travel warehouse worker

Traveling Warehouse Jobs

Businesses across the United States are struggling to fill open warehouse jobs and as a result, the need for traveling warehouse workers is increasing. With the current labor shortage, companies are willing to pay a premium to bring in talented Order Selectors, Reach Truck Operators, and Cherry Pickers from all across the country to keep their warehouses staffed and products moving. In order to become a traveling warehouse worker, you’ll need to have plenty of experience in warehousing and you must be at the top of your game.

What does a Traveling Order Selector do?

Order Selectors are responsible for selecting customer orders and fulfilling them as quickly and accurately as possible. Traveling Order Selectors do exactly that, but they must have the right experience. When companies bring in a travel warehouse team, they’re doing so with the expectation that they’re highly skilled and experienced with the picking system that is in place at the warehouse such as Vocollect, voice selection, and/or RF scanners. They’re paying a premium for top talent and expect that personnel understand all aspects of order selection, movement of product within a distribution facility and will be able to acclimate quickly to the warehouse environment.

What does a Traveling Reach Truck Operator do?

Reach truck operators uses a reach truck to load, move, and unload heavy materials in warehouses or large retail spaces. Reach trucks are more compact than forklifts, so they’re better for maneuvering around narrow warehouses and moving items for certain types of aisle configurations. When companies hire traveling reach truck operators, they’re expecting that you have plenty of experience using this type of equipment and that you know your way around a warehouse.

Warehouse Staffing Agencies

Some companies that specialize in warehousing and logistics support also have traveling warehouse teams that they deploy to support their clients throughout the country such as Capstone Logistics, Humano, and FHI. There are also travel staffing agencies that fill more than warehouse jobs and offer positions across manufacturing, energy, and other industries such as MADICORP and PMG Services. The aforementioned companies along with the ones mentioned below can be found in our industrial staffing agency directory here .

Capstone Logistics

Capstone is a North American supply chain solutions provider with more than 550 operating locations, 17,000 associates, and 60,000 carriers. They have capabilities in freight management, warehouse and distribution center support, last-mile delivery, supply chain analytics, optimization, and more.

When working as a traveling selector for Capstone, you’ll be able to travel the United States all year long and they offer time home in between projects. This position requires the ability to understand all aspects of order selection, container stacking, and movement of product within a warehouse-distribution facility. The travel associate will perform product order selection from warehouse racking storage areas and place product on pallet or other shipping container in order to minimize damage and facilitate proper loading of product being shipped from the facility. Traveling order selectors will primarily be working in grocery and freezer environments.

Website: https://www.capstonelogistics.com/

Humano is a third-party warehouse provider that employs the happiest, best warehouse and distribution center people around. They are athletes, laborers, blue-collar power-houses all working at the warehouse helping to support our communities. They do everything from unloading, receiving, loading, forklift driving, clamp truck operating, order selecting or picking, to palletizing and general warehouse work.

As a Traveling Warehouse Worker for Humano, you’ll travel the country, (airfare/hotels/food paid for!) and help in various warehouse functions within the different warehouses you fly to! Travel Associates earn $800-$1700 per week with OT and $210 a week per diem — you can earn up to $2000/week by joining their team.

What Do Employees Have To Say About Working For Humano?

“ Humano changed my life for the better. It’s only up from here.”

Website: https://www.humano.net

Become a part of the nationwide database of experienced warehouse professionals at FHI. Order Selectors are needed for traveling positions across the continental US. They offer competitive hourly wages, and the opportunity to work with an elite team of warehouse professionals gaining notoriety as the best value in warehouse services.

Website: https://www.fhiworks.com/

RSS – Regional Supplemental Services

Providing nationwide staffing services of Warehouse Workers and CDL Drivers, RSS supports many clients in foodservice, grocery, and beverage distribution with over 30 years of experience providing travel labor.

Is RSS A Good Company To Work For?

We went straight to the source and asked RSS employees if it’s a good company to work for and here’s what people say:

“They legit. Cash per diem every day and they make you sign off on your hours at the end of the week so they git it right”

“You gonna love that sh*t. Money always on point, great team, room, etc. Not a bad company at all. Been with them since May”

“ I’ve been out with RSS for almost a year now, and I love it.”

“RSS the best. Always good money and dope people”

Website: https://www.rssinc.com/

Huffmaster is a staffing agency specializing in rapid strike staffing, for warehousing, industrial, healthcare, and other industries.

Here’s what people that have been on Huffmaster’s jobs have to say:

Is Huffmaster A Good Company To Work For?

“Huffmaster’s a great company, it’s some of the recruiters be on BS”

“Did a contract with them in WA state before. They paid for the flight and hotel fee as well as transportation to work site”

“Yes, indeed”

“Huffmaster used to pay more for strikes than $20hr they lowlablling now!”

“Guards get little money. Workers make the most”

Website: https://huffmaster.com/

Since 1992, MADI has been delivering contingent labor nationwide specializing in manufacturing, warehousing, energy, utilities, and more. When it comes to order selectors, pickers, or general forklift operators, MADI offers access to warehouse positions across many different industries and for well-known companies in need of staffing support.

Website: http s://www.madicorp.com/

PMG Services

PMG recruiters will provide you with personal, hands-on assistance in matching you with the right warehouse jobs to fit your needs. These are generally short-term assignments requiring that you travel to job sites in various parts of the country, for which they will pay all travel and housing expenses. PMG offers excellent pay, with the potential for you to earn as much in 6-8 months as you would earn in a year elsewhere, allowing you the flexibility to take time off between assignments.

