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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Yard Manager

💰 $52,000 - $85,000

OperationsLogisticsWarehousingSafety

🎯 Role Definition

The Yard Manager oversees daily yard operations, including inbound/outbound vehicle movement, loading and unloading, inventory staging, equipment maintenance, safety compliance and staff supervision. This role optimizes throughput, enforces regulatory and company safety standards (OSHA/DOT/environmental), maintains accurate records and KPIs, and collaborates with dispatch, warehouse, third‑party carriers and customers to deliver timely, cost‑effective logistics execution. Ideal candidates are experienced in yard management systems (YMS), heavy equipment operation, and team leadership with a strong focus on safety and continuous improvement.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Yard Associate / Yard Worker / Yard Checker
  • Forklift/Heavy Equipment Operator or Dock Associate
  • Dispatch Coordinator or Logistics Coordinator

Advancement To:

  • Terminal / Facility Manager
  • Operations Manager (Logistics/Warehouse)
  • Regional Logistics or Distribution Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Inventory Control Manager
  • Safety & Compliance Manager
  • Fleet Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead and supervise all yard operations on a shift basis: schedule crews, assign daily work tasks, monitor productivity, and ensure coverage for inbound/outbound trucks to minimize dwell time and maximize throughput.
  • Coordinate truck check‑in/check‑out, gate operations and vehicle staging to maintain continuous flow and reduce queueing; act as primary point of contact between drivers, dispatchers and warehouse teams.
  • Manage loading and unloading activities, overseeing safe positioning of trailers and containers, ensuring accurate manifests and verifying counts against bills of lading and shipping documentation.
  • Implement and enforce safety programs and policies (OSHA, DOT, company procedures); conduct daily safety briefings, perform job hazard analyses, and follow up on corrective actions and near‑miss investigations.
  • Monitor, record and report key performance indicators (KPIs) such as dwell time, trailer turns, on‑time departures, yard capacity utilization and driver wait time; use KPI data to drive process improvements.
  • Maintain control of yard inventory and location accuracy: conduct cycle counts, reconcile discrepancies, manage yard maps and update the yard management system (YMS) to reflect real‑time trailer/container status.
  • Train, coach and develop yard staff on equipment operation, safety protocols, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and customer service expectations; maintain training records and certifications.
  • Operate or oversee operation of material handling equipment (forklifts, yard tractors, cranes) in compliance with equipment safety requirements; ensure operators are certified and equipment inspections are current.
  • Schedule and coordinate preventive maintenance, repairs and inspections for yard equipment, gates, scales and lighting; escalate breakdowns and supervise contracted maintenance service providers.
  • Enforce access control and security procedures for personnel, vendors and drivers; maintain driver check lists, logbooks, CCTV checks, and environmental compliance (spills, containment, waste handling).
  • Resolve day‑to‑day operational exceptions, including damaged or missing freight, delayed pickups, detention claims, and customer complaints; coordinate root cause analysis and corrective actions with cross‑functional teams.
  • Review and approve yard paperwork, manifests, bills of lading and shipping/receiving documentation to maintain audit trail and regulatory compliance; maintain accurate daily logs and electronic records.
  • Optimize yard layout and trailer parking to maximize usable space and minimize vehicle handling; implement slotting strategies and staging plans to speed up warehouse transfers and loading operations.
  • Collaborate with transportation planners and carriers to schedule arrivals, expedite critical loads and manage detention; proactively communicate delays and reschedule resources as required.
  • Administer and enforce hazardous material (HAZMAT) handling procedures when applicable, ensuring proper placarding, segregation, documentation, and staff training.
  • Lead incident response for accidents, injuries, environmental spills or security breaches; conduct incident investigations, produce reports and implement preventive measures.
  • Manage labor planning and shift scheduling to meet peak volume periods, seasonal surges and contract requirements while controlling overtime and labor costs.
  • Use yard management software (YMS), TMS, WMS and handheld scanning devices to maintain visibility, track assets and automate yard workflows; propose and lead YMS configuration or optimization projects.
  • Implement lean practices and continuous improvement initiatives—5S, Kaizen events, process mapping—to reduce waste, improve safety and increase yard efficiency.
  • Maintain communication and service level agreements (SLAs) with internal stakeholders (warehouse, customer service, procurement) and external partners (carriers, 3PLs) to ensure on‑time deliveries and high customer satisfaction.
  • Create daily manifests, shift reports and executive summaries for senior management, including trends analysis and action plans to address ongoing issues.
  • Supervise contractor activities in yard areas (repairs, paving, painting, snow removal) to ensure work is performed safely, on schedule and to company standards.
  • Control budgets for yard operations: monitor spend, approve purchase requests for equipment and supplies, and identify cost‑saving opportunities without compromising safety or service levels.

