Shipping Assistant Seasonal

About Midwest Trading:

Midwest Trading is a wholesale supplier leading the Green Industry in Chicagoland with sustainable products for over 40 years.  We specialize in greenhouse and nursery mixes, custom-engineered soils for green roofs, bioswales and rain gardens. We also provide landscape mulches, soil amendments, and horticultural supplies. For your convenience, we have two material pick-up yards.

Objective/Accountability:

Assist in scheduling all bulk. Establish and maintain relationships with carriers to provide the best possible customer service.  Coordinate with sales, production, terminals and customers to deliver materials in a timely manner.  Work to keep the company within DOT guidelines.  Work hours necessary to accomplish the task.  Achieve personal goals thru the company.  Strive for customer satisfaction with prompt and courteous service.

Functions:

Dispatch/Shipping:

• Assist Dispatcher in scheduling all truck deliveries
• Process all pickup customer orders
• Print & arrange orders accordingly
• Communicate with yard on trucks coming back to load
• Communicate with Dispatcher on deliveries for Ash Boer and stickers

Office Functions:

• Call all customers with delivery information and get instructions/directions as needed
• Answer phones
• Create maps as needed for truck drivers
• Create manual Bill of Ladings
• Prepare returned paperwork for billing

Customer Service:

• Greet walk up customers and enter their orders
• Maintain current information in customer data base
• Continually update knowledge of products, industry and customers

Required Skills:

• Verbal Communications – clear, concise, timely, professional
• Computer Skills – knowledge of windows (word, excel, e-mail, etc.)
• Organizational – strong skills needed, the magnitude of paperwork makes it necessary to be well organized and to be able to prioritize tasks. 
• Team Player – it is necessary to be involved with multiple departments and personnel.  Must deal with both internal and external customers.
• Attitude – must be positive, upbeat and professional.  Business is seasonal and work loads will be heavy ‘in season’.

Expectations:

• Ability to multi-task, work in a fast paced environment and meet deadlines
• Work hours needed  including Saturdays during the peak season
• Strong commitment to customer service and feedback

Education:

• High School diploma

Experience/Prerequisites:

• Previous experience in a shipping would be helpful
• Computer knowledge/skills a must