Website: https://pmgservices.com/

Companies Hiring Traveling Order Selectors Directly

As the needed for experienced order selectors has increased, some companies in the foodservice industry such as C&S Wholesale Grocers, UNFI and Performance Foodservice have started hiring traveling order selectors directly and managing their own travel teams. When working for a company directly, you’ll want to consider the number of distribution centers they have, what areas of the country are they in, what they have to offer in terms of pay, benefits, per diem, and lodging.

C&S Wholesale Grocers

C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc. is the largest wholesale grocery supply company in the U.S. Founded in 1918 as a supplier to independent grocery stores, C&S now services customers of all sizes and has 30 distribution centers across the country. Check out the video below about what it’s like working for C&S Wholesale Grocers as a Selector.

Website: https://www.cswg.com/

UNFI – United Natural Foods, Inc.

UNFI is a Providence, RI-based natural and organic food company and is the largest publicly traded wholesale distributor of health and specialty food in the United States and Canada.

Working as part of UNFI’s Swat Warehouse Team you will be assigned to various distribution centers to support ongoing warehouse operations. You’ll need to have a strong understanding of selection, loading, and forklift driving. Must also be well versed in proper selection methods, pallet building, productivity measures, and safety procedures.

See what a day in the life of a warehouse associate is like at UNFI.

Website: http s://www.unfi.com/

Performance Foodservice

Delivering to over 80,000 customer locations across America, Performance Foodservice is one of the largest foodservice distributors in the nation.

Working as a Field Support Selector, Order Picker, Warehouse Worker you’ll be responsible for hand-selecting and/or forklift movement of food and non-food products including reading labels, placing product in the proper locations on pallets, let-downs, replenishment, put-away, and/or preparing for shipping. This position is physically demanding, entails exposure to varying temperature zones, and will require significant travel to Performance distribution centers within a geographic region.

Performance Foodservice is a division of Performance Food Group — you can check out the video below to see what it’s like working as an Order Selector at Performance Food Group.

Website: https://www.performancefoodservice.com/

How To Find A Traveling Warehouse Job

When it comes to finding the right traveling warehouse job, you’ll want to chat with others in the industry and find out which travel staffing agencies people recommend. Check out our post on the Top Staffing Agencies here, join our Facebook group Traveling Contract Jobs: Industrial to find jobs and chat with others in the industry, and you can find contact information to some of the top travel staffing companies here . Traveling warehouse jobs can fill up quickly and if you want to have a leg up on new positions that become available, don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter The Road , to get new warehouse jobs and industry updates delivered to your inbox.

Warehouse Personnel

Huffmaster is your trusted partner in finding skilled and dependable warehouse workers. For businesses that rely on one or multiple warehouses, having the right personnel is vital to maintaining optimal efficiency and productivity. However, surges in demand, seasonality requirements, and high turnover rates can make finding skilled warehouse workers difficult.

We understand the challenges of finding quality warehouse personnel, especially with today’s low unemployment rate. That’s why we offer various skilled warehouse professionals to help you keep your operations running smoothly. Our industrial staff includes:

• Electricians
• Forklift Operators
• General Laborers
• Material Handlers
• Stockroom Clerks
• Warehouse Managers
• Machine Operators
• Pickers and Packers
• Assembly Workers
• Order Selectors

Huffmaster’s experienced recruiters understand the specific needs of warehouse operations and work closely with you to find the right people to fill your open jobs. We even have specialty warehouse operators with “Vocollect” experience – the hard-to-find skills needed to keep your warehouse running efficiently.

Make sure to have a sufficient number of skilled or unskilled warehouse workers for your operations. Contact Huffmaster today to learn more about our staffing solutions and how we can help your business run at full capacity.

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Traveling Jobs / Contract Jobs 

Why consider traveling contract work, what is a traveling contractor    .

A traveling contractor is hired to work in a specific location for a particular amount of time; typically they’re hired for 2 to 3 months minimum but projects may last for a year or more. Because the demand for skilled trades and production workers is so high, there are often labor shortages in certain areas of the country so companies hire experienced workforces from around the country that can step in, acclimate quickly, and help them get caught up on production backlogs, help during busy seasons, or bridge the gap until full-time employees are hired locally.

Will I have flexibility in choosing assignments? 

As a traveling contractor, you're in charge of your career and can pick and choose your projects offered by skilled trade staffing agencies and contract staffing firms. Just let your recruiters know your availability, project preferences, and any other details that are important to you.  

What qualities will help me succeed as a traveling tradesperson? 

A traveling skilled trades or production worker should have the following characteristics to excel in the role:

• Enjoys experiencing new cities, towns and traveling in general
• Enjoys the experience of working in new organizations
• Inquisitive and thrives on challenges and learning new things
• Is able to live a flexible lifestyle and enjoys being able to pick and choose where to work and for what type of projects and companies

What are the certifications and requirements for becoming a traveling contract worker? 

Most companies that hire these types of workforces are looking for experienced talent in whichever industry and trade they’re hiring for – not people fresh out of trade school. 

For example, certified Boiler Operators, Welders, CNC Machinists with many years of experience. Experience with traveling contract work is preferred, but not required. 

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Three main components of contract staffing , contract staffing firm.

At MADI, we’re the contract staffing firm and it’s our company that recruits and hires contractors from across the United States. We handle the advertising, interviewing, screening, and onboarding for our client.

Client Company

Our clients hire us to place you, the contractor, into their facility or facilities.

We hire you, the contractor, directly and take care of the logistics to get you to the project site, you’re our W-2 employee and we ensure that all goes well with your placement and the experience at our client’s facility.

What Is Per Diem? 

