Skilled yard drivers — also known as yard jockeys, hostlers