How to hire a yard foreman

How to hire a yard foreman, step by step

Here's a step-by-step yard foreman hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a yard foreman job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new yard foreman
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The yard foreman hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect yard foreman also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents yard foreman salaries for various positions.

   Type of Yard Foreman	Description	Hourly rate
   Yard Foreman		$16-31
   Shipping And Receiving Supervisor	A shipping and receiving supervisor streamlines the shipping process for a more efficient company. The supervisors oversee and maintain the supplies and inventory through product receipt, storage, and delivery... Show more	$13-22
   Receiving Supervisor	A receiving supervisor manages and directs the activities of teams receiving and handling deliveries and items. Receiving supervisors coordinate and support the operations in their department... Show more	$13-23

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Safety Procedures
   • Safety Regulations
   • Product Knowledge
   • Customer Service
   • Delivery Truck
   • Load Trucks
   • Yard Operations
   • CDL
   • Routine Maintenance
   • Equipment Maintenance
   • Building Materials
   • Control Inventory
   • Customer Orders
   • Mowing

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage all administrative duties including payroll and ordering supplies.
   • Operate frontend loader, bobcat, construction and warehouse forklifts.
   • Enforce company policies and OSHA regulations, investigate construction accidents utilizing knowledge gain through cooperation with safety department and law enforcement.
   • issue and deconning of respirators.
   • Demonstrate cross-functional and collaborative team leadership while also delivering superior customer service to maintain client satisfaction and retention.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your yard foreman job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A yard foreman salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, yard foremen' average salary in louisiana is 38% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level yard foremen earn 46% less than senior-level yard foremen.
   • Certifications. A yard foreman with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a yard foreman's salary.

   Average yard foreman salary

   $48,114yearly

   $23.13 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level yard foreman salary

   $35,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 31, 2025

4. Writing a yard foreman job description

   A yard foreman job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a yard foreman job description:

   Yard foreman job description example

   Schedule: Mon-Fri: 7:00AM-5:00PM

   Wage: $16.97-$25.45

   What you should know about working at Arrow Building Center:

   • We are all about teamwork! All positions are hands-on, and we band together when necessary.
   • We support each other. We have local and corporate team members to help you along the way and partner on projects as appropriate.
   • We are a relaxed atmosphere; this is not a suit and tie environment.
   • We care about our communities. USLBM, our divisions and associates are committed to contributing to the communities where we live and work.
   • We work hard. We are a continuous improvement driven organization and we are focused on keeping organized and on task.
   • We’re built on safety. We provide a safe and healthy workplace for all our employees. Our employees go home in the same condition they came to work.

   How You Will Spend Your Days as a Yard Foreman:

   • Managing the lumber yard and the associates.
   • Build out loads
   • Training new associates and forklift training.
   • Make sure forklift checks are complete.
   • Weekly creation of routes.
   • Review orders to resolve issues with delivery dates and scheduling.
   • Assist with dispatcher backups as needed.
   • Maintain delivery tickets and manifests based on date changes.
   • Checking loads and EWP.

   We want you to build your career with us! Can you check all of these boxes?

   Yard Laborer Requirements:

   • Experience. 2 years supervising a logistics or shipping team with fleet responsibilities
   • Communication. Strong verbal and written communication skills
   • Heavy Lifting. Ability to regularly lift 40 lbs and on occasion lift 75 lbs. Consistently bend, twist, squat and reach throughout work shift
   • Teamwork. Team focused approach to work
   • Excellence. Excellent work ethic, attendance and customer service
   • Knowledge. General knowledge of State and Federal motor carrier regulations is a must

   SKILLS / COMPETENCIES

   • Ability to be certified in operating forklifts – certification will be provided
   • Strong navigational and problem-solving skills

   Building Your Career With Benefits:

   • The Usual. Medical, Dental and Vision (starting the 1st of the month after 30 days)
   • The Good. 401(k) with company match
   • The Best. Paid Time Off and Closed Holidays.
   • Even Better. Employee Discounts
   • How do we top that? We support your educational and career goals with our continuing educations programs, paid training and promoting from within.

   Build Your Future Today With Arrow Building Center .

   Arrow Building Center, a Division of US LBM Holdings, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, order of protection status, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state, or local law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right yard foreman for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your yard foreman job on Zippia to find and recruit yard foreman candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit yard foremen, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new yard foreman

   Once you've decided on a perfect yard foreman candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new yard foreman. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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