Northside Jacksonville jobs near JAXPORT and the airport

Jacksonville's Northside is where much of the city's cargo comes and goes. JAXPORT's Blount Island and Dames Point terminals sit along the St. Johns River. Jacksonville International Airport sits just off I-95. Around them are warehouses, cross-docks, plants and yards that need hands-on workers every day.

This guide is for job seekers who want warehouse, port-area or industrial work on the Northside. It covers where the jobs are, what the work looks like and how to get there. It also covers early starts, safety gear and the site rules you may meet near the port. It ends with how to apply through All Purpose Staffing.

Where the work is on the Northside

Blount Island is a JAXPORT marine terminal in the St. Johns River, reached from Heckscher Dr. Vehicles, containers and other cargo move across its docks. Warehouses and logistics buildings in the area handle that cargo after it leaves the ships.

Dames Point sits along the river near the Dames Point Bridge, which carries I-295 across the St. Johns. JAXPORT's terminal there handles container cargo. Logistics buildings along Heckscher Dr, New Berlin Rd and the I-295 corridor serve the freight that moves through it.

Talleyrand is JAXPORT's terminal closer to downtown, along Talleyrand Ave on the river. Industrial businesses line the streets around it. For workers who live near downtown or in the older neighborhoods north of it, this area can mean a shorter trip.

Jacksonville International Airport sits off I-95 at Airport Rd. Distribution and light industrial buildings line the roads around it, including Pritchard Rd and the older Imeson area. Many of these sites start early to meet truck and flight schedules.

Neighborhoods like Oceanway, Garden City, Highlands and New Berlin sit close to many of these job sites. If you live in one of them, you may be able to work near home. Tell your recruiter where you live so they can look close to you first.

What Northside jobs look like

Most openings near the port and the airport are hands-on. You move product, check it, stage it and load it. The work is steady and physical, and it rewards people who show up on time and work safely.

Titles vary from site to site. One building's material handler is another building's warehouse associate. Read the job description, not just the title, and ask your recruiter what a normal shift involves.

Container work can mean unloading boxes by hand, one at a time, when freight is loaded loose on the floor. Other sites move freight on pallets with equipment. Ask how freight arrives at your site so you know what to expect on day one.

Here are roles you will often see in Northside postings.

• Material handler: moves cargo and product around the building by hand, with pallet jacks or with carts.
• Picker and packer: pulls items for orders, checks them against the order and packs them for shipping.
• Loader and unloader: works the dock, loading and unloading trailers and containers.
• Shipping and receiving clerk: checks what arrives and leaves against the paperwork, often with a handheld scanner.
• Forklift or reach truck operator: moves pallets inside the site after the employer's own training and evaluation.
• Production or assembly worker: works a line in a light industrial plant, following set steps and quality checks.
• General labor: sorting, staging, cleanup and helping crews wherever the work is that day.

Getting to the Northside

Most Northside job sites are easiest to reach by car. I-95 runs north past the airport toward Nassau County. I-295 loops around the north end of the city and crosses the river on the Dames Point Bridge. Heckscher Dr runs east from I-95 toward Blount Island and the port area.

If you live east of the river, in Arlington or near the beaches, the Dames Point Bridge is often your way across. From the Westside, I-295 takes you around the north end of town. From the Southside, you will likely use I-95 through downtown or I-295 over the Dames Point Bridge. Bridge and interchange traffic can slow down at rush hour, so leave extra time.

JTA runs bus routes on the Northside. Many port and industrial sites sit far from a bus stop, though. Early shifts may also start before buses run often. Check JTA's route maps and schedules for your exact trip before you accept a job.

Carpooling is common at early-start sites. If you need a ride, ask coworkers who live near you during your first week. Above all, tell your recruiter how you get to work. That helps them suggest sites you can reach every day, not just on the first day.

Early starts and what a shift is like

Many Northside operations start early. Freight from ships, trucks and flights runs on a schedule, and the building has to be ready. A first shift that starts before sunrise is normal here.

A typical day starts with clocking in and a short meeting with your lead. They go over the plan, safety points and any changes. Then you work your area, with breaks set by the site. Many shifts end with cleanup and staging work for the next crew.

Plan your evening around your start time. Lay out your gear, pack your lunch and water, and know your route. Set more than one alarm for the first few days. If you will be late or cannot make it, call your recruiter and your site contact as early as you can.