Per diem is an allowance for lodging, meals, and incidental expenses and varies by project location. For tax purposes, it’s recommended that you consult with a CPA familiar with contracting and per diem to determine your specific tax liabilities and deductible items.  

How Is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Handled?    

Your recruiters will be able to provide details on the PPE requirements at each facility. Generally speaking, items such as steel toe boots, metatarsal boots, welding hoods, and some machinists tools are brought by contractors. Other items such as safety glasses or hearing protection are typically provided by the client company on-site. 

If you're looking for a new pair of workbooks, take a look at our blog post Who Makes The Longest Lasting, High-Demand Work Boots to learn which people prefer. 

We also have a blog post on Who Makes The Best Safety Glasses if you're looking for some top-rated brands. 

Resume Tips for Traveling Contractors 

Most staffing firms and companies these days use Applicant Tracking Systems [ATS] for hiring workers which is why keywords are more important than ever. Without the right keywords – your resume might not make it in front of recruiters!

Applicant Tracking Systems are looking for keywords related to the job opening and industry, so make sure your resume contains the right keywords. It’s also suggested to submit your resume as a Word document and not a PDF because sometimes computer systems have a hard time reading resumes in PDF format.

For traveling contract jobs specifically, you’ll want to make sure that your most recent project is at the top of your resume, that each project has start and end dates and that your licenses and certifications are clearly written at the top of your resume. For more suggestions, check out our 7 Resume Tips For Skilled Trades Workers.

How To Find Traveling Jobs 

As with most job searches, the internet is your friend; use digital tools and job boards to your advantage. We could write forever about different options and different job boards for specific industries, so instead, we’ll keep it simple to get you started.

Rather than visit separate job boards, you can use free job board aggregators such as Google and Indeed to search for jobs, create job alert emails as well as upload your resume.

To search for travel jobs specifically, do not include a location when searching. Search for terms such as: 

Machinist Travel Per Diem

Welders Travel Per Diem 

Traveling Millwright Per Diem 

Assembler Travel Per Diem 

Google For Jobs

Being the largest search engine in the world, it makes sense that Google step into the job search game – and that is exactly what they did in 2017 when they launched their new search engine tool Google For Jobs.

This is not a job board, but an aggregator of job openings that are already published on the internet. You can narrow down search results by title, location, date posted, type, company, type, and employer. You can save jobs you’re interested in as well as set up email alerts to have new jobs sent to your inbox instantly, daily or weekly!

Indeed For Job Seekers

Indeed is another job search engine aggregator pulling from thousands of job boards, however, it also has the ability for employers to post jobs directly to the site. According to their website, 70% of US Job seekers online use Indeed to look for jobs.

As an employer, we also have great success hiring traveling contract workers through Indeed so it’s worth checking out if you’re not familiar with it.

RoadDogJobs - Jobs In The Trades

RoadDogJobs.com is specifically for connecting skilled trades and employers looking for traveling contract work. There is also a Facebook group  to join as well where people post job opportunities and you can network with other traveling skilled tradespeople. 

Roadtechs - Nuclear, Technical, Professional and Power Industry Jobs

Another specific site for finding traveling contract jobs that pay per diem is Roadtechs . There are a variety of contract jobs posted there and include jobs in petrochemical, construction, shipyard/marine, aerospace, and Manufacturing to name a few. 

Facebook Groups 

Traveling Contract Jobs

This is a networking group for those looking for traveling contract jobs throughout the United States. Industries include, but aren’t limited to skilled trades, craftsmen/craftswomen, nursing, construction, etc.

RoadDogJobs About: This is a group for job postings only. We DO NOT hire, only post jobs-related information.  On the Road Again About: We are a group of heavy industrial construction workers that travel job to job. Non-union and union. We work in refineries, nuke plants, power plants, trash burners, paper mills, oil fields, and shipyards.

Tips for job seekers from experienced traveling contractors .

Save contact information from all of the people you see posting about travel jobs -- a contact is a contact. The company may have posted an ad and by the time you call, they may NOT be hiring anymore. However, who's to say that a new req may not have come in 30 minutes later? Stay diligent. Keep trying. New reqs sometimes come in every hour of every day. 

Stock up on food and snacks at dollar stores before traveling because truck stops are expensive. 

To help pad your resume, take the OSHA 10 or even the OSHA 30 hr course, available online. Knowledge of safety looks great to an employer, especially when you're lacking in experience on the job. 

Traveling contract work provides you with a lot of job flexibility. You can travel a lot and see various parts of the country, and you will never be bored because you will be working on diverse projects. Also, it is a great way to make good money.

A traveling contractor is usually hired for 2-3 months, but in the case of bigger projects, it can even be a year or so. They provide help during the busiest times and make it possible for companies to catch up on their production backlogs.

Typically, staffing companies use ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) to search for candidates nowadays, so make sure to include proper keywords in your resume. They need to be related to the industry and job openings. 

Also, submit it as a Word document instead of a PDF because, in this way, it may be easier to read by the system. 

Apart from that, it’s recommended to place the most recent project you worked on at the top, followed by your licenses and certifications.

Of course! When you become a traveling contractor, you will be able to select the projects you like from the ones staffing agencies will suggest to you. To maximize the probability of getting suitable offers, please make sure to specify your project preferences, availability, and other vital information.

You can be sure your recruiter will share the PPE requirements for the facility with you. Usually, contractors bring such equipment as welding hoods or steel toe boots, while hearing and eye protection tools are typically offered on-site by the client company.

Speak to our recruiters today!

Our recruiters are available to answer your questions Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 to 5:00 Eastern time. Call (888) 243-7202.

