Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Seasonal Tread Delivery Specialist

🎯 Role Definition

The Seasonal Tread Delivery Specialist is a front-line logistics and customer-facing role focused on the seasonal distribution, staging, and exchange of tire treads, winter tires, and related inventory. This position demands safe driving, accurate inventory handling, clear communication with retail partners and customers, and a strong focus on on-time delivery performance during peak seasonal windows.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Warehouse Associate (shipping/receiving)
Driver / Courier roles (local delivery)
Automotive Technician helper / Parts Runner

Advancement To:

Lead Delivery Specialist / Route Supervisor
Logistics Coordinator / Scheduler
Fleet Operations Specialist

Lateral Moves:

Parts Department Specialist
Inventory Control Analyst
Inbound/Outbound Warehouse Trainer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Execute daily delivery routes for seasonal treads and tires, ensuring all stops are completed on schedule while meeting company on-time delivery and customer satisfaction standards.
Load and secure tires, treads, rims, and accessories into delivery vehicles using proper lifting techniques, pallet jacks, straps and protective materials to minimize damage in transit.
Inspect all outgoing and incoming products visually for damage, correct part numbers, tread patterns and matching seasonal specifications prior to delivery and after pickup.
Operate handheld inventory scanners and mobile delivery apps to confirm pick-up and drop-off, capture recipient signatures, log exceptions and update delivery status in real time.
Communicate proactively with retail stores, service centers and end customers regarding arrival windows, appointment changes and delivery requirements to ensure smooth handoffs.
Coordinate with in-store installation teams and service advisors to stage deliveries for same-day or scheduled tire changeovers, confirming fitment and inventory readiness.
Perform vehicle safety checks and daily pre-trip inspections (tires, lights, brakes, securement points) and report any maintenance issues promptly to fleet services.
Follow DOT, OSHA and company safety policies when transporting, loading and unloading tires, including safe tie-down practices and winter driving protocols.
Accept and process returns and warranty exchanges for seasonal treads, documenting condition, reason codes and photographing damaged items when required.
Manage cash/credit collections and verify invoice accuracy at delivery points; escalate discrepancies to dispatch and billing teams for resolution.
Optimize delivery efficiency by confirming and adjusting routes using GPS and routing software while maintaining compliance with delivery windows and service-level agreements.
Handle special delivery requirements such as residential drop-offs, multi-piece skid deliveries, or deliveries requiring liftgate or appointment scheduling.
Train and mentor temporary seasonal staff on safe loading, delivery procedures, customer interaction best practices and use of mobile scanning devices.
Maintain accurate paper and digital documentation for chain-of-custody, proof of delivery (POD), incident reports and inventory adjustments for audit readiness.
Report and document vehicle incidents, product damage, highway or weather-related delays and customer complaints through established incident reporting processes.
Collaborate with warehouse pickers, dispatchers and inventory control to resolve order discrepancies, pick-errors or out-of-stock items prior to leaving the DC.
Support inventory cycle counts and seasonal stock rotation efforts by staging and moving product between warehouse zones and ramp areas as requested.
Provide exceptional customer service by answering basic product-fitment questions, escalating technical issues to parts specialists and leaving clear post-delivery notes for store teams.
Adhere to company packaging and labeling standards for seasonal tire kits, ensuring skids and bundles are clearly marked to minimize cross-shipments and mistakes.
Ensure cleanliness and security of vehicle and equipment, including securing keys, manifests and electronic devices at shift end and following fuel/maintenance card policies.
Meet or exceed departmental KPIs: on-time delivery rate, damage rate, customer satisfaction score, and accurate POD submission.
Assist dispatch during peak surges by accepting last-minute route changes, cross-training on adjacent routes and maintaining flexibility to cover urgent deliveries.

Secondary Functions

Support seasonal inventory planning by providing on-the-ground feedback about demand trends, common fitment issues and recurring product damage patterns.
Assist warehouse teams with inbound unloads, staging seasonal pallets and prepping customer-ready kits during peak periods.
Participate in safety stand-downs and seasonal training refreshers focused on winter driving, tire handling and ergonomics.
Contribute to continuous improvement suggestions related to packaging, route sequencing and delivery equipment to reduce damage and improve throughput.
Provide structured handover notes to the incoming shift or relief drivers to ensure continuity of route knowledge and outstanding customer commitments.
Help reconcile short shipments and credits with vendor support teams and internal parts accounting when product mismatches occur.
Support ad-hoc inventory audits requested by loss prevention or operations leadership during high-volume seasons.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Valid driver's license with a clean driving record; CDL or elevated licensing as required by route/vehicle type.
Proven experience operating light- and medium-duty delivery vehicles, including safe loading and securement of tires and bulky goods.
Proficiency with handheld scanners, mobile delivery applications and route optimization/GPS tools (e.g., Routific, Verizon Connect, Bringg, or similar).
Inventory management fundamentals: picking, staging, scanning, returns processing and FIFO/seasonal rotation.
Basic mechanical aptitude for pre-trip inspections, minor vehicle troubleshooting and reporting maintenance needs.
Familiarity with DOT and OSHA safety regulations as they apply to vehicle operation, load securement and warehouse tasks.
Ability to read and verify part numbers, barcodes and packing lists to ensure correct SKU delivery and reduce mis-shipments.
Experience documenting proof-of-delivery (POD), completing electronic signatures and managing exception workflows.
Cash handling and point-of-delivery payment experience; comfortable verifying invoices and processing customer payments.
Competence using standard productivity tools (email, company mobile apps, barcode software, basic Microsoft Excel for logs).
Forklift / pallet jack operation (preferred or trained) for handling skidded seasonal shipments.
Basic knowledge of tire/wheel terminology, seasonal tread differences and service center installation needs.

Soft Skills

Strong customer service orientation: professionalism, patience, clear communication and proactive follow-up.
Time management and punctuality: ability to meet tight delivery windows and adapt to changing priorities.
Problem solving and escalation judgment: identify issues quickly and involve the right internal partners.
Team collaboration: works cross-functionally with dispatch, warehouse, parts and store teams.
Attention to detail: accuracy in scanning, documentation and order verification to minimize billing and inventory errors.
Physical stamina and the ability to safely lift and maneuver bulky items across multiple stops.
Flexibility and resilience under seasonal peak pressures and variable weather conditions.
Clear verbal and written communication for notes, incident reports and customer interactions.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent.

Preferred Education:

GED plus vocational training or certifications in logistics, fleet operations or automotive fundamentals.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Automotive Technology / Service
Transportation and Distribution

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1–4 years in delivery, warehouse shipping & receiving or automotive parts logistics; seasonal or peak-period delivery experience strongly preferred.

Preferred:

Prior work delivering automotive parts or tires, experience with route-based delivery systems, and demonstrated performance meeting on-time delivery and low damage rate KPIs.