How to hire a dock manager

How to hire a dock manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step dock manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a dock manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new dock manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a dock manager job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a dock manager, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a dock manager to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a dock manager that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of dock managers.

   Type of Dock Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Dock Manager		$7-39
   Shipping And Receiving Supervisor	A shipping and receiving supervisor streamlines the shipping process for a more efficient company. The supervisors oversee and maintain the supplies and inventory through product receipt, storage, and delivery... Show more	$13-22
   Shipping Supervisor	A shipping supervisor is responsible for monitoring the goods and services, ensuring its quality and quantity before packaging and shipment processing to avoid delays and possible client complaints. Shipping supervisors manage the shipment schedule, including verification of the location and determining correct charges... Show more	$16-31

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Cleanliness
   • Pallet Jack
   • Inventory Control
   • Delivery Truck
   • LTL
   • Logistics
   • Dock Operations
   • Hub
   • Unload Trucks
   • KPI
   • RF
   • Sales Floor
   • Performance Reviews

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage logistics personnel and logistics systems and direct daily operations.
   • Perform inventory markdowns using a RF scanner.
   • Hang pick orders and prepare them for parcel or LTL shipments.
   • Handle, process, and secure high value air and LTL freight.
   • Ensure complete compliance to all regulatory requirements, company policies and logistics processes.
   • Develop and monitor KPI productivity standards.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your dock manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A dock manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, dock managers' average salary in idaho is 51% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level dock managers earn 81% less than senior-level dock managers.
   • Certifications. A dock manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a dock manager's salary.

   Average dock manager salary

   $36,947yearly

   $17.76 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level dock manager salary

   $16,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

4. Writing a dock manager job description

   A job description for a dock manager role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a dock manager job description:

   Dock manager job description example

   **21467BR**
   
   **Position Title:**
   
   Now Hiring! Dock Person, Non-Refrigerated - Lakeland
   
   **Department:**
   
   Distribution
   
   **Location:**
   
   Lakeland, FL between Orlando and Tampa
   
   **Description:**
   
   + operating Powered Industrial Trucks
   
   + accurately loading and securing pallets of outbound product for safe transportation
   
   + ensuring all pallets and totes are accurately accounted for on the correct trailer per the load sheets for delivery to retail
   
   + loading special orders and credits/outs and merging with the correct load
   
   + communicating load close information to shipping office associates
   
   + supplying pallets or shipping platforms for selectors use on the dock
   
   + communicating incoming and outgoing pallet trailers to dock coordinator and manager to ensure supply is sufficient for shipping needs
   
   + moving shipping containers i.e., totes, produce baskets, etc. to selecting areas and replenishing throughout the shift
   
   + monitoring and recording trailer temperatures as outlined in cold chain Standard Operation Procedures to ensure product temperature is not compromised
   
   + operating baler Return Center only
   
   + operating pallet sorter
   
   + sorting bulk mail and dropping at correct lanes for shipping
   
   + cleaning debris from work/loading area
   
   + the responsibilities listed on this posting are not intended to be all-inclusive and additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed.
   
   
   
   
   21467BR
   
   **Hours of Work:**
   
   Rotating Days
   
   **State:**
   
   Florida
   
   **Frequency of Pay:**
   
   Weekly
   
   **Minimum Base Pay:**
   
   15.10
   
   **Additional Information:**
   
   **Department** **Work environment**
   
   High Velocity WarehouseTemperatures could exceed 90° Fahrenheit for an extended period of time.
   
   Low Velocity WarehouseTemperatures could exceed 90° Fahrenheit for an extended period of time.
   
   Return CenterMust be able to work in various weather conditions for an extended period of time.
   
   Your application may have additional steps that you will need to complete in order to remain eligible for consideration. Please be sure to monitor your email, including your spam folder, on a daily basis for critical, time-sensitive emails that could require action within 24-48 hours.
   
   Please do not use your Publix email address when applying. Once your application has been successfully submitted you will receive a confirmation email.
   
   **Address:**
   
   2600 County Line Road
   
   **City:**
   
   Lakeland
   
   **Other Compensation Information:**
   
   + Night Differential: A $.75 per hour night differential is paid to associates regularly scheduled to work any hours between midnight and 3:00 a.m. (this does not include shifts that end at midnight or begin at 3:00AM).
   
   + Weekend Premium Pay: $2 per hour weekend premium pay is available.
   
   **Year End Bonus:**
   
   To reward associates for their contributions to the company for the calendar year, Publix provides a Holiday Bonus in November. In the first year of continuous employment the bonus is equal to 15 hours of pay, and in the second year of continuous employment the bonus is equal to one week's pay if associate remains employed through issue date of the bonus check. In subsequent years, the bonus is equal to two weeks' pay.
   
   **Maximum Base Pay:**
   
   20.90
   
   **Required Qualifications:**
   
   + be at least 18 years old
   
   + ability to work nights
   
   + ability to work weekends, holidays, and extended periods of time
   
   + obtain and maintain certification in pallet truck and forklift operations (on or before his or her start date in the position)
   
   + successfully complete a work attitude survey
   
   + ability to use powered industrial equipment that require Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
   
   + ability to lift a minimum of 67 pounds
   
   + ability to stack product of varying weights
   
   + ability to bend, stoop, and twist
   
   + ability to sit, stand and do repetitive work for long periods of time
   
   + ability to read, write, identify, and verify numbers
   
   + ability to work under strict time requirements
   
   + ability to interpret, understand, and follow instructions
   
   **Potential Annual Base Pay:**
   
   31,408 - 43,472
   
   **Zip Code:**
   
   33811-1737
   
   **Work Environment:**
   
   See additional information section.
   
   **Benefits Information:**
   
   + Employee stock ownership plan that contributes Publix stock to associates each year at no cost
   
   + An opportunity to purchase additional shares of our privately-held stock
   
   + 401(k) retirement savings plan
   
   + Group health plan (with prescription benefits)
   
   + Group dental plan
   
   + Group vision plan
   
   + Sick pay
   
   + Paid Parental Leave
   
   + Long-term disability insurance
   
   + Company-paid life insurance (with accidental death & dismemberment benefits)
   
   + Tuition reimbursement
   
   + Vacation pay
   
   + Free hot lunches (buffet-style) at facilities with a cafeteria
   
   + Paycheck direct deposit
   
   + Credit union
   
   + Access to over 50 discount offers including discounts on computer, vehicle and wireless purchases
   
   + 6 paid holidays (associates can exchange the following holidays with their manager's approval: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day).

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find dock managers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any dock managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level dock managers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your dock manager job on Zippia to find and recruit dock manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit dock managers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new dock manager

   Once you've decided on a perfect dock manager candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new dock manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a dock manager?