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Warehouse Travel Teams

We put skilled travel order selectors in your distribution center within 48 hours, contingency labor on demand: merit warehouse warehouse travel teams.

The logistics industry never stops. Maintaining reliable operations at your warehouse or distribution center is critical to your business. However, it’s true that even the best operations will occasionally face a staffing shortage.

When you have an urgent need for temporary staffing, Merit Logistics is here to help. We are the trusted provider of contingent workforce solutions for some of the nation’s leading retailers. Our highly trained Warehouse Travel Teams are available to provide back-up assistance to your warehouse or distribution center anywhere in country within 48 hours.

To cover work stoppages, labor shortfalls, or holiday demand, turn to Merit’s Warehouse Travel Teams. We are committed to providing high-caliber logistics management “on demand” and resolving your warehouse staffing issues quickly and effectively – helping you maintain peak operating efficiencies at your facility.

Merit Logistics provides the most responsive 3rd party logistics management services in the industry

Contingent workforce expertise.

Merit Logistics’ Warehouse Travel Teams are comprised of highly-skilled, top-performing associates who are well-prepared to address your urgent or emergency requirements. Our contingent workforce Warehouse Travel Teams are experts in every facet of the distribution process – from unloading and lift truck operations to order selection and palletizing, you name it. You can rest assured that Merit’s dedicated Warehouse Travel Team will come up to speed quickly on your products and operations. They adopt your goals as their own and work around your KPIs. Whether it is for three weeks, three months, or longer, our skilled warehouse workers will fill your temporary staffing gap and keep your operations running smoothly.

Warehouse Contingent Labor Services:

• Pickers/packers
• Material handlers
• Order selectors
• Forklift operators
• Cherry picker operators
• Reach truck operators
• Pallet jack operators
• Loaders/unloaders
• Shipping/receiving
• Inventory/fulfillment workers
• Warehouse managers/supervisors (Logistics Management)

Contingent Workforce Travel Order Selection Services

Merit’s Warehouse Travel Team are experts in Vocollect order selection. Our travel order selector teams are proficient in using this system and will adapt quickly to your facility’s requirements. Additionally, our Travel Order Selectors are trained in other selection processes, including label selection, pick to light, and RFI selection. As specialists in distribution center activities, our contingent labor associates routinely improve throughput and KPIs for our clients, helping them to achieve operational excellence.

Travel Order Selector Services:

• Warehouse receiving and storage
• Accurate, efficient store order selection for grocery, general merchandise, or other products
• Warehouse transport by forklift, pallet jack, or lift truck
• Performance to client standards and KPIs

Merit Logistics is the industry’s trusted source and premier provider of third-party warehouse services . For a complete list of our services, click here .

Contact Merit Logistics Today

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Wondering what you need to know for your first day as a Warehouse Worker? Don't worry, we have you covered. Just take a look through our Onboarding Frequently Asked Questions to see what you should wear, what you should bring, and so much more. 

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Warehouse Jobs & Workers

For businesses that rely on one or more warehouses, filling open warehouse jobs and having dependable personnel working in those facilities is vital to maintaining an optimal level of efficiency. Ensuring that you have quality personnel is imperative not only for the operation of your business, but also for the well being of your staff and equipment. Elite Staffing and our nationwide network of local staffing agencies will fill your open warehouse jobs with quality personnel capable of maintaining solid growth and performance.

Elite Knows Warehouse Workers

If you're looking to hire qualified employees to fill temporary, part-time, or direct hire open warehouse jobs at the facilities you operate, Elite Staffing can help you find the employees you need. With exceptional screening and recruiting to help find workers who know what it's like to work warehouse jobs, coupled with training and orientation, our workers are ready to hit the ground running upon placement.

Contact Elite Staffing today to learn more about how our national staffing services can help you find a variety of warehouse workers for job sites across the country.

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The Ultimate Guide To Reducing Warehouse Travel

In Warehouse Travel Optimization

June 30, 2021

Labor is the single largest operating cost in most DCs , and travel often accounts for half of all labor time, especially in order picking. In some DCs, pickers can travel upwards of 12 miles per shift.

To help address the warehouse travel challenge, we have put together this guide that walks through the most proven and popular warehouse travel reduction strategies distribution leaders have taken to reduce travel and improve productivity in their order picking and replenishment processes.

Table of Contents

Labor shortages and the productivity challenge, tried and true warehouse travel reduction strategies, goods-to-person picking, autonomous mobile robots, what are the advantages of amrs, a software approach to reducing warehouse travel: ai-based optimization, what are the benefits of ai-based optimization.

Labor productivity and efficiency is critical to DCs that are struggling to hire and retain workers amid tight labor markets and rising wages. Adding to the challenge, demand for warehouse workers continues to grow as companies build new fulfillment centers and expand existing facilities to satisfy the growing volume of direct-to-consumer shipments.

According to U.S. government labor statistics, the growth in eCommerce sales is driving a 10 percent annual increase in demand for warehouse labor . By 2025 ecommerce is expected to expand by an additional $1.4 trillion and account for 50% of the growth in retail. At that level, the industry will need 20 percent more DC workers than it employs today

In addition, there is an emerging shortage of hourly workers across all industries. Improving productivity is imperative for meeting the ecommerce labor challenge. And reducing warehouse travel is the lynchpin to improving productivity.

Travel in Picking and Replenishment Processes is the Lynchpin

In a conventional, non-automated picking process, travel represents the majority of the time in a DC associate’s day. Warehouse workers following an RF-picking process will typically spend more time walking or driving between pick locations than they do pulling products from bins, slots or racking locations. As illustrated by the diagram (below), hands-free voice technology can significantly reduce time at the pick face, but it does not address the travel time between picks.

