Location: Surrey
Department: Operations
Reporting to: Terminal Manager
About the Role:
No two days on the dock look the same and that’s what makes this role exciting!
As our Dock Manager, you’ll be at the center of our operations, leading a team
of supervisors and dock staff to keep freight moving safely, efficiently, and on
time. From solving unexpected challenges to motivating your team and working
with customers, you’ll be driving the energy and performance of the terminal
every day.
This role is for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, hands-on environment, and
who can balance strong leadership with a “roll up your sleeves” attitude.
About Us:
Van-Kam Freightways Ltd. (Van Kam) is one of the largest regional carriers in
Western Canada specializing in less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation. With 8
terminal locations across British Columbia, we fulfill shipments to communities
within 1-3 days throughout BC and Alberta. Between our own resources and our
partner network, our coverage extends beyond Western Canada into the U.S. and
Eastern Canada.
What You’ll Do:
Lead & Inspire
- Provide clear direction, support, and motivation to your team of supervisors.
- Foster a positive, collaborative work culture where safety and respect come
first.
- Set expectations and hold your team accountable while celebrating wins and
progress.
- Step in to cover supervisor shifts when needed; you know the dock inside and
out.
Keep Operations Moving
- Oversee dock activities, ensuring freight is loaded/unloaded safely and
efficiently.
- Coordinate with dispatch, customer service, and the shop to keep freight,
people, and equipment on track.
- Review and approve timecards, vacation requests, and leave requests.
- Anticipate challenges and adjust schedules, staffing, or priorities to keep
things flowing.
Develop Your Team
- Coach supervisors and dock staff, helping them develop their skills and
careers.
- Spot training opportunities and provide development resources.
- Handle performance disciplinary matters and grievances fairly and
constructively.
- Support staffing by hiring, onboarding, and scheduling as needed.
- Build positive working relationships with unionized employees and collaborate
effectively within a unionized environment.
Champion Safety & Compliance
- Lead by example in promoting a safe, clean, and organized dock environment.
- Investigate incidents and make sure lessons turn into improvements.
- Monitor compliance with DOT, DG, and company safety standards.
- Report on key metrics like productivity, late closing, load securement, and
service performance.
Deliver for Customers!
- Partner with customer service and sales teams to quickly resolve shipment
issues.
- Keep customers informed and confident in our ability to deliver, even when
challenges pop up.
Adapt & Problem-Solve
- Plan dock coverage for holidays and peak seasons.
- Tackle ad-hoc projects and special assignments because in trucking,
flexibility is the name of the game.
What You Bring:
- Experience: 3–5 years in dock, warehouse, or transportation operations, with
at least 2 years in a leadership or supervisory role. (Trucking or LTL
experience is a strong asset.)
- Leadership Style: You lead by example! approachable, fair, and committed to
treating employees with respect while holding them accountable.
- People-First Approach: A natural mentor who enjoys coaching, recognizing
achievements, and helping others grow in their careers.
- Union Experience: Proven experience working in a unionized environment, with
the ability to maintain positive labor relations.
- Ownership Mindset: You like to stay on top of every detail, from staffing to
safety to shipment deadlines and take pride in running a tight, efficient
dock.
- Problem-Solving Skills: Strong analytical and decision-making ability; you
stay calm under pressure and adapt quickly to changes.
- Customer Focus: You understand the importance of service excellence and keep
both internal and external customers informed and satisfied.
- Technical Skills: Comfortable using Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, Word)
and open to learning new systems; AS400 or TMS knowledge is an asset.
- Work Ethic: Organized, dependable, and able to juggle multiple priorities in
a fast-paced environment without losing sight of safety or quality.
Why Work for Van Kam?
There is a reason over 30% of our staff have been with us for more than 10
years!
- Work-life balance. We treat our customers like friends and our employees like
family. As a family-owned company, we understand the importance of work-life
balance which is why we offer competitive time-off benefits and commit to
providing a balanced schedule for our drivers – so they can spend less time
on the road and more time with the ones they love.
- Competitive wages. We offer competitive wages and are committed to staying
competitive within our industry.
- Benefits. We cover 100% of our employees benefit premiums and contribute to a
company funded pension plan. Enjoy the benefits, all while keeping more of
your paycheck in your pocket.
- Development. True to our values, we are committed to helping our employees
succeed. Whether it is through career growth and advancement opportunities or
investing in your training and education, we are here to support you along
the way.
- We care about the things that matter to you. We regularly send out surveys to
our employees to understand their experiences and learn how we can make their
time at work better. We work hard to have an open-door management policy and
cultivate an environment that welcomes and supports new ideas and ways of
doing things.
- Make a difference. Trucking is vital to our communities. Here at Van Kam, we
serve a broad range of industries from forestry and mining to retail, food,
and auto. Come to work every day knowing you are making a difference and
contributing to our purpose of uniting communities and improving lives.
- Giving Back. Van Kam supports over 25 non-profit organizations and local
charities each year through both financial contributions and volunteer
efforts. We also match employee donations up to $150 per employee per year to
ensure we can support the organizations that matter to you.
- Environmental Sustainability. We have Green Initiative programs to limit our
carbon footprint which include things like governing road speeds to reduce
fuel consumption, equipping new tractors with clean emissions technology and
investing in technology to limit paper use, just to name a few!
Job Location
Surrey, BC
Our Story
Van Kam was founded more than 75 years ago in 1947 by Robert Henry Sr. To this
day, Van Kam remains family owned and operated with the third generation leading
into the future. Headquartered in BC with over 550 dedicated staff members, our
continuous success is rooted in acknowledging every customer’s unique needs and
applying our understanding of supply chain challenges to develop custom
solutions to overcome them.
Our Purpose
Our purpose is to unite communities and improve lives. It's the root of what
makes us tick and is central to our actions. Whether it's our employees,
customers, or the citizens within the communities we serve, we have a lasting
impact on their lives, and it is "why" we exist.
Our Values
Develop, Care, Achieve
In order to unite communities and improve lives we need a team of talented and
dedicated individuals. Are you one of them? If so, we want to hear from you!
