Just remember you will be out in all weather. Rain, freezing cold and heat, and those yard trucks dont have AC or much heat
'Negotiate' (?) Most advertized jobs attract lots of applicants needing work. Tugging trailers is not a highly skilled profession so where does the word negotiate come into the interview conversation? You guys are talking like there is a severe shortage of drivers out there and the employer should be grateful they are able to offer you a job. Get real, if you're saying I want 15-20hr or I walk, be sure to wear good shoes.
When I was a yard jockey, I got $15/hr, OT after 40. Most weeks were 60ish hours. You definitely will lose weight jockeying. You'll be in and out of that cab a hundred times a day. Ours had heat that worked great, AC was there but struggled in the summer cooling that glass cage sitting on top of the motor. One thing for certain, you'll get a lot of backing practice.
Drivers are in demand, it shouldn't be far fetched to be looking for living wages even if it is local. I could always make more doing OTR but I like the plant, people, appreciation and being able to go home daily. I'll have to wait and see what there starting pay is I guess, just hoping I can afford to work there or find a way too.
I did the job for two weeks to help them out, they're yard driver was admitted to the hospital unexpectedly. It is a fast paced job, you are busy for an hour or two, and then you sit around for a bit waiting for trailers to move, it was actually kind of fun at first. But there is no challenge, and the job gets really old very fast, and boring.
Yard jockeying....Nothing wrong with it...Some people like it some don't...I used to work for a company and they had me do yard hostling one day a week...pays me 16.40 an hour plus overtime if I go over 8 hours...Well,, let the fun begins You don't go home until the warehouse people is done loading and unloading freight you get exposed to severe weather depending on where you live..(I live in Cali) Stockton ,, to be exact you get phone calls or radio calls all the time...sometimes stupid receiver gives you wrong trailer number and have you look for it Receiver and Shipper always think you know what trailer goes in what door... you have to deal with all the outside trucks that don't know how the yard work always have to deal with the backing up noise the tractor makes...in and out of the truck all the time... Roll up doors are easy..swing doors, okay... KILLERS ARE THE CONTAINERS....if you have to deal with containers...you rather just drive....container doors have dust that blows in your eyes when you open them, salt that sticks in the hinges, door securement that is missing, not holding the door in place when you're backing up..containers are just not worth it... but look at the bright side. Don't have to deal with 4 wheelers on the road...no cops trying to get you...never have to wory about weights and axle placement once you're done, you just sit around...restroom is always around the corner....no one looking over your shoulder...and you might work by yourself... but like I mentioned...it's for some and not for others... IT DEFFINITELY WASN'T FOR ME...LOL
I currently make 21.00 a hr as a yard jockey but i average 10 to 15 moves per hour and have to do yard list and such...tons of overtime. The yard mules we use have ac and radio with aux and us. We can also run in the tractors once or twice a week to make even more money