For years, DCs have devoted significant efforts to reducing warehouse travel through software solutions like slotting, conventional automation, and lean process initiatives. Those efforts are taking on new urgency as ecommerce growth boosts labor demand.

Additional helpful resources

Warehouse Travel Optimization

Warehouse Optimization Tools

Warehouse Labor Management System

Advancing Warehouse Management with Voice Picking Software

3 Surefire Ways to Dramatically Reduce In-warehouse travel: Part 1-Prioritize the path and optimize picks

1) Process Engineering

The most common process-related solution to the travel challenge is to split order lines by zone (based on product velocity, type/size, etc.), and to optimize picking processes in the various pick zones. (Learn more about process optimizations in our “Ultimate Guide to Improving Warehouse Order Picking Productivity” )

Many DCs place their fastest moving piece pick items in pick modules with flow rack and conveyors. It’s not unusual for workers in a pick module using voice in a bucket brigade process to pick hundreds of lines per hour . Some Lucas customers hit 1000 picks per hour in high-density pick operations.

Slower-moving items may be batch or cluster picked so users can pick multiple orders to a cart or pallet on a single trip through a warehouse zone. Moving from single order picking to batching can dramatically reduce travel by increasing pick density (i.e., the number of picks per unit of travel).

Conventional material handling solutions often complement these process approaches to travel reduction.

2) Traditional Material Handling

Conveyors eliminate the long trips from picking areas to packing or shipping docks, and automated sortation systems improve the eciency and accuracy of assembling orders picked in multiple zones.

Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) provide an alternative to conveyors for transporting products over long distances. First introduced in the 1980s and 1990s, AGVs have evolved from track-guided systems to wire- and light-guided systems that follow set travel paths, eliminating travel from picking to staging areas.

As well will discuss later in this guide, autonomous mobile robots take this travel reduction strategy to a new level with robots that can operate anywhere in a DC.

3) Slotting

Slotting software also goes hand-in-hand with process optimization efforts by determining which products should be placed in which warehouse locations in order to improve overall warehouse efficiency. The key objective of slotting programs is to optimize product positioning, but not solely to reduce travel in picking.

Slotting solutions are based on highly engineered models of a facility that take account of product flow and picking processes, product attributes (including physical characteristics and sales volumes/velocity), and storage types, among other factors. Periodic or selective re-slotting (or slot maintenance), focuses on regularly moving products to maintain efficiency and reduce travel, among other goals.

This is similar to slot maintenance but without the consulting and engineering costs of traditional slotting solutions. (For an introduction to Machine Learning technology, read the recent Lucas white paper: Making Sense of AI and Machine Learning for the DC )

Goods-to-person picking solutions are an increasingly popular approach to reducing travel over the past 20 years. Instead of sending workers out into the DC to fetch products, good-to-person systems eliminate travel from a picking process by bringing the products to people at fixed picking stations. These solutions have evolved from carousels and AS/RS systems to highly automated “robotic” warehouses that are being built throughout the world, largely to support grocery ecommerce.

1) Carousels

Carousels have been used since the 1990s to store smaller products densely in bins on shelves that rotate to present hundreds of SKUs to a picker at a single pick or pack location. Workers may need to walk between carousel locations, but travel distances are relatively small considering the number of pick locations they can access at one position. The focus is on maximizing pick density

2) AS/RS Systems

AS/RS systems (automated storage and retrieval systems) follow a similar approach to carousels, but they often rely on rack storage and conveyor systems to transport products to workers at order assembly stations. Goods-to-person AS/RS systems eliminate travel in picking and putting products away, but high capital costs have made them unsuitable for most warehouses.

3) “Robotic” Picking Systems

Over the past 10-15 years, AS/RS systems based on shuttle technologies and dense product storage have evolved into tightly integrated “robotic” picking systems.

UK online grocer Ocado is one of the pioneers in this area. They have built a number of large automated fulfillment centers to serve larger metropolitan areas. Kroger is partnering with Ocado to build up to 20 automated fulfillment centers in the U.S . Traditional AS/RS and material handling automation providers are getting into the act by developing their own turn-key fulfillment solutions for high throughput, high SKU ecommerce operations.

In contrast to Ocado, which is focusing on large facilities, some other grocery retailers are using similar types of automation technologies to build micro-fulfillment centers in urban or suburban locations. A number of North American Grocers are installing micro-fulfillment centers within or adjacent to existing stores. Loblaw, for example, is building an automated micro-fulfillment center within a large store in Toronto in partnership with Takeoff Technologies.

Outside of grocery retail, few other industries can justify the multi-million-dollar investment costs for these advanced, automated goods-to-person solutions – whether in all-new dedicated ecommerce fulfillment centers, or in existing DCs.

Autonomous mobile robots, or AMRs, are the latest trend in warehouse automation. AMRs use many of the same technologies as self-driving cars and trucks. Scores of start-up robotics companies are applying these technologies in a variety of AMR solutions specifically targeting the warehouse and distribution market. (Still other companies are developing robots that can both pick and transport products, but these systems are early in their commercialization so are not considered here.)

1) Goods-to-Person AMRs

Today’s goods-to-person AMRs take two forms: some that take cartons from shelves to picking stations and others that carry shelves to pickers, similar to Kiva. These solutions are typically paired with dedicated pick-pack stations. They are most applicable to each picking operations with relatively small order sizes.

