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Yard Hostler Position Local Full-Time

CDL-A Yard Jockey Driver Jobs in Denver, CO

Hiring Area: Denver Metro • Work Site: Denver-area distribution facilities

Denver, CO Local Yard Mixed Fleet

Spot 53-ft dry vans inside Denver warehouse yards for grocery, CPG, and household freight. Home daily, hourly pay, limited public-road moves. Weekly gross typically falls in the $1,250–$1,500 range depending on hours and overtime.

Weekly Gross
$1,250–$1,500
Estimated Annual: $65,000–$78,000
Sign-On Bonus Up to $750
Home Time Home Daily
Driver Type Yard Jockey / Hostler
Public Miles Minimal
Freight Dry Van / Grocery / CPG

What the Job Actually Involves

Most of the day is spent moving trailers inside the yard to keep docks supplied and staging areas organized. It is not linehaul work.

  • Spot trailers to assigned dock doors based on warehouse priorities.
  • Couple and uncouple 53-foot dry vans repeatedly throughout the shift.
  • Stage empties and loaded trailers between rows and drop areas.
  • Inspect equipment before each move and report defects right away.
  • Stay in radio contact with shipping, receiving, and yard supervision.
  • Make short public-road shuttles between nearby facilities when needed.

How Pay Works

Compensation is hourly. Weekly totals depend on scheduled hours, overtime after 40, and any night-shift differential. The advertised range reflects normal operating weeks rather than a fixed guarantee.

Hourly Rate $28.50–$31.50
Weekly Gross Range $1,250–$1,500
Typical Week Around $1,400 with normal OT
Overtime 1.5× after 40 hours
Sign-On Bonus Up to $750 (paid in stages)
Night Differential May apply on night shifts

Schedule & Home Time

Home Time Home every day
Shift Length Often 10–12 hours in busy periods
Available Shifts Day and night
Weekends Rotating coverage
Work Location Denver metro distribution yards

Yard Tractors & Trailers

Main Tractors Ottawa and Capacity yard tractors
Additional Units Kalmar terminal tractors on selected accounts
Transmission Automatic on most units
Trailers 53-foot dry vans
Assignment Regular tractor when available; otherwise rotation

Equipment is a mix of late-model and proven older units kept on scheduled preventive maintenance. Most units have yard radio, electronic dispatch and trailer tracking, safety lighting, and warning systems. Selected tractors include backup cameras. A small number of manual units remain as backup.

Freight & Occasional Shuttles

The large majority of moves stay on private property. Public-road work is limited to short transfers between nearby warehouse sites or drop lots.

  • Grocery products, packaged food, paper goods, household merchandise, and consumer packaged goods
  • Retail replenishment and seasonal merchandise
  • Short shuttles between Denver, Aurora, Commerce City, Henderson, and Brighton
  • Occasional moves toward Loveland or Greeley when the account requires it
  • Primary corridors: I-70, I-76, I-270, I-25, E-470, and local industrial roads
  • Heavy focus on the Northeast / Airport warehouse corridor

How a Typical Shift Runs

  • Check in with the yard supervisor and review current priority moves.
  • Inspect the assigned yard tractor and confirm radio and tracking systems.
  • Pull inbound trailers from gate staging to the correct receiving doors.
  • Bring empty trailers to loading doors as production frees space.
  • Move completed outbound loads into staging rows or drop lots.
  • Adjust sequence when appointments or dock status change mid-shift.
  • Record finished moves and report any seal or equipment issues.
  • Park the tractor at the terminal when the shift ends.

About the Employer

Grocery, consumer packaged goods, and household merchandise distribution across the Colorado Front Range relies on steady local trailer spotting and short-haul support. This position is offered through a mid-sized regional carrier that focuses on dedicated warehouse transportation rather than long-haul OTR. The Denver operation supports high-volume distribution centers by keeping yards organized, docks supplied, and trailers staged for appointment windows. Specific carrier details, fleet size, and exact account assignments can vary; the employer will provide full information during the hiring process.

Benefits

Health Medical, dental, and vision
Retirement 401(k) with company contribution
Time Off Paid vacation and paid holidays
Support Employee Assistance Program
Other Paid orientation, uniform allowance, DOT physical support

Requirements for This Position

  • Valid CDL Class A (required for this specific role)
  • 12 months recent CDL-A experience preferred; prior yard hostler or frequent-backing experience strongly preferred
  • MVR that meets company insurance standards
  • Minimum age 21
  • Able to work outdoors in Colorado weather and perform repeated coupling and landing-gear work
  • No HazMat, Tanker, or other special endorsements required

What Can Slow the Day Down

  • Dock congestion when several inbound trailers arrive together
  • Snow, ice, or strong wind that slows backing and coupling
  • Temporary shortages of empty trailers or full staging rows
  • Gate delays and last-minute appointment changes
  • Construction or traffic on short public-road shuttle moves

Hiring Process

1
Application
Submit CDL and work history
2
Recruiter Screen
Usually 1–2 business days
3
Verification
MVR, employment, Clearinghouse, drug screen
4
Orientation
Yard evaluation and paid orientation

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much driving is actually on public roads? ▼
The majority of the work stays inside the customer yard. Short shuttles between nearby warehouses or drop lots happen only when the account requires them.
Q: Are both day and night shifts available? ▼
Yes. Day and night positions are offered, along with rotating weekend coverage based on warehouse volume.
Q: How is the sign-on bonus structured? ▼
Up to $750 is typically paid in three $250 installments after 30, 90, and 180 days of active employment that meets safety and attendance requirements.
Q: What if the assigned yard tractor has a mechanical issue? ▼
The yard supervisor or dispatch will move you to a substitute tractor when one is available so the shift can continue.
Q: Is previous yard hostler experience mandatory? ▼
It is strongly preferred. Candidates with solid backing skills and a clean record may still be considered.
Q: Do hours-of-service rules apply to this work? ▼
HOS and record-of-duty-status requirements depend on the specific operation, the driver’s duties, and applicable FMCSA rules. The employer will explain the logging requirements that apply during onboarding.

Denver CDL-A Job Market

Denver supports a broad mix of local and regional CDL-A opportunities because of its large warehouse and distribution footprint. Carriers regularly hire for yard hostler, warehouse shuttle, LTL, food distribution, dry-van, and construction-material roles. The industrial corridors around the airport, I-70, and I-76 generate consistent demand for drivers who are comfortable with frequent backing and short-haul work. Home-daily positions are common, so experienced local drivers often compare several offers at the same time. Grocery, retail, and consumer-goods freight keep activity relatively steady through most of the year.

Denver Freight Landscape

Denver functions as a primary distribution hub for the Front Range and much of the Rocky Mountain region. The Northeast/Airport industrial corridor is one of the metro’s major concentrations of warehouse and distribution space and has direct access to I-70, I-76, and Denver International Airport. Aurora, Commerce City, Henderson, and Brighton add additional capacity for grocery, paper, household merchandise, and retail inventory. These facilities create continuous trailer movements as consumer goods move from regional distribution centers to stores. Seasonal retail peaks and regular grocery replenishment keep yard and short-haul activity elevated through much of the year.

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