How to hire a yard spotter

How to hire a yard spotter, step by step

Here's a step-by-step yard spotter 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 spotter job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new yard spotter
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a yard spotter job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   The yard spotter 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

   A yard spotter's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, yard spotters from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of yard spotters and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Yard Spotter	Description	Hourly rate
   Yard Spotter	Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials. Others feed or remove material to and from machines, clean vehicles, pick up unwanted household goods, and pack materials for moving.	$14-25
   Stage Hand	Stagehands are skilled employees who work in the television, film, or theatre to assist other crew members set up the sound, lighting, and other equipment as well as helping performers change into their costumes. These employees are required to hang banners, update marquees, and handle other signage within the venue as it is important for any production... Show more	$12-23
   Package Handler UPS	The primary job of package handlers is to assemble, seal, and load packages. They are responsible for tracking package information using scanners and sorting parcels according to destination... Show more	$12-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CDL
   • Dock Doors
   • Loaders
   • Asphalt
   • Yard Truck
   • DOT
   • Operate Yard
   • LTL
   • Maintenance Checks
   • Spot Trailers
   • Vehicle Maintenance
   • Plant Safety
   • Cellular Telephone
   • CB

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage mulching, fertilizing, watering and mowing activities.
   • Maintain a clean floor so production run smoothly.
   • Set forums to pour concrete, fish concrete, run few gas lines temp.
   • Prepare pallets by following prescribe stacking arrangement and properly tagging pallets.
   • Log statistics of athletes for ESPN's television production crew
   • Communicate important information about Olympic athletes to ESPN

   More yard spotter duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the yard spotter job description is a good way to get more applicants. A yard spotter salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a yard spotter in Georgia may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level yard spotter. Additionally, a yard spotter with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average yard spotter salary

   $41,542yearly

   $19.97 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level yard spotter salary

   $31,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average yard spotter salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Nebraska	$47,562	$23
   2	Colorado	$46,345	$22
   3	North Dakota	$44,907	$22
   4	Minnesota	$44,419	$21
   5	Iowa	$44,416	$21
   6	Indiana	$43,931	$21
   7	California	$42,390	$20
   8	Wisconsin	$42,247	$20
   9	Illinois	$41,467	$20
   10	Kentucky	$41,281	$20
   11	Kansas	$40,585	$20
   12	Oklahoma	$39,895	$19
   13	Ohio	$39,457	$19
   14	Virginia	$39,209	$19
   15	South Dakota	$38,891	$19
   16	Tennessee	$38,842	$19
   17	North Carolina	$38,447	$18
   18	Texas	$36,447	$18
   19	Florida	$33,727	$16

   Average yard spotter salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Ryder System	$48,457	$23.30	11
   2	Kemps	$46,000	$22.12
   3	Clean Harbors	$45,659	$21.95	6
   4	National Retail Systems, Inc.	$45,436	$21.84
   5	Dairy Farmers of America	$45,056	$21.66	15
   6	Prairie Farms Dairy	$44,522	$21.40
   7	Estes Express Lines	$44,009	$21.16	2
   8	Hogan Transportation Companies	$43,867	$21.09
   9	CRST International	$43,537	$20.93	9
   10	H-E-B	$43,274	$20.80
   11	US Foods	$43,244	$20.79	16
   12	PepsiCo	$43,045	$20.69
   13	Sysco	$42,877	$20.61	7
   14	Menards	$42,507	$20.44	74
   15	General Pet Supply	$42,456	$20.41
   16	FirstFleet	$42,165	$20.27	49
   17	CPC Logistics	$41,925	$20.16
   18	Dunn&Co	$41,591	$20.00	3
   19	Lazer Spot	$41,190	$19.80	80
   20	Performance Food Group	$41,170	$19.79	10

4. Writing a yard spotter job description

   A good yard spotter job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a yard spotter job description:

   Yard spotter job description example

   MGS Mfg. Group has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Yard Spotter Driver to join our Warehouse team on 1st shift. MGS is a best-in-class custom manufacturer that delivers plastics solutions in tooling, molding and equipment technologies to help customers around the world bring innovative products to market. At MGS, we achieve success through the contributions of our employees. To learn more about MGS, please visit www.mgsmfg.com.

   As a Yard Spotter Driver , you will be responsible for using the yard spotter to transfer trailers back and forth between production facility and warehouse. The Yard Spotter will also assist with the daily processes of the warehouse.

   DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

   • Move trailers on property with yard spotter when transfers are needed.
   • Loading and unloading of trailers in warehouse.
   • Picking and setting of Raw Materials/Packaging for Manufacturing.
   • Movement of Components from Inventory for Assembly.
   • Disposition of finished goods to Warehouse Inventory.
   • Mixing/Blending of Raw Materials (Resin/Colorants).
   • Cycle Counting of Warehouse Inventory.
   • Complete Electronic Transfers within the ERP System.
   • Daily involvement with the Shipping Department coordinating outbound shipments to customers.
   • Coordination with the Receiving Department regarding inbound purchases for Manufacturing.
   • Any other duties as assigned.

   
   
   

   QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS:

   • High School Diploma or equivalent.
   • CDL is required.
   • Valid, current, and clean driving record.
   • Three to five years of experience within a warehouse setting to accomplish essential duties, or accrued on-the-job training and experience.
   • Yard spotter experience is a plus.
   • Prior knowledge of ERP systems preferred.
   • Able to work independently.
   • Prior forklift experience

   We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefit package.

   To apply for the Yard Spotter Driver position and learn more about MGS Mfg. Group, go to www.mgscareers.com.

   Succeed with MGS!

   MGS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

   ABOUT MGS:

   MGS is a privately held, $250M contract manufacturing expert that delivers custom, integrated solutions that drive business performance and growth across a wide variety of industries. From our roots as a small toolmaking shop back in 1982, MGS's elite engineering teams and advanced technologies are fueled by a "get it done" attitude and an entrepreneurial spirit of innovation. And our core values of teamwork, integrity, passion, and safety have shaped us as a global leader with manufacturing facilities around the world. Always finding ways to improve performance, productivity, and ROI for our customers, at MGS, getting the job done still means getting the job done right - the first time.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right yard spotter 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 spotter job on Zippia to find and recruit yard spotter candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting yard spotters requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 spotter

   Once you've decided on a perfect yard spotter 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.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a yard spotter?