Delivery Driver & Installation Specialist

Delivery Driver & Installation Specialist (Hearth & Furniture)

Company: Preston Trading Post (J & E Farms, Inc.)

Location: Preston, CT (Serving Eastern Connecticut & Rhode Island)

Job Type: Full-Time & Part-Time Opportunities Available

Schedule: Day shifts; weekend availability as required by delivery scheduling

Compensation: Competitive hourly wage (commensurate with experience)

Status: Immediate Opening

Position Overview

Preston Trading Post is seeking dependable, physically capable, and customer-focused Delivery Drivers to join our logistics team. In this role, you represent our company directly in our customers' homes, delivering high-end solid wood furniture and premium hearth appliances (wood, pellet, and gas stoves).

You will operate a straight box truck equipped with a hydraulic power tailgate and utilize motorized/specialized stair-climbing hand trucks and rigging gear. This role requires substantial physical stamina, meticulous care to protect merchandise and residential property, and professional handling of on-site customer payments. No Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is required.

Key Responsibilities

1. Vehicle Operation & Transit

• Safely operate a straight box truck (automatic/manual transmission, non-CDL) along residential and commercial routes throughout Connecticut and Rhode Island.
• Conduct daily pre-trip and post-trip vehicle safety inspections (fluid levels, tire pressure, lights, hydraulic tailgate operation, tie-down systems).
• Navigate rural roads, residential driveways, and suburban neighborhoods safely under varying New England weather conditions.
• Maintain a clean truck cab and cargo box; report mechanical or safety concerns immediately.

2. White-Glove In-Home Delivery & Handling

• Load, secure, transport, and unload heavy, high-value goods, including cast iron and steel stoves, solid hardwood dining sets, bedroom sets, and upholstered living room furniture.
• Master the safe operation of hydraulic tailgates, specialized stair-climbing hand trucks, furniture dollies, shoulder dollies, and heavy-duty moving blankets/straps.
• Navigate obstacles including tight staircases, tight entryways, finished hardwood flooring, and multi-level home layouts without causing damage to products or homeowner property.
• Assemble dining tables, beds, and standard furniture components on-site, positioning stoves in exact client hearth locations ready for installation technicians.
• Remove all packaging, strapping, and protective wrap from the home upon job completion.

3. Customer Service & On-Site Transactions

• Greet homeowners with courtesy, punctuality, and professional etiquette.
• Inspect merchandise with the customer to verify condition and complete required delivery paperwork/sign-offs.
• Accurately calculate, collect, and secure outstanding balances on site (checks, cash, or processing mobile credit card payments via company terminal/tablet).
• Communicate schedule updates or site issues with store dispatch and showroom management promptly.

4. Warehouse & Inventory Support

• Assist in receiving freight shipments, staging outgoing deliveries, uncrating units, and inspecting incoming pieces for manufacturer defects or transit damage.
• Support showroom floor moves and general warehouse organization during non-delivery windows.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Driver's License: Valid Driver’s License with a clean, verifiable driving record. (Must meet insurance underwriting standards; No CDL required).
• Physical Capability:
  • Ability to consistently lift, push, pull, and maneuver 75–100+ lbs individually, and up to 400+ lbs using team-lift techniques and mechanical assists (motorized stair-climbers, hydraulic lifts).
  • Full physical mobility: continuous bending, kneeling, stooping, ascending/descending stairs, and standing throughout an 8- to 10-hour shift.
• Professional Reliability: Honest, drug-free, dependable, and capable of being bonded/authorized to collect on-site funds.
• Customer Interaction Skills: Strong interpersonal communication, basic arithmetic skills for invoice reconciliations, and a tidy personal appearance.
• Experience: Prior experience with straight box trucks (16'–26'), furniture delivery, appliance moving, or freight logistics is strongly preferred, but mechanical aptitude and strong physical conditioning will be considered.

Immediate Onboarding & Verification Checklist

1. DMV Records Review: Obtain and verify official State Motor Vehicle Driving Record (MVR).
2. Equipment Certification: Complete hands-on training for hydraulic lift gate limits and battery-powered stair-climbing hand truck controls.
3. Route & Safety Orientation: Review regional bridge clearances, DOT weight station regulations for box trucks, and winter chain/traction protocols for New England routes.
4. Transaction Protocol: Train on POS mobile payment processing, check verification, and bill-of-lading completion.