CDL-A Yard Driver Local — Yard Switcher

Continuous trailer rotation inside a Memphis distribution campus is measured by yard flow and door availability rather than highway miles.

• Pull inbound trailers from staging rows to assigned dock doors.
• Remove empties and reposition equipment for outbound loading.
• Verify trailer numbers, seals and locations before every move.
• Report defects, missing seals or unsafe yard conditions immediately.
• Record duty status and yard movements correctly in the ELD according to company procedures and applicable FMCSA rules.
• Coordinate with yard control and warehouse teams on priority releases.

Yard time is paid hourly because short movements and waiting periods cannot be measured by highway miles. Overtime begins after 40 hours at 1.5× the regular rate. Weekly earnings vary with scheduled hours, overtime, shift availability and yard volume.

Mixed fleet selected for frequent coupling and stop-and-go work. ELD/GPS yard tracking and two-way radio communication handle location and coordination. Slip-seating remains possible when demand requires it. Maintenance is terminal-based with roadside support available if needed.

Palletized consumer, retail, general merchandise, dry-van and selected refrigerated freight arrives and departs the campus through the Mid-South network.

• Memphis, TN → Olive Branch, MS corridors support inbound waves.
• Memphis, TN → Southaven, MS lanes feed continuous trailer rotation.
• Memphis, TN → Jackson, TN and Little Rock, AR connections appear regularly.
• Memphis, TN → Nashville, TN and St. Louis, MO movements supply outbound staging.
• Memphis, TN → Birmingham, AL and Jackson, MS routes complete the network.
• I-40 and I-55 form the primary east-west and north-south freight arteries.

• Valid Class A CDL and current DOT medical card
• 3–6 months CDL-A experience preferred; recent graduates considered
• Acceptable MVR and safety history
• Ability to back, couple and uncouple 53-foot trailers repeatedly and work any shift
• Must be able to work safely in a high-traffic yard environment

• Inbound waves overlapping outbound shipping create temporary congestion.
• Trailers listed as available may still wait on paperwork or inspection.
• Thunderstorms and summer heat slow yard movements and reduce visibility.
• Seasonal retail surges compress receiving and shipping blocks.
• City traffic and interstate construction affect inbound arrival timing.

Memphis ranks among the strongest CDL-A employment centers in the Mid-South. Local and dedicated yard, shuttle and distribution roles remain consistently available because of the region’s dense warehouse network and multimodal activity. Employers regularly seek drivers comfortable with short-haul, drop-and-hook and terminal work in addition to traditional regional and OTR positions. Retail distribution, parcel, manufacturing support and intermodal transfer create steady demand across day, evening and overnight shifts. Yard-hostler and switcher openings appeal especially to drivers who prefer home-daily schedules and limited highway exposure. Overall hiring stays active year-round, with seasonal retail peaks adding extra openings during high-volume periods.

Memphis functions as a major multimodal freight hub where interstate, rail, air-cargo and river traffic converge. I-40 and I-55 carry heavy east-west and north-south volumes while the airport and industrial corridors support large-scale distribution campuses. Retail, consumer products, manufacturing and transload operations generate continuous trailer movement between warehouses, rail facilities and nearby Mississippi communities such as Southaven and Olive Branch. The combination of highway access, Class I rail and extensive warehouse capacity keeps inbound and outbound waves active throughout the week. Seasonal retail peaks and holiday shipping further intensify trailer turnover, reinforcing the need for reliable yard flow inside distribution centers across the Mid-South network.