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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Yard Supervisor

💰 $ - $

OperationsLogisticsWarehousing

🎯 Role Definition

The Yard Supervisor is the frontline leader responsible for safe, efficient, and accurate yard and dock operations. This role coordinates inbound and outbound freight, manages yard personnel and equipment (including forklifts and yard trucks), enforces safety and compliance standards, maintains inventory control, and drives operational KPIs (turn times, dwell time, throughput). The ideal candidate balances hands-on operational oversight with coaching and process improvement to reduce costs, mitigate risk, and improve customer service across shipping, receiving, staging, and storage activities.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Yard Associate / Yard Attendant
  • Material Handler / Dock Associate
  • Forklift Operator / Truck Loader

Advancement To:

  • Yard Manager / Terminal Supervisor
  • Operations Manager / Distribution Center Manager
  • Logistics Manager / Supply Chain Supervisor

Lateral Moves:

  • Safety Coordinator / Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Specialist
  • Inventory Control Supervisor / Warehouse Inventory Analyst

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Supervise and coordinate daily yard operations, including staging, loading/unloading, parking, and movement of trailers and containers to ensure safe and timely turnaround of inbound and outbound shipments.
  • Manage a team of yard drivers, dockhands, and equipment operators; assign shifts, set daily priorities, conduct toolbox talks, and ensure staffing aligns with freight volume and schedule commitments.
  • Enforce and continuously improve safety and compliance programs (OSHA, DOT, site-specific procedures), conduct regular safety audits, incident investigations, and implement corrective actions to reduce workplace injuries and near-misses.
  • Monitor and optimize yard flow to minimize dwell time and trailer congestion by implementing slotting strategies, trailer staging sequences, and appointment scheduling practices.
  • Oversee loading and unloading operations to ensure cargo integrity, proper blocking and bracing, and adherence to weight distribution and securement standards; coordinate with shipping carriers on special handling requirements.
  • Maintain accurate yard and trailer tracking through the TMS/WMS/YMS systems; verify gate logs, scan-in/out procedures, and real-time status updates to internal teams and external carriers.
  • Conduct daily pre- and post-shift equipment inspections (yard trucks, forklifts, trailers) and coordinate maintenance or repairs with fleet and third-party service providers to prevent downtime and safety issues.
  • Manage inventory reconciliation and cycle count activities for yard-stored goods and trailerized inventory; investigate discrepancies and implement root-cause corrective actions to reduce inventory shrink and misplacement.
  • Drive KPI ownership: measure and report on yard-specific metrics such as dwell time, gate-to-gate time, trailer utilization, throughput per hour, and on-time departure rates; develop action plans to improve performance.
  • Coordinate with transportation planners, carrier partners, and customer service to prioritize shipments, resolve exceptions, and support expedited or re-consigned loads when required.
  • Implement and maintain yard signage, traffic patterns, lighting, and pedestrian controls to ensure clear lanes, safe speed limits, and separation of people and heavy equipment.
  • Supervise hazardous material (HAZMAT) handling and storage in the yard, ensuring correct labeling, segregation, emergency response plans, and coordination with regulatory agencies when necessary.
  • Schedule and manage third-party carrier appointments, including consolidation of loads, cross-dock coordination, and verification of carrier compliance with site policies and insurance requirements.
  • Train, mentor, and evaluate yard personnel through structured onboarding, written SOPs, coaching sessions, and performance reviews to increase productivity and develop future leaders.
  • Lead root-cause analysis for operational disruptions (delays, damage, incorrect shipments) and implement process improvements or technology solutions to prevent recurrence and reduce cost-to-serve.
  • Control yard operating expenses by monitoring labor hours, overtime, equipment usage, and vendor costs while identifying efficiency gains and opportunities to reduce waste.
  • Manage security and loss prevention efforts in the yard, including CCTV oversight, lock/tag procedures, visitor controls, and coordination with security teams to protect assets and reduce theft.
  • Establish and enforce quality standards for outbound shipments (packaging, documentation, labeling) to reduce claims and improve customer satisfaction.
  • Act as the escalation point for carrier disputes, claims, and route exceptions; negotiate resolutions that align with company policies and customer commitments.
  • Prepare and maintain operational documentation, shift logs, incident reports, and compliance records to support audits and continuous improvement activities.
  • Foster cross-functional collaboration with warehouse operations, planning, procurement, and customer service to align yard capacity with inventory receipts, promotions, and seasonal peaks.
  • Use data-driven approaches and basic analytics to forecast yard staffing needs, anticipate peak periods, and recommend capital investments (dock levelers, yard management systems) to leadership.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc operational analyses and weekly/monthly performance reviews to inform senior leadership decision-making.
  • Participate in project teams for facility expansions, yard layout redesigns, or new technology rollouts (YMS/WMS integrations).
  • Assist in vendor selection and contract management for towing, third-party storage, and equipment leasing.
  • Coordinate emergency response drills and business continuity planning for severe weather, power outages, and supply chain disruptions.
  • Provide coverage for gate operations or dock supervision during peak workloads or resource shortages.
  • Support onboarding programs by creating role-specific training materials, checklists, and competency evaluations for yard staff.
  • Serve as a subject matter expert for internal audits, insurance inspections, and regulatory compliance reviews.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Yard Management System (YMS) and Warehouse Management System (WMS) proficiency — track trailer/container status, appointments, and yard inventory.
  • Transportation Management System (TMS) familiarity — scheduling, carrier communications, and shipment tracking.
  • Forklift and powered industrial truck operation and certification (sit-down, stand-up, reach, pallet jack).
  • Trailer spotting, securement, and basic load-building knowledge; understanding of weight distribution and DOT load securement rules.
  • Strong proficiency with Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, basic macros) for reporting and analysis.
  • Knowledge of OSHA, DOT, HAZMAT, and site-specific regulatory requirements; experience conducting safety audits and incident investigations.
  • Experience with gate control systems, RFID, barcode scanning, and mobile data terminals for inbound/outbound processing.
  • Basic mechanical aptitude to perform equipment pre-operation checks and coordinate preventive maintenance.
  • Inventory reconciliation and cycle count processes specific to yard-stored assets and trailerized inventory.
  • KPI development and performance management: dwell time, turn time, trailer utilization, throughput, on-time shipment percentage.

