Started As A Yard Jockey Around Christmas. Challenging Work But Really Enjoy It! Any Questions For A Yard Jockey?

I started to get the itch to stay close to home, especially with the declining health of some family members. Just so happens a position opened up at a facility only 10 minutes away from my home with DHL. It was definitely a steep learning curve with the tight backing I have to do in such a small lot. I do overnights, one week 36 hours, next week 48. So equates to 15 days off per month.

Been a interesting 6 months, and found a place I want to stay at for a long time. Higher management can be a pain sometimes. They have us put the trailers only a few inches apart from eachother. So I help drivers pull them out allot, plus gravel lot means sometimes the trailers are too high or too low for people. A few times a week they have me run a daycab to a facility about a hour away. So its nice to get a taste of the road again, plus low traffic overnight.

Last photo shows the view we have of our mirrors when its raining. We run nonstop except for lightning, which can be interesting. Trucks are upkept very well. But sometimes the AC stops working, which on these cabovers it can get HOT lol.

If anyone has any questions you've wanted to know about yard jockeys. Or anyone considering switching to this kind of work. I would be happy to answer any questions!

I hate to bother a yard jockey with a question, but does that bother you guys?

I hate to bother a yard jockey with a question, but does that bother you guys?

Not at all, sometimes we can be in a grumpy mood from the shift in general. But we never mind helping a driver out when they need it. Most of us were OTR ourselves. The quicker we can get a driver in and out of a lot, the better for all of us. Only thing that bothers us with drivers is when they just drop a trailer in the middle of the lot crooked, or sleep in the lot without asking where we let bobtails sleep.

I started to get the itch to stay close to home, especially with the declining health of some family members. Just so happens a position opened up at a facility only 10 minutes away from my home with DHL. It was definitely a steep learning curve with the tight backing I have to do in such a small lot. I do overnights, one week 36 hours, next week 48. So equates to 15 days off per month.

Been a interesting 6 months, and found a place I want to stay at for a long time. Higher management can be a pain sometimes. They have us put the trailers only a few inches apart from eachother. So I help drivers pull them out allot, plus gravel lot means sometimes the trailers are too high or too low for people. A few times a week they have me run a daycab to a facility about a hour away. So its nice to get a taste of the road again, plus low traffic overnight.

Last photo shows the view we have of our mirrors when its raining. We run nonstop except for lightning, which can be interesting. Trucks are upkept very well. But sometimes the AC stops working, which on these cabovers it can get HOT lol.

If anyone has any questions you've wanted to know about yard jockeys. Or anyone considering switching to this kind of work. I would be happy to answer any questions!

Dude nice!!! I was a yard hostler for a total of about 8 months between Swift and American Furniture. Both times I also drove local at least once a week or so. After a while you can really start to get that itch to be on the open road again but I enjoyed doing it and it boosted my backing skills like crazy.

I’d totally do it again if I got the chance. Fun gig. Glad you’re enjoying it

I’m always amazed at the backing skills I see from yard drivers. Pianoman touched on this, but do the backing techniques you use as a yard driver translate well to backing with a sleeper cab tractor? How hard is your job physically?

Also, do you get tips from drivers you assist? Whenever I have to ask a yard driver to pull out my trailer, etc., I always give them a $10 tip. They always seem to appreciate the gesture, probably because yard drivers don’t get the respect they deserve.

I’ve been looking at yard driver as an option to get off the road, but I live about an hour commute from where I might find a job.

How did you find this job? On a job site or doing cold calls to apply?

Yeah the few times I needed the extra help, I'd give the guy $20 especially this 1 place. It was all tight spots, was night time, I wasted almost an hour trying to find and get into some extra tight spots. Got fed up, found 1 yard guy, asked him if he could park it for me. Sure he says, drop it right there, and I'll grab it !

And out the gate I went hahaha BEST $20 I spent that time!