Yard Manager
Employment Type: Full-Time | On-Site | Experienced With Valid CDL License
Compensation: $70,000 -$80,000
About Us
Cargomatic is committed to making the lives of truckers and shippers easier. Our goal is to let truckers be truckers and shippers be shippers by simplifying the process for all of our customers and vendors.
Cargomatic was named to the Built In Best Places to Work list, recognizing our people-first culture, strong benefits, and commitment to employee growth and well-being.
Position Overview
We are seeking a highly organized, proactive, and detail-oriented Yard Manager to oversee our daily yard operations, driver dispatch, freight tracking, and customer communication. In this dual-function role, you will serve as the hub of our operational workflows—ensuring yard equipment is safe and organized, loads are efficiently dispatched, and freight is tracked accurately from origin to destination.
The ideal candidate possesses strong logistics knowledge (particularly in drayage/container operations), excellent problem-solving skills under pressure, and a active commitment to safety and compliance.
Position Responsibilities:
- Operations & Layout: Oversee daily yard activity to maintain an organized, safe, clean, and efficient yard layout.
- Equipment Positioning: Coordinate the staging, parking, movement, and positioning of containers, chassis, trailers, and other yard equipment.
- Inventory & Recordkeeping: Maintain precise, real-time records of all equipment and assets present in the yard.
- Equipment Monitoring: Identify equipment shortages or excess units and coordinate incoming/outgoing inventory with drivers, terminals, warehouses, dispatch, and customers.
- Inspections & Safety: Ensure thorough equipment inspections and immediately log, isolate, and report damaged or unsafe units.
- Congestion Resolution: Collaborate with management to resolve yard congestion and operational bottlenecks.
- Freight Coordination & Dispatch
- Load Assignment: Dispatch drivers and assign freight loads based on equipment availability, driver location, Hours of Service (HOS), appointment times, and customer needs.
- Prioritization: Review incoming orders and prioritize shipments based on delivery schedules and operational urgency.
- Driver Communication: Provide clear pickup and delivery instructions to drivers before every move.
- Active Routing & Adjustments: Monitor drivers throughout the day, coordinate breaks/equipment swaps, and adjust assignments dynamically as conditions change.
- Efficiency Focus: Work closely with management to maximize driver productivity while minimizing empty miles and downtime.
- Issue Resolution: Assist in resolving delayed loads, missed appointments, rejected shipments, and equipment failures.
- Tracking & Data Accuracy
- Real-Time Monitoring: Track active loads, drivers, chassis, and containers throughout the shift.
- System Milestone Entry: Maintain precise logs in the Transportation Management System (TMS) for pickups, departures, arrivals, and drop-offs.
- Proactive Interventions: Identify potential delays early and intervene before they lead to service failures.
- Data Management: Follow up on missing tracking updates and maintain reliable operational records.
- Communication & Customer Service
- Primary Liaison: Act as the central communication point between drivers, dispatch, yard crews, terminals, ports, warehouses, and customers.
- Status Updates: Provide timely, accurate updates regarding freight status, schedules, and driver locations.
- Relationship Building: Establish positive working relationships with internal teams and external stakeholders (ocean carriers, steamship lines, terminal operators).
- Escalation: Promptly escalate severe operational or service issues to management with actionable details.
- Safety & Compliance
- Policy Enforcement: Strictly adhere to and enforce company safety policies, yard protocols, and transportation regulations.
- Incident Reporting: Immediately document and report any accidents, equipment damage, injuries, or hazardous conditions.
- Regulatory Standard: Maintain accurate documentation for safety audits and compliance records.
- Performance Expectations
- Maintain scheduled timelines across all assigned freight.
- Keep 100% accurate tracking and milestone entries in internal operating systems.
- Maintain a clean, organized yard with full visibility over equipment locations.
- Communicate proactively with drivers and customers to prevent service failures.
- Maximize driver utilization while minimizing empty miles and unnecessary equipment movement.
Required Qualifications
- Must have extensive experience in transportation, logistics, dispatch, freight, and yard operations.
- Valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and current DOT Physical card is required.
- Strong computer proficiency with data-entry accuracy and the ability to learn new TMS, GPS, and tracking tools.
- Proven ability to manage multiple drivers, loads, and changing priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
- Must have Outstanding communication, organizational, decision-making, and problem-solving capabilities.
- Willingness to work flexible hours or shifts to meet operational demands.
Preferred Qualifications
- Hands-on experience with drayage, container transportation, ocean carriers, and steamship line operations.
- Knowledge of port systems, marine terminals, rail ramps, and warehouse workflows.
- Direct experience with chassis/container tracking and ELD/GPS software.
- In-depth understanding of DOT regulations and transportation safety standards.
Benefits & Perks
Cargomatic offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support our employees’ health, financial well-being, and work-life balance:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid time off (PTO) and company holidays
- Life and disability insurance
- Flexible work environment (where applicable)
- Career growth and advancement opportunities
Equal Opportunity Employer
Cargomatic is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
