventory support

· Maintain cleanliness of assigned work areas, including sweeping truck beds and disposing of packaging.

· Provide backup support during high-volume periods or staff absences, within the limits of the 25% warehouse expectation.

Compliance & Safety

· Maintain a valid CDL Class B (or higher) with air brake endorsement.

· Maintain DOT Medical Certification and comply with drug/alcohol testing requirements.

· Follow all FMCSA regulations and OFS safety policies.

· Utilize proper lifting techniques and required PPE (high-visibility vest, gloves, and non-slip footwear.

· Report all accidents, incidents, or mechanical concerns immediately to the Food Bank Operations Director and Warehouse Manager.

· Ensure assigned vehicle is cleaned and sanitized daily.

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience as a CDL driver, ideally in food distribution or nonprofit settings.
• Experience operating refrigerated trucks preferred.
• Forklift certification preferred but not required (or required only if the supervisor wants the driver to help with limited forklift tasks).
• At least 1 year in a warehouse or delivery environment is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. repeatedly and occasionally up to 75 lbs.
• Comfortable working briefly in cooler (32–40°F) and freezer (0–10°F) environments.
• Strong route planning skills and GPS proficiency.
• Clear verbal communication and professionalism with agency partners.
• Ability to work both independently on routes and collaboratively with warehouse staff.
• Reliable, disciplined time-management approach to completing routes.

Working Conditions

• Primarily driving with extended periods seated.
• Routine exposure to varying outdoor weather during pickups/deliveries.
• Occasional work in warehouse environments including cooler/freezer spaces.
• Required PPE includes closed-toe non-slip shoes, high-visibility vest, and gloves.