2) Autonomous Picking Carts

Other AMR systems are intended to function as self-driving picking carts that pickers follow to complete their jobs. The carts may be outfitted with a tablet, scanner and lights to give users their picking instructions and confirm activities. These solutions save users travel time moving carts to and from picking zones, but they do not measurably impact travel within the picking area itself.

3) Conveyance Robots

Several start-up companies are offering robots that are intended to convey products over long travel distances between DC areas. These conveyance robots offer DCs a more flexible and cost-effective alternative to conveyors or traditional AGVs.

4) Autonomous Lift Trucks

There are also a number of companies with a new take on AMRs for full pallet operations. Several start-ups and traditional fork truck manufacturers are adding vision guidance to warehouse vehicles so they can operate autonomously (or, in some cases, semi-autonomously). These self-guided lift trucks show great promise for reducing labor in the most travel-intensive activities in the DC, like pallet put away and replenishment. These tasks, however, don’t typically require as much labor as each or case picking operations.

5) Robots-to-Goods Picking

The latest twist on AMRs for each picking is robot-to-goods AMRs, or swarming robots. In this approach, numerous AMRs travel among workers in pick zones. The robots carry totes to pick locations and meet workers who pick and place the items in the totes based on instructions on a tablet mounted to the deck of the robot. Some ecommerce DCs report doubling or tripling the productivity of their pickers, with a ratio of three or four robots per picker (this is a similar ratio to goods-to-person AMR systems).

The robot-to-goods approach is being used today primarily for each picking in ecommerce fulfillment centers. Unlike goods-to-person AMRs, the robot-to-goods model does not completely eliminate human travel. One drawback is that the pick sequencing is intended to optimize robot activity, not necessarily the travel or activity of the workers. And top potential pick rates for robot-to-goods systems are less than half of the maximum rates for Kiva-style goods-to-person systems.

Compared to traditional fixed automation systems, AMRs offer a number of advantages, including flexibility, scalability, and lower cost.

• Flexibility : Since AMR’s have free reign to travel throughout a facility, they can often be deployed in existing facilities. In addition, DC layouts can be changed after deploying robots without reconfiguring any hard infrastructure. Likewise, you can define new drop off or induction points on the fly through software.
• Scalability: While traditional automation systems are sized to handle maximum throughput (which may only be reached for a few weeks or months per year), robotic solutions can be scaled up or down by adding or subtracting robots and/or pick-pack stations.
• Cost: AMRs cost significantly less than conventional automation systems, but they are by no means a low-cost solution. For DCs that couldn’t justify an investment in conventional automation systems, conveyance AMRs have significant cost and ROI advantages. But goods-to-man or robot-to-goods AMRs offer a less compelling investment case. These AMR picking systems require three or more robots per picker, which represents an initial investment of greater than $1,000,000 for a relatively small operation.

Lucas Systems has taken a different approach to reducing warehouse travel that builds on lean process engineering and applies AI-based optimization technologies that we refer to as Jennifer™ intelligence.

Jennifer increases pick density and reduces travel in picking and other travel-intensive DC activities. Additionally, AI-based optimization does not require any changes to warehouse layouts or storage systems, and the upfront cost is fraction of robotic picking solutions. In addition, Jennifer simultaneously optimizes the travel of robots side by side with people.

Using AI to optimize DC processes has proven to be powerful in ecommerce pick-to-cart operations, where initial customers report doubling productivity without any fundamental changes to their picking processes. Although the biggest productivity gains are seen in each picking, the tool is equally applicable to case picking, replenishment, and other activities where workers are visiting many locations per work assignment.

Jennifer reduces travel through multiple components:

1) Intelligent Batching

Jennifer uses order, inventory, and location information from WMS and other systems and applies real-time optimization algorithms to create batch assignments. Unlike simple rule-based batching used in a WMS (such as FIFO or product and location overlap), Jennifer considers order priority, pick location, travel cost, product attributes, and other factors to create optimal batches of work.

Jennifer evaluates millions of potential combinations to determine the “best batch” or grouping of work from among the available orders. The math behind this is daunting. If 1000 orders are available for batching, and you are trying to create batches of four orders, there are more than 41 million possible combinations. Jennifer runs through the combinations in less than a second as users on the floor request work.

2) Path Optimization

Traditional picking systems use simple pick sequences that direct workers up one aisle and down the next in a snaking pattern. Jennifer’s path optimization algorithms use a virtual map of a facility to compute an ideal travel path that does not follow a strict location sequence. The algorithms take account of a user’s starting and end points, aisle travel restrictions (one-way aisles, for example) and other factors.

Path optimization is applicable to picking, replenishment and other activities where individual work assignments span widely dispersed locations.

3) Waveless Picking/Order Streaming

Jennifer supports waveless order picking (sometimes called “order streaming”) which enables DCs to continuously prioritize, batch and release work as new orders are received. Jennifer makes incoming orders available for picking as they are received. The order pool is continually updated, so that an order received at 2 pm can be released for picking almost immediately. (For more detail on waveless picking, read our recent blog, “Waveless Picking is a Key Capability for E-commerce Fulfillment” )

4) Dynamic Order Prioritization

To increase pick density and create better batches, Jennifer™ prioritizes all available work assignments based on rules that supervisors, in the management console, can configure and adjust throughout the day or week. Rules can be based on ship dates, routes, carriers, order types and more.

5) Robot and Human Work Orchestration

For DCs that have or are implementing AMRs, Jennifer coordinates and optimize the movements of people working with AMRs , driving further improvements in labor productivity and overall efficiency. For example, while within picking zones, a DC can add robots for conveyance between pick zones or other staging locations. This can further reduce worker travel to and from fixed drop off or induction points. Likewise, Jennifer can be used to optimize the travel of robots for full pallet moves, both in inbound and outbound operations.

