Local CDL-A Position Yard Hostler / Shuttle

CDL-A Yard Hostler / Shuttle Driver – Home Daily | Birmingham, AL

Hiring Area: Greater Birmingham • Terminal: Birmingham, AL

Birmingham, AL Home Daily Day Cab Fleet

Spot and shuttle 53-ft dry vans between Birmingham docks, overflow yards, and nearby warehouses on short local transfers. Earn $1,200–$1,500 weekly with a $750 sign-on and return home every day.

Typical Weekly Gross
$1,200–$1,500
Typical Annualized: ~$71,500
Base Pay $26.50/hr
Overtime $39.75/hr after 40
Typical Week ~$1,375 at 48 hrs
Sign-On Bonus $750
Home Time Home Daily
Driver Type Company Driver

Yard Hostler & Local Shuttle Duties

This role centers on trailer positioning inside Birmingham yards and short transfers that keep docks and customer facilities synchronized throughout the shift.

  • Spot 53-ft dry vans at dock doors, staging rows, and overflow yard positions.
  • Complete drop-and-hook trailer exchanges between assigned Birmingham facilities.
  • Make short public-road shuttle runs between nearby warehouses and company yards.
  • Verify trailer numbers, seals, paperwork, and equipment condition before moves.
  • Coordinate trailer availability, dock delays, and priority moves with dispatch.
  • Back, couple, uncouple, and reposition trailers throughout the shift.

Hourly Pay & Bonus Structure

Pay is strictly hourly. Overtime applies after 40 hours. A $750 sign-on is paid in stages.

Base Rate $26.50 per hour
Overtime $39.75 per hour after 40
Typical Week (48 hrs) ~$1,375 gross
Normal Weekly Range $1,200–$1,500
Typical Annualized ~$71,500
Sign-On Bonus $750 total ($250 at 30 / 90 / 180 days)
Pay Frequency Weekly

Schedule & Operating Area

Home Time Home daily
Operating Area Greater Birmingham metro; short transfers between yards, warehouses, and customer facilities
Terminal Birmingham, AL
Public-Road Driving Short Birmingham-area shuttle transfers
Typical Hours 45–52 per week

Day Cab Fleet & Trailers

Tractors Freightliner Cascadia and Kenworth T-series day cabs, mixed 2020–2025 fleet
Transmission 10-speed or automated manual
Safety Systems Collision mitigation, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise on selected units
Cabin & Tech ELD, electronic DVIR, forward-facing dash cameras, air-ride suspension
Trailers 53-ft dry vans, mixed 2019–2025 fleet with logistics posts and load bars

Regular tractor assignment when fleet availability permits. Temporary changes occur during maintenance or heavy freight periods.

Typical Shuttle Lanes

Palletized dry freight moves between company yards, customer distribution centers, and overflow lots. Dispatch assigns moves according to dock availability and equipment needs rather than fixed daily lanes.

  • Birmingham, AL → Bessemer, AL
  • Birmingham, AL → McCalla, AL
  • Birmingham, AL → Trussville, AL
  • Birmingham, AL → Pelham, AL
  • Birmingham, AL → Alabaster, AL
  • Birmingham, AL → Calera, AL
  • Occasional positioning toward Tuscaloosa when equipment requires it
  • Primary corridors: I-20/I-59, I-65, I-459, I-22, US-78, US-31

Daily Work Sequence

  • Report to Birmingham terminal or assigned customer yard and review the dispatch board
  • Complete pre-trip inspection and receive the first series of trailer moves
  • Pull an empty from the staging row and place it at the assigned loading door
  • Hook a released loaded trailer and shuttle it to the next warehouse or yard
  • Return the empty trailer to the correct staging location and continue with the next assignment
  • Finish with final equipment repositioning before ending the shift

About the Carrier

Continuous movement of palletized dry freight between Birmingham warehouses, manufacturing sites, and overflow lots creates ongoing demand for precise trailer positioning. Regional carriers that combine yard hostling with limited public-road shuttle work keep docks and customer facilities synchronized without relying on long-haul linehaul. The operation focuses on short transfers that support retail, industrial, and consumer-goods accounts across the metro. Drivers spend most of each shift managing trailer placement so equipment stays available when warehouses need it.

Benefits Package

Medical / Dental / Vision Insurance options available
401(k) Company match according to plan terms
Paid Time Off Accrued under company policy
Paid Holidays According to company policy
Additional Support Company-paid orientation, high-visibility PPE, yard & backing training, paid DOT physical renewal

Qualification Requirements

  • Valid CDL Class A
  • At least 6 months CDL-A experience preferred; recent graduates considered with strong backing skills
  • Acceptable MVR and employment history; no disqualifying DOT safety violations
  • Pass DOT drug screen, Clearinghouse query, and maintain valid DOT medical card
  • Ability to back 53-ft trailers, couple and uncouple correctly, climb in and out repeatedly, and work outdoors
  • Must meet all applicable FMCSA and company licensing and medical requirements

Common Operating Delays

  • Dock doors occupied or appointment bunching
  • Warehouse labor shortages or product not yet staged
  • Yard congestion and gate queues during peak windows
  • I-20/I-65 interchange traffic and Bessemer/McCalla construction
  • Missing paperwork, seal discrepancies, or trailer not released

Hiring Steps

1
Recruiter Call
Within one business day
2
MVR & Verification
Employment and safety checks
3
Drug Screen & Yard Evaluation
DOT screen plus backing, coupling, and short-road assessment
4
Orientation
Paid training at Birmingham terminal

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much of the work is road driving versus yard spotting? ▼
Most of the shift is spent moving trailers inside yards and at docks. Selected short public-road transfers between Birmingham-area facilities make up the remainder.
Q: Is the work mostly drop-and-hook or live loads? ▼
Most moves are drop-and-hook or trailer repositioning, with some live-load and customer shuttle work depending on the account.
Q: What happens if a planned trailer is not released? ▼
Dispatch changes the sequence, pulls another available trailer, or repositions equipment from a nearby yard.
Q: Can I park the tractor overnight at a customer yard? ▼
No. Drivers return the tractor to the Birmingham terminal or an approved company yard at the end of the shift.
Q: How long does hiring usually take? ▼
Qualified candidates typically complete the process in 3–7 business days depending on verification and screening timelines.
Q: Are HazMat or tanker endorsements required? ▼
No. The standard dry-van yard and shuttle assignment does not require them.

CDL Job Market in Birmingham

Birmingham’s CDL-A market has a strong home-daily segment built around warehouse, LTL, dedicated, yard, and short-haul freight. Yard drivers compete with local delivery and dedicated positions, so experienced drivers who can back 53-ft trailers efficiently and work consistent shifts are valuable to regional carriers. Current Birmingham listings show both lower-paid yard work and stronger hourly Class A positions in the mid-$20s, making a well-structured hourly offer competitive without positioning the job as premium national LTL work.

Birmingham Freight Landscape

Birmingham sits at the junction of I-20, I-59, I-65, and I-459, creating a natural hub for warehouse and industrial freight across central Alabama. Distribution activity concentrates in Bessemer and McCalla along I-20/I-59 west, Trussville to the northeast, and the I-65 south corridor through Pelham, Alabaster, and Calera. Retail, consumer goods, steel, automotive-supplier, and manufacturing shipments generate steady trailer demand. Port Birmingham and the surrounding rail network add another layer of transload and industrial activity that supports ongoing short-haul and yard work throughout the metro.

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