🗺 Location & Routes
- Base city: Indianapolis, IN
- Route type: Local yard shuttle / DC operations
- Freight: Container & trailer spotting within distribution campuses
- Schedule: Fixed 8–12 hour shifts, day & night rotations
📋 Job Description
- Pre-trip and post-trip inspections in accordance with DOT Part 396 requirements
- Yard tractor operations moving trailers between docks, staging lanes, and parking zones
- ELD logging and yard management system (YMS) updates for every trailer move
- Tight-dock backing and trailer spotting in high-traffic warehouse environments
- Continuous trailer repositioning during peak freight cycles (10–20+ moves per shift)
- Coordination with dispatch and dock supervisors under time-sensitive freight flow
✅ Requirements
CDL Class A/B
CDL-A preferred, CDL-B accepted in select yards
Experience
Preferred, not required (yard backing skills helpful)
Age
Minimum 21 years old
MVR
Clean driving record preferred, no major violations
Physical
Frequent climbing in/out of cab, yard movement activity
Endorsements
None required
🚛 Equipment & Fleet
- Yard tractors (TICO, Ottawa, Kalmar units) assigned per shift availability
- Fleet support includes 2021–2024 Cascadia, T680, and Volvo VNL day cab units for relay moves
- Automatic transmissions standard across all active yard equipment
- Collision mitigation systems and dash cameras installed across fleet units used in DC operations
- Slip-seat yard operations with unit assignment based on dispatch flow and maintenance rotation
🏠 Home Time
- Home daily after assigned yard shift completion
- Schedule depends on DC volume and dock congestion cycles
📍 Real Routes Our Drivers Take
- Indianapolis, IN → Chicago, IL via I-65 / I-94 (intermodal freight repositioning into Midwest rail-linked DCs, heavy congestion near Chicago metro yards)
- Indianapolis, IN → Columbus, OH via I-70 (retail DC-to-DC trailer flow, tight appointment windows during peak warehouse shifts)
- Indianapolis, IN → Louisville, KY via I-65 (regional distribution relay cycle supporting high-frequency retail replenishment lanes)
🎁 Benefits & Bonus Structure
📝 Hiring Process
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is the truck governed?
Yard tractors are not governed in the same way over-the-road units are. For any assigned road-capable equipment used in relay moves, fleet speed is typically governed between 65–68 mph depending on terminal policy and safety profile.
Are driver-facing cameras used?
Most yard units use forward-facing dash cameras only. Some DC accounts may include event-trigger recording systems tied to safety monitoring and incident review.
Is dispatch forced or assigned?
Yard dispatch is assignment-based and driven by dock flow. Moves are issued in real time depending on trailer congestion, inbound arrivals, and staging lane capacity. Seniority has minimal impact in high-volume DC yards.
What is the detention pay structure?
Detention-style compensation begins after 2 hours of documented delay where applicable. All time must be recorded through ELD/YMS systems and approved by dispatch. Payments are processed on the next payroll cycle, not instant.
Are pets allowed?
Not applicable for yard operations. Slip-seat yard environments and high-frequency equipment rotation do not support pet transport or onboard animals.
Is home time reliable under real conditions?
Home time is tied to shift completion and yard demand. During peak warehouse cycles or dock congestion, end-of-shift timing may extend slightly before release. Most drivers return home daily after final yard moves are completed.
💼 Career Opportunities
Indianapolis DC operations continue to expand as Amazon, Walmart, and 3PL networks increase trailer throughput across the I-465 logistics belt. Yard drivers play a key role in maintaining dock flow stability, reducing congestion, and keeping inbound/outbound cycles moving under strict appointment timing. Over time, drivers can move into regional shuttle, dedicated linehaul, or dispatch coordination roles. Seniority may influence access to higher-volume shifts, but yard operations remain fast-moving due to constant freight turnover. Seasonal peaks in Q4 and retail surges increase workload intensity, requiring consistent backing accuracy and ELD discipline. Long-term stability is driven by continuous warehouse expansion and intermodal freight demand in the Midwest corridor.
🔗 Local Shuttle Yard Driver – High-Volume DC Operations – Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis sits inside a dense Midwest distribution network with constant trailer movement between warehouse clusters, intermodal ramps, and retail DC corridors. The I-465 belt supports continuous freight cycling for Amazon, Walmart, and 3PL operators, where yard drivers manage congestion points and dock staging pressure. High-frequency trailer shuttling is driven by inbound rail volume, regional truckload flow from Chicago and Louisville corridors, and tight delivery appointment windows. Yard operations remain active through peak retail cycles, with increased movement demand during overnight and early morning dispatch waves across industrial zones.
🚀 Apply for This CDL-A Position
Complete the form below to apply for Local Shuttle Yard Driver – High-Volume DC Operations in Indianapolis, IN.
