Yard jockey · Yard spotting · Shunt trucks · Yard management

Yard Spotting and
REPLACEMENT: WE
Jockey Services
that clear the
bottleneck

Blackhawk yard jockeys and shunt trucks keep trailers moving between dock, staging and the gate, so inbound and outbound stop stacking up and your over-the-road drivers stop waiting.

  • Dedicated spotters and shunt trucks on your site, on your shift pattern
  • Trailer pool management and yard check at agreed intervals
  • Moves per hour and trailer dwell reported monthly

700+

trucks, all company owned

1990

privately owned and family-run since

90%

customer retention

600%

growth in 10 years

32%

annual turnover rate

2 hubs

Beloit, WI and Venus, TX

Definition

What Is Yard Spotting?

Yard spotting (also called yard jockey or shunt truck service) is the movement of trailers within a facility: from the gate to staging, from staging to the dock, and back out for pickup. A dedicated spotter with a purpose-built yard truck does this all shift, so over-the-road drivers drop and go instead of waiting for a door.

Blackhawk provides the spotter, the yard truck and the yard-check process, and reports moves per hour and trailer dwell against targets set with you.

Signs You Need a Spotter

  • Road drivers waiting more than 30 minutes for a door
  • Trailers stacking up in the yard between shifts
  • Forklift or plant staff moving trailers between their own jobs
  • Detention charges from carriers
Services

Yard Services From Blackhawk

Yard jockey service

Dedicated spotters on your shift pattern, with cover for absences.

Shunt trucks

Purpose-built yard tractors supplied and maintained by Blackhawk.

Yard management

Trailer pool control, yard checks, door scheduling and dwell reporting.

Plant shuttles

Dedicated shuttles between plant, warehouse and yard from the same carrier and the same contact.

 

How It Starts

How a Yard Contract Starts

1

Scope the yard

Trailer volume by shift, door count, dwell today, inbound and outbound balance, yard layout.

2

Size the service

Spotters per shift, yard trucks, yard-check frequency and the KPIs we report.

3

Start and report

Spotters on site from day one; moves per hour and trailer dwell reported monthly.

KPIs

What We Measure

Moves per hour

per spotter, per shift

Trailer dwell

gate-in to gate-out

Door wait time

for road drivers

Yard check accuracy

trailer pool vs system

One Carrier, One Contact

Pair Yard Spotting With Dedicated Plant Shuttles

Industrial customers run their shuttle lanes and their yard with Blackhawk, so the plant deals with one partner for everything on wheels.

Fleet Replacement for Industrial Shippers →
FAQ

Questions About
Yard Services

What is the difference between a yard jockey, a spotter and a shunt truck?+
A yard jockey or spotter is the person who moves trailers around a facility. A shunt truck is the specialized vehicle used to move them. The terms can vary by location, but all refer to helping keep trailers moving efficiently around the yard.
Do you supply the yard truck, or use ours?+
Blackhawk can supply and maintain purpose-built yard trucks. Depending on your operation and requirements, we can also discuss using your existing equipment.
Can you cover 24/7 or weekend shifts?+
Coverage can be planned around your operating schedule, including overnight and weekend requirements. Staffing and availability should be confirmed for your specific facility.
How quickly can a spotter start?+
Start dates depend on staffing, site access, safety requirements and the scope of service. Blackhawk can review your needs and establish a practical launch plan.
Where do you provide yard services?+
Service availability depends on the facility location and operational requirements. Contact Blackhawk to confirm coverage for your site.
Next Step

Tell Us About the Yard

Site, shifts and daily trailer moves. We come back with a spotter plan and a rate.

800-322-9492

Sales line, 7am to 6pm Central.