Yard Jockey / Yard Switcher jobs?

Discussion in 'Trucking Jobs' started by VIDEODROME, Sep 3, 2009.

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  1. VIDEODROME

    VIDEODROME Road Train Member

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    Okay I've done my time with PAM. School is paid for and I'm thinking of getting something more local if I can find it.

    One possibility I've wondered about is running Yard Jockeys just moving trailers at a warehouse. I haven't found much good info online so thought I'd ask here. Two places I'm curious about is there is a Walmart DC in Coldwater, MI about 40 minutes away from my home. Also there is a Menards DC the same distance in Ohio.

    Of course the main thing is does this kind of work pay decently? I'm probably in with PAM otr for about a year and a half so that is my truck related job experience to submit.

    Are these kinds of jobs listed anywhere or should I just start calling up Distribution Centers on the phone?
     
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  3. Crash935

    Crash935 Medium Load Member

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    I go to the Walmart in Coldwater every once in a while, i think the yard jockeys there are a outside company, not 100% sure though, if i get there again any time soon ill ask one of them.
     
  4. VIDEODROME

    VIDEODROME Road Train Member

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    Hadn't thought of that. Maybe a lot of them are 3rd parties like the Lumpers?
     
  5. Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Depends on the whse. Arnold out of Tx, for instance, supplies yard dogs to some of their customers. (big accounts) In other words, the trucking company, in order to get a lucrative account, will jockey the trailers around the shipper whse so the whse can concentrate on loading. They do this in Muskogee at a glass manufacturer. Some shippers have their own yard dogs/drivers, some hire from an agency so they can adjust their needs as necessary.:smt031
     
  6. onetime42

    onetime42 Light Load Member

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    My brother was leased to GreatWide who operate out of the Wal-Mart dc's and one of his friends runs the yard dog there. He claims to work for Wal-Mart directly. I would just go to the dist. center and ask if they're hiring. Chances are they will be considering how bad that particular job pays. Good luck though.
     
  7. VIDEODROME

    VIDEODROME Road Train Member

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    Low pay huh? Seems weird that wouldn't pay much but then there is quite a few things about this business that are weird.

    I mean it seems like there would be some value in having people not crashing your trailers in the yard.
     
  8. onetime42

    onetime42 Light Load Member

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    I don't know what the pay is exactly for that particular job but my friend was doing it for Wal-Mart a few years back and he wasn't even making $12 an hour! This guy had about 10 years of driving experience and only took the job to get off the road to spend more time with the wife and kids. They ran his ### ragged which leads me to believe that it just isn't worth the pay cut. But, to each his own.
     
  9. skinnytrucker

    skinnytrucker Heavy Load Member

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    I think it boils down to supply and demand. So many guys want to come off the road after a couple years or even months and there are very few local-go home every day gigs especially in this economy so they can pay as little as they want to because they know guys will take the job to make the family happier.
     
  10. onetime42

    onetime42 Light Load Member

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    I've been guilty of doing that myself.
     
  11. Lurchgs

    Lurchgs Road Train Member

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    look for local brewers/bottlers, too.

    No idea what they pay.. I could ask my old trainer (he left OTR for hostling for a brewer)
     
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