Soft Skills

  • Leadership and people management: coaching, conflict resolution, performance feedback, and shift-level workforce planning.
  • Clear, concise communicator: able to liaise effectively with carriers, terminal drivers, operations teams, and executive stakeholders.
  • Strong situational judgment and decision-making under time pressure and during peak freight periods.
  • Problem-solving and continuous improvement mindset; able to translate operational data into actionable process changes.
  • Customer service orientation: balancing site efficiency with external customer and carrier expectations.
  • Time management and prioritization in a fast-paced, multi-task environment.
  • Attention to detail and accountability for documentation, compliance, and quality control.
  • Adaptability and resilience to pivot during emergencies, operational exceptions, and rapid volume changes.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or equivalent.

Preferred Education:

  • Associate degree or coursework in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
  • Certifications such as OSHA 30, HAZMAT handling, or Certified Logistics Associate (CLA) are advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Supply Chain / Logistics Management
  • Operations Management
  • Business Administration
  • Industrial Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–7 years in yard, dock, or warehouse operations with increasing responsibility.

Preferred:

  • 3+ years supervising yard, terminal, or distribution center teams.
  • Demonstrated experience managing yard equipment and trailers, using YMS/TMS/WMS tools, and driving measurable improvements in yard KPIs.
  • Forklift and powered industrial truck certifications; valid driver's license; CDL preferred for larger operations.
  • Prior experience with safety program implementation, incident investigation, and regulatory compliance.
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