How to hire an unload associate

How to hire an unload associate, step by step

Here's a step-by-step unload associate hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the unload associate you need to hire. Certain unload associate roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   An unload associate's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, unload associates from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of unload associates and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Unload Associate	Description	Hourly rate
   Unload Associate	Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials. Others feed or remove material to and from machines, clean vehicles, pick up unwanted household goods, and pack materials for moving.	$12-19
   Package Handler UPS	The primary job of package handlers is to assemble, seal, and load packages. They are responsible for tracking package information using scanners and sorting parcels according to destination... Show more	$12-19
   Warehouseman	A warehouseman or warehouse worker is the person who assists with the inventory, shipping, and receiving of items in warehouses. Warehousemen receive and process incoming materials and stocks, along with picking and filling orders from the store... Show more	$14-20

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Safety Procedures
   • Pallets
   • Cleanliness
   • Hazardous Materials
   • Sales Floor
   • Stock Merchandise
   • Responsive Customer Service
   • Store Equipment
   • Unload Trucks
   • Unload Process
   • Delivery Truck
   • Store Management
   • RDC
   • Unload Trailers

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage all lifting of goods efficiently and maintain store floor at all times and ensure cleanliness in same.
   • Used a RF scanner to scan the product into inventory.
   • Utilize the RF system daily to obtain work orders and/or equipment need to perform.
   • Receive truck from regional RDC and make sure the correct documentation correlates with the truck.
   • Cross reference incoming RDC and order sheets to ensure proper product are at the correct destination.
   • Separate merchandise and pallets according to department.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, unload associates' average salary in louisiana is 38% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level unload associates earn 35% less than senior-level unload associates.
   • Certifications. An unload associate 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 an unload associate's salary.

   Average unload associate salary

   $15.84hourly

   $32,951 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level unload associate salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

4. Writing an unload associate job description

   An unload associate job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an unload associate job description:

   Unload associate job description example

   PeopleReady is looking for a Rail Unloader / Yard associate in Titusville, FL. The rail unloader / yard employee will perform various duties and assist in inventory as needed.
   
   Apply today and you could start as soon as tomorrow. No resume or interview required – yep, you read that right.
   As a PeopleReady associate you'll benefit from:
   
   * The freedom to work where you want, when you want and as often as you want.
   
   * Next-day pay* for many of our open positions.
   
   * The ability to choose long-term positions for steady work or short-term positions if you just want some extra cash.
   
   * The ability to sign up for jobs right from our mobile app, JobStack!
   
   Pay Rate:
   
   The pay rate for this job is $15 / hour
   
   What you'll be doing as a Rail Unloader / Yard Associate:
   
   *
   
   Assist on any yard/rail needs or responsibilities as requested.
   
   *
   
   Maintain a clean and orderly yard/rail area.
   
   *
   
   Report any vehicle damages or any safety concerns appropriately and immediately.
   
   * Assist with the maintenance on bridge plates and buck loaders (ramps that are used for loading and unloading the vehicles from the trains).
   
   Available shifts:
   
   Shift Timings: 1st shift (Day)
   
   Job requirements:
   
   *
   
   Valid Drivers License.
   
   *
   
   HS graduate and interested in the auto transport industry.
   
   *
   
   Must be able to pass a pre-employment drug screen and background screening.
   
   * Effective and oral and written communication skills.
   
   Ready to take control of the way you work?
   
   Complete our application to join the PeopleReady team today. In case you missed it, no resumes or interviews are required!
   
   \#TIER1
   
   PeopleReady is an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religious affiliation, color, national origin, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected by law. We will get to know you and connect you with jobs that match your skills, experience and preferences. We work hard every single day to find jobs so each employee has opportunity and variety in their work.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right unload associate for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting unload associates requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to 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 unload associate

   Once you've found the unload associate candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new unload associate first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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.)

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