🗺 Location & Routes
- Base city: Madison, WI
- Route type: Yard-only / Local Shuttle Operations
- Freight: Trailer spotting, dock staging, yard management for retail & grocery DCs
- Schedule: Continuous yard flow with rotating day/night shifts, peak overtime during retail cycles
📋 Job Description
- Move trailers between dock doors and yard staging zones throughout Madison DC campus
- Coordinate constant inbound/outbound trailer flow with warehouse dispatch teams
- Perform high-frequency backing and spotting in tight yard conditions
- Support grocery and retail distribution turnover during peak freight waves
- Conduct quick safety checks on yard tractors and trailers between moves
- Operate under time pressure from dock supervisors and freight surges
✅ Requirements
CDL Class A
Valid CDL-A license required
Experience
Preferred, not required (yard or backing experience a plus)
Age
Minimum 21 years old
MVR
Clean driving record, no major violations
Physical
Frequent climbing in/out of yard tractors and trailer checks
Endorsements
None required
🚛 Equipment & Fleet
- Truck assignment: Yard hostler pool rotation (Freightliner Cascadia / Volvo VNL yard units)
- Fleet average age: 5–8 years mixed-condition yard tractors
- Features: Automatic transmission, Samsara ELD, high-usage interiors, shared fleet rotation system
🗓 Typical Weekly Schedule
- Monday: Morning yard staging & dock resets
- Tuesday: High-volume trailer spotting cycles
- Wednesday: Peak inbound/outbound freight turnover
- Thursday: Cross-dock support & overflow staging
- Friday: End-of-week yard consolidation & trailer balancing
📍 Real Routes Our Drivers Take
- Madison, WI → Sun Prairie, WI (DC-to-DC trailer repositioning via US-151 corridor)
- Madison, WI → Fitchburg, WI (short yard transfer support for retail distribution hubs)
- Madison, WI → DeForest, WI (cross-dock trailer staging support near I-90/I-39 access)
🎁 Benefits & Bonus Structure
💰 Bonus Structure
📝 Hiring Process
⭐ Why Drivers Choose This Job
- No highway driving, strictly controlled yard environment
- Constant movement keeps shifts active with predictable home daily return
- Steady overtime during peak grocery distribution cycles in Madison
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the pay structure?
$22–$27 per hour with weekly earnings between $950–$1,250 depending on overtime.
What is the schedule like?
Rotating day/night shifts with 8–12 hour yard operations and frequent overtime availability.
What freight is handled?
Trailer spotting and staging for retail and grocery distribution centers in Madison metro.
What equipment is used?
Yard tractors (Freightliner, Volvo, Kenworth) with automatic transmissions and shared fleet rotation.
Is experience required?
Not required, but backing and yard maneuvering experience is strongly preferred.
Where are routes located?
Strictly within Madison-area distribution hubs including Sun Prairie and Fitchburg logistics zones.
📊 Local Market Insights
Madison’s freight ecosystem is driven by dense grocery DC networks, university supply chains, and regional retail distribution pushing constant yard turnover around US-151 and the I-90/I-39 corridor. Inbound freight from Chicago and Milwaukee creates steady congestion in staging yards, forcing continuous trailer reshuffling and tight dock coordination throughout the day.
🔗 CDL-A Yard Jockey – Madison, WI Distribution Center
Madison, WI CDL-A Yard Jockey position offering $950–$1,250 weekly pay with home daily return. This local yard-only role supports high-frequency trailer movement across distribution centers along the US-151 and I-90 logistics corridor. Ideal for drivers seeking steady hourly work in a fast-paced warehouse environment without over-the-road driving.
🚀 Apply for This CDL-A Position
Complete the form below to apply for CDL-A Yard Jockey – Madison, WI Distribution Center in Madison, WI.