Secondary Functions

  • Support cross‑functional projects to improve end‑to‑end supply chain visibility and reduce total landed cost through better yard management practices.
  • Participate in SAP/WMS/YMS implementation or upgrade projects by providing operational requirements, testing scripts and user acceptance feedback.
  • Assist with recruitment, onboarding and performance management activities: interview candidates, develop job descriptions and run performance reviews for yard staff.
  • Provide ad‑hoc reporting and data extraction for operations, finance and customer teams; prepare variance analyses and recommendations to improve operational metrics.
  • Serve as the yard subject matter expert for audits, customer site visits and regulatory inspections; prepare documentation and demonstrate compliance processes.
  • Manage seasonal activities such as snow removal or storm response planning, ensuring contingency plans are in place and resources are appropriately allocated.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Proven proficiency with Yard Management Systems (YMS) and ability to configure, monitor and optimize YMS workflows for trailer and container tracking.
  • Strong understanding of DOT and OSHA regulations as they apply to yard operations, driver hours, and equipment safety.
  • Hands‑on experience operating and supervising forklift, yard tractor, reach stacker and other heavy material handling equipment; forklift certification preferred.
  • Experience working with transportation management systems (TMS), warehouse management systems (WMS) and ERP integrations to coordinate inbound/outbound flows.
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel skills for data analysis, pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and KPI tracking; experience preparing executive reports and dashboards.
  • Familiarity with handheld RF scanners, barcode systems, GPS/telematics and scale operations for inventory and asset accuracy.
  • Knowledge of hazardous materials handling (HAZMAT) requirements, placarding and documentation when applicable.
  • Experience in preventive maintenance planning and coordinating with maintenance teams and third‑party service providers.
  • Ability to read and interpret bills of lading, manifests, shipping documents and freight bills; strong record‑keeping and audit-ready documentation skills.
  • Working knowledge of lean/six sigma principles and continuous improvement methodologies to reduce waste and improve yard throughput.
  • Basic budgeting and cost control skills: labor planning, overtime management and procurement of yard equipment and supplies.

Soft Skills

  • Strong leadership skills with experience coaching, mentoring and developing frontline supervisors and hourly associates.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills for clear direction to crews, effective cross‑functional collaboration and customer interactions.
  • High level of situational awareness and decisive problem‑solving ability in high‑velocity environments with competing priorities.
  • Exceptional organizational and time management skills to prioritize tasks and manage multiple simultaneous activities.
  • Conflict resolution and negotiation skills to manage driver issues, carrier disputes and internal resourcing conflicts.
  • Attention to detail and commitment to compliance, safety and quality in all yard activities.
  • Customer‑focused mindset with ability to manage expectations and maintain service levels under pressure.
  • Adaptability and resilience to work in changing operational conditions (seasonality, disruptions, peak volumes).
  • Analytical mindset with ability to use data to drive decisions, identify trends and recommend improvements.
  • Coaching and team‑building skills to foster a culture of ownership, accountability and continuous improvement.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or GED; equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience accepted.

Preferred Education:

  • Associate degree or Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business Administration or a related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management
  • Operations Management
  • Business Administration
  • Mechanical or Industrial Engineering
  • Occupational Health & Safety

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3–7 years in yard operations, warehouse operations or transportation roles, including supervisory responsibilities.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years of progressive experience in yard or terminal management with demonstrated success improving throughput, reducing dwell time and maintaining high safety standards; experience with YMS, TMS and WMS integrations is highly desirable.
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