APS places workers on first shift and more. Tell your recruiter which hours you can work, and be honest about other commitments. A shift you can keep is worth more than one that looks good on paper.

Safety gear and what to wear

Port-area and warehouse sites take safety seriously. Each site sets its own rules for personal protective equipment, or PPE. Your recruiter will tell you what your site requires. Some sites provide certain gear, and some expect you to bring it, so ask before day one.

Plan for the gear below unless you are told otherwise.

• Safety-toe work boots if the site requires them, and closed-toe work shoes at a minimum.
• A high-visibility vest or shirt, which many dock and yard areas require.
• Work gloves that fit well.
• Safety glasses, and hearing protection in loud areas.
• A hard hat where overhead work or cargo handling calls for one.
• Clothes that cover your legs, with no loose ends that can catch on equipment.
• A refillable water bottle and a packed lunch, since some sites are far from places to eat.

Site rules near the port

Port terminals are secure areas. Their access rules come from the facility and from federal maritime security requirements. What that means for you depends on where you work.

Some jobs are inside terminal sites with restricted areas. Those sites may require a federal credential for unescorted access, such as a Transportation Worker Identification Credential, often called a TWIC. Many port-area jobs are in warehouses outside the terminal gates, and those may not need one. Check the job posting and ask your recruiter before you apply.

Some sites also require a background check or drug screen. Your recruiter will tell you if yours does. Beyond that, these rules are common at port-area and industrial sites.

• Carry a valid photo ID and show it at the gate when asked.
• Stay in marked walkways and watch for forklifts and other cargo equipment.
• Park only where the site tells you to park.
• Follow phone and camera rules, since some sites limit photos or phone use on the floor.
• Report injuries and near misses to your lead right away.
• Stay out of any area you have not been trained or cleared for.

Weather, heat and working outdoors

Northside work often happens on docks, in yards and in large buildings without full air conditioning. Jacksonville summers are hot and humid, and afternoon storms are common.

Drink water before you feel thirsty, and keep drinking through the shift. Take the breaks the site gives you, and use shade or cool areas when you can. Light, breathable layers under your safety vest help.

Learn the signs of heat illness: dizziness, headache, nausea, heavy sweating or confusion. Tell your lead right away if you or a coworker feels that way. OSHA publishes heat safety guidance, and many sites build their rules around it.

Lightning is a real hazard on open docks and yards. Follow the site's rules when storms move in. When a tropical storm or hurricane threatens, sites may change schedules. Your recruiter and site contact will tell you when work resumes.

How to stand out and move up

Attendance is the first thing supervisors notice. Show up on time for every shift, ready to work. If something goes wrong, call early instead of staying silent.

Learn the site's systems. Scanners, labels and inventory steps take practice, so ask questions in your first week. Keep your area clean and follow safety rules without being reminded. Leads remember the people they can count on.

Equipment skills open doors. If you have run a forklift, reach truck or order picker, tell your recruiter which types. OSHA requires employers to train and evaluate operators on their own equipment and conditions. Expect a site evaluation even if you trained at another job.

Many assignments are contract-to-hire. If you do strong work, the employer may hire you directly. Even when a job does not convert, a good record helps your recruiter place you in the next one.

How to apply with All Purpose Staffing

All Purpose Staffing is headquartered in Jacksonville, with an office on Baymeadows Road. We place workers on the Northside and across Northeast Florida in warehouse, distribution, manufacturing and light industrial jobs. Positions include contract, contract-to-hire and direct hire roles.

Applying is simple.

• Browse open jobs on our jobs page, or apply once online and let a recruiter match you.
• Tell us where you live, how you get to work and which shifts you can work.
• List your past jobs, any equipment you have run and any credentials you hold.
• Talk with a recruiter about the jobs that fit your skills and schedule.
• Bring a photo ID and work authorization documents for your hiring paperwork.
• Create an account to get job alerts when new openings are posted.

After you start, your recruiter stays in touch. If something about the job is not working, tell them early so they can help. We put worker satisfaction first, because people who are treated well stay, and that is good for everyone.

Common questions

Related pages

• Browse open jobs
• Apply online
• Northside jobs and staffing
• Warehouse jobs in Jacksonville
• Getting to work without a car
• Your first week at a warehouse job