• Increased productivity and throughput : Based on dozens of trials and successful implementations, AI-based optimization has reduced warehouse travel up to 70%. A number of DCs have more than doubled pick rates in cart pick operations. Baptist Health South Florida saw a 100% increase in picking productivity in their main-piece picking area of the DC. Grocery and food DCs have also seen 15-30 percent savings in travel time in case pick applications , which translates to 8-15% productivity gains.
• Labor savings: Customers utilizing AI-based optimization have also seen major reductions in labor hours. For example, Apex Tool Group, a leading manufacturer of hand and power tools, now operates with 10% fewer person-hours . The most we’ve seen is a 50% reduction in labor hours.
• Increased throughput and shorter turnaround times : Improved productivity and a steady work release (through waveless picking) increases throughput and results in more efficient allocation of workers and equipment. Next-day and two-day orders are out the door on time and in the hands of the consumers on promised delivery dates. For example, Rotary Corp, the worlds largest supplier of power equipment parts, was able to achieve 99.99% same-day shipping.

What Strategy Is Best For My Warehouse?

To choose the best travel reduction/productivity strategy, warehouses and distribution centers need to look at their budget, current processes (case picking vs piece picking), facility size/SKU count, current infrastructure, etc.

However, we’ve learned that many top-performing DCs have maxed out their productivity gains and travel savings through traditional travel reduction strategies. For example, slotting solutions are stagnant and happen once. Without implementing solutions that utilize AI and machine learning algorithms to sot dynamically, most DCs won’t see impressive and continuous results in an ever-changing market.

Given these changing market factors, most facilities are looking for other ways to eliminate travel that don’t require fixed, inflexible automation systems. Robotic systems offer a more cost-effective, flexible, and scalable alternative to traditional material handling systems.

For DCs looking for a low-risk, high-return solution that can be implemented quickly AI-based optimization may be the answer. Lucas AI-based optimization has more than doubled productivity without requiring any changes to warehouse layouts or storage systems. In addition, the technology can be used to optimize the work of people alongside robots, allowing DCs to add more AMRS where they make the most sense today.

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The procedure for receiving the work visa for foreign citizens

Obtaining a work visa for the foreign citizen is a multistage and long process. For example, it will take on the average 100 days and 15900 ₽ (only to pay the state fee) for the Company-employer registered in Moscow to hire a foreign worker. Since a work permit is valid maximum for 1 year, it is necessary to start processing a new work visa 6 months after receiving the current work visa.

Citizens of the CIS do not need a visa to enter Russia, and Work permit is issued for them in the simplified order for 10 working days and 4000 ₽ approximately.

Company – member of AmCham can process the documents in Moscow in “one window” mode for its foreign colleagues working not only in Moscow, but also in any other region of Russia.

Steps of the work visa getting procedure:

• Annual electronic application for foreign manpower need submitted to the Migration quotas automated information system.
• Placement of vacancy in the administration of Civil service of the employment of population.
• Permission to involve the foreign labor force in the Migration police.
• Work permit for foreigner (Plastic Card) in the Migration police.
• Accreditation at the local department of the Migration police.
• Work visa Invitation for foreigner.
• Receiving a single-entry work visa for 90 days at the Russian Consulate.
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• Re-issue of a single-entry work visa into a multiple-entry visa with the extension of its validity period.

Samples of documents

Detailed description of stages for the Company registered in Moscow and hiring foreign citizen to work in Moscow:

• Every year a Company is obliged to submit the application for foreign manpower need for the next year, so that the needs of the concrete company would be taken into account while the formation of quotas for the Russian Federation subjects and of all-Russian quota. Application includes a compulsory registration with the quick information center “Migration quota” at www.migrakvota.gov.ru . This rule does not apply to non-quota positions which list is renewed every year.

Required documents:

• Application form (PDF file, 48 KB) about the assignment to the employer of the state service of assistance in the selection of the required workers (1 copy);
• Information about the need of workers (PDF file, 50 KB), the presence of the unfilled vacancies (2 copies);
• Certificate from the Russian Federal Tax Service of “State registration of legal entities” and the introduction of record into the United state list of legal entities (1 notarized copy);
• Certificate from the Russian Federal Tax Service of “Registration of the legal entity with the Tax Authorities” (1 notarized copy);
• Codes of statistics (1 notarized copy);
• License to carry out activities (if needed) (1 notarized copy);
• Power of attorney (PDF file, 52 KB) to the authorized representative to submit and obtain statements of the Administration of civil service of the employment of population (UGSZN) of Moscow (1 copy).
• Conclusion of the Administration of civil service of the employment of population (UGSZN) of Moscow (copy with the assignment of the original);
• Request to the Administration of civil service of the employment of population (UGSZN) (PDF file, 73 KB) (2 copies);
• Application (PDF file, 44 KB) to the Migration police of Russia (3 copies);
• Application form of the organization (PDF file, 37 KB) (1 copy);
• Application (PDF file, 42 KB) to the Russian Migration police of Moscow (2 copies);
• Project of a labour contract or other documents confirming the preliminary agreement with foreign citizens or foreign partners about intention and conditions of employment of foreign workers (1 copy, signed and stamped by the employer);
• Certificate from the Russian Federal Tax Service of “The introduction of a record into the United state list of legal entities on the state registration of changes into the constitutive documents of a legal entity” (if changes were occurred) (2 notarized copies);
• Certificate from the Russian Federal Tax Service of “The introduction of a record into the United state list of legal entities on the state registration of changes which are not connected with constitutive documents of legal entity” (if changes were occurred) (2 notarized copies);
• Original of a billing document (stamped by bank) proving the payment of the state fee of 10000 ₽ for giving the company a “Permit to involve foreign labour force” for each foreign worker (properties).
• Copy of a “Permit to involve foreign labour force” (with the presentation of the original);
• Application (file PDF, 42 KB) to the Russian Migration police of Moscow (2 copies);
• Warrant to the authorized representative (file PDF, 52 KB) for the right to supply and obtain a work permit (plastic card) (2 copies);
• Application (file PDF, 102 KB) about issuing to foreign citizen or person without citizenship of work permit (1 copy);
• Letter of guarantee (file PDF, 55 KB) for the return of foreign worker (1 copy);
• Examination certificate for knowledge of Russian language;
• Form A30 – about absence of disease of Hansen (leprosy);
• Form A15-A19 – about absence of tuberculosis;
• Form A50-A53.9, A55, A57 – about absence of sexually transmitted infections (syphilis, lymphogranuloma (venereal), chancre);
• Form 086 – for the workers connected with physical labor;
• about absence of addiction;
• Notarized translation of passport of foreign citizen (1 copy);
• Colored photo of foreign citizen on the mat paper – 2 pieces;
• Copy of document with apostille about the vocational education with the translation into Russian (1 notarized copy); or a certificate of equivalency of such document to the Russian school certificate or diploma of professional education;
• Original of billing document (stamped by bank) about the payment of the state duty of 3500 ₽ for obtaining a “work permit for a foreign citizen or a person without citizenship” (properties).
• Application form (PDF file, 75 KB);
• Extract from the “United state list of legal entities” (remoteness of an extract should not exceed one month; 1 notarized copy);
• If the head (Director-General) is not Russian citizen, copies of Permit to involve foreign labour force and Work permit for foreign citizen (both notarized copies) are also required;
• Non-residential Lease Agreement (in case of sublease, copies of sublease agreement and non-residential lease agreement should be presented; 1 notarized copy);
• Certificate of “State registration of the property rights” of the non-residential premises (at owner of premises) occupied by organization (1 notarized copy);
• Letter of guarantee (file PDF, 41 КB).
• Organization Registration card in the Russian Migration police of Moscow;
• Application letter for invitation (file PDF, 116 KB) for Russian visa (1 copy);
• Letter of guarantee (file PDF, 45 KB) from organization (1 copy);
• Copy of “permit to employ foreign workers” (Permission) (1 copy);
• Copy of both sides of “Work permit of foreign citizen” (Plastic card) with the presentation of original;
• Copy of the page of passport of foreign citizen, which contains photo and specifications (1 copy);
• Copy of labor contract;
• Receipt for state fee payment.
• Application of foreign citizen to the Russian consulate with purpose of obtaining single work visa for 90 days.
• Notification of the beginning of work of the foreign national in the organization. After obtaining a work permit and a work visa, signing a labor contract with a foreign worker (or extending the existing labor contract for the new period), the Company- employer is obligated to send the notification of conclusion of the employment agreement with a foreign worker to the Migration police of Moscow in 3 days. Similar notification should be sent in case of cancellation of an employment agreement with a foreign worker.
• Registration of the work visa with the local department of the Migration police.
• Notification of arrival (Visa registration) (file XLSX, 130 KB) of foreign citizen to the place of stay (1 copy);
• Letter of guarantee (file PDF, 52 KB) from the inviting organization with the request to obtain a multiple entree work visa for foreign citizen (1 copy);
• Application with request to obtain a multiple entree work visa (file PDF, 55 KB) from a foreign citizen (1 copy);
• Passport copies of foreign citizen with the visa and migratory card, with the presentation of originals;
• Two photos (colored, mat paper, size of 3×4);
• Copy of “permit to employ foreign workers” (permission), with presentation of original;
• Copy of “work permit of foreign citizen” (Plastic card), with presentation of original.
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Moscow warehouse raid leads to dozens detained, checked for military service

I n the Moscow region, police and the Russian Guard raided a Wildberries warehouse in Elektrostal. Several individuals were detained and transported to the military registration and enlistment office.

Employees shared videos from the scene on the Elektrostal Wildberries company's internal channel. The warehouse employs thousands of migrants, and the Russian National Guard is verifying their work permits , residence permits, and military IDs.

Dozens detained

"Those lacking the necessary documents are placed into prison vans and taken to the military registration and enlistment office," reports Baza, noting that approximately 20 individuals were detained.

The Astra channel reports that police used sticks to subdue resisting workers.

"They are identifying individuals eligible for military service and those evading it. Those evading are taken away without consent. Resisters face police baton charges," said warehouse workers to Astra.

Authorities previously stated that efforts to "enhance control over the migrant influx" were expected to intensify, especially following an attack on Crocus City Hall.

According to Mash channel, 15 people were arrested during the raid; Astra reports that "dozens" were detained. In total, at least 5,000 workers underwent checks.

"Screenings of foreign nationals working in Russia and instances of aggressive xenophobia have increased following the terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall, attributed to citizens of Tajikistan," reports Deutsche Welle.

Security force raids at migrant gathering spots may prompt employers to strengthen employment conditions. The likelihood of conscripting these individuals for military service is diminishing—suspect persons are more likely to be deported, implying the Russian army won't expand using their contributions. The 'special operation' is also expected to change, according to the Brief channel.

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Raid on shopping mall sees Russians finding "willing" recruits for the army

Finnish military strength questioned by Sweden: Is Helsinki prepared for invasion?