Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Yard Hostler

🎯 Role Definition

The Yard Hostler (aka Yard Jockey) is a hands-on operations professional responsible for safely and efficiently moving trailers, chassis, containers and railcars within an intermodal or terminal yard. Typical duties include operating yard tractors/hostler vehicles, coupling and uncoupling loads, spotting equipment for loading/unloading, performing pre-shift inspections and basic maintenance, and accurately recording moves into the Terminal Operating System (TOS). The ideal candidate demonstrates a safety-first mentality, excellent radio communication, familiarity with yard control and TOS workflows, and the ability to work in a fast-paced logistics environment.

Key keywords: Yard Hostler, Yard Jockey, Yard Tractor, Chassis, Container Spotting, Terminal Operating System (TOS), intermodal yard, yard operations, coupling/uncoupling, safety compliance.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Dock Worker / Gate Clerk
Local Truck Driver or CDL Yard Driver
Material Handler or Warehouse Associate

Advancement To:

Yard Lead / Shift Lead
Yard Supervisor / Terminal Supervisor
Operations Manager / Terminal Manager

Lateral Moves:

Rail Yard Hostler / Locomotive Hostler
Maintenance Technician (chassis/tractor)
Gate or Cargo Operations Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Operate yard tractors and hostler vehicles to reposition trailers, chassis, containers and railcars within the terminal safely and efficiently, following yard control, shift assignments and work orders.
Couple and uncouple trailers, chassis and containers using industry-standard procedures and safety devices (e.g., pintle hooks, fifth wheel, glad-hands, and twist locks), ensuring secure connections before movement.
Accurately spot trailers and containers for loading and unloading at designated dock doors, cranes, or work areas, coordinating closely with crane operators, dock crews and gate personnel.
Perform pre-trip and post-trip inspections on hostler tractors and chassis including brakes, tires, lighting, hitch components, steering and fluid levels; document defects and remove unsafe equipment from service.
Use Terminal Operating System (TOS), handheld scanners, tablets or paper manifests to record moves, update equipment location and complete daily work orders with 100% accuracy and timeliness.
Communicate clearly and proactively via two-way radio with Yard Control, Crane Operators, Gate, Dispatch and Supervisors to coordinate moves, report delays, and confirm work orders, load numbers and special instructions.
Follow terminal and company safety policies including lockout/tagout, PPE requirements, speed limits, designated travel lanes, and yard signage to minimize incidents and injuries.
Inspect trailers, chassis and containers for structural damage, missing locks, load shifts or hazardous materials placards prior to movement; tag and report any unsafe conditions to maintenance and supervision.
Fuel, charge, and top off hostler tractor batteries and fluids as required; perform basic preventive maintenance such as changing lights, greasing fittings or replacing wiper blades and submit work requests for mechanical repairs.
Ensure proper brake testing and trailer securement procedures are followed during spotting, coupling and uncoupling operations; verify tandems and kingpin integrity when applicable.
Execute inbound and outbound spotting sequences to optimize yard flow, reduce double-handling and meet load/unload SLA metrics; escalate bottlenecks to Yard Control or Supervisors.
Support equipment turnaround and chassis interchange processes, verifying paperwork, seals and container numbers, and ensuring accurate condition codes in the TOS.
Maintain clean and organized hostler vehicles and assigned work areas; remove debris and obstructions from travel lanes and staging areas to support safe operations.
Participate in yard inventory counts, cycle counts and equipment audits; assist in locating misplaced chassis, containers or trailers and updating system records.
Adhere to DOT, OSHA and company regulations regarding hours-of-service, hazardous materials handling, and workplace safety; report any near-miss, incident or unsafe condition immediately.
Respond to emergency situations in the yard (equipment incidents, spills or medical emergencies) following established emergency response protocols and notify supervision and safety teams.
Train, mentor and provide on-the-job feedback to new or temporary hostlers on proper driving techniques, coupling/uncoupling, radio procedures and TOS data entry.
Support seasonal peaks and cross-train in related functions such as gate operations, dock assistance or basic chassis repair when business needs require flexibility.
Accurately complete daily logs, time sheets and shift reports; provide timely handover and communication during shift changes to maintain continuity and operational accuracy.
Utilize GPS, RTLS and yard management tools to navigate large terminals, locate equipment and optimize routing while minimizing unnecessary travel and fuel consumption.
Maintain professional interaction with truck drivers, vendor partners and internal staff; provide clear directions for staging, pulls and pickups while enforcing yard rules.
Follow environmental and hazmat protocols when moving or spotting containers carrying regulated materials, and ensure proper placarding and documentation is present.

Secondary Functions

Assist yard maintenance teams by reporting recurring equipment failures and providing detailed failure descriptions to support root-cause analysis.
Participate in continuous improvement and safety committees by sharing frontline observations and suggestions to reduce dwell time and improve yard flows.
Support data collection for performance metrics (moves per hour, dwell time, utilization) to help management optimize staffing and routing.
Help coordinate special moves, oversized or out-of-gauge loads with operations planning and external carriers when required.
Perform light administrative tasks such as verifying manifests, signing receipts, and uploading photos of damaged equipment into the TOS for claims processing.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proven experience operating yard tractors/hostler vehicles in intermodal or terminal environments.
Experience coupling and uncoupling trailers, chassis and containers; proficient with twist locks, pintle hooks and fifth wheel operations.
Proficiency with Terminal Operating Systems (TOS) and handheld scanners/tablets for move logging and equipment tracking.
Strong knowledge of pre-trip and post-trip inspection procedures and the ability to diagnose and document mechanical defects.
Familiarity with RTLS/GPS yard tracking technologies and basic telematics used to optimize yard moves.
Competency operating two-way radios and following structured yard control communications and move confirmations.
Working knowledge of DOT and OSHA regulations applicable to terminal/yard operations, and hazmat placarding basics.
Ability to perform basic preventative maintenance and routine servicing (fueling, charging batteries, lights, tires).
Basic computer literacy: ability to enter and update records in TOS, email supervisors, and view digital shift schedules.
Valid driver's license required; CDL Class B or local yard-only endorsement preferred where applicable.
Experience with chassis inspection, kingpin measurements and securement verification for intermodal equipment.

Soft Skills

Safety-first mindset with a proven record of following and enforcing safety procedures.
Clear radio and face-to-face communication; able to read and confirm work orders and instructions.
Strong attention to detail for accurate equipment identification, damage reporting and TOS data entry.
Time management and ability to prioritize moves under high-volume, time-sensitive conditions.
Team player who coordinates effectively with crane operators, dock crews, gate agents and supervisors.
Problem-solving orientation — ability to anticipate bottlenecks and propose practical operational fixes.
Adaptability and flexibility to respond to changing priorities, weather impacts and peak-season surges.
Professional customer service when interacting with carrier drivers and outside vendors.
Dependability — punctuality, shift reliability and consistent attendance in 24/7 yard environments.
Willingness to mentor new hires and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED (required).

Preferred Education:

Technical certificate or vocational training in heavy equipment operation, commercial driving or logistics (preferred).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Logistics / Supply Chain Management
Diesel Technology or Heavy Equipment Maintenance
Commercial Driving / Trucking Certification

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1 to 5 years in yard operations, intermodal terminals, trucking yards or rail yards operating hostler or yard tractors.

Preferred:

2+ years operating yard hostler tractors with demonstrated competence in TOS data entry, safe coupling/uncoupling, and completion of daily inspection protocols. Previous experience in high-volume intermodal terminals or rail yards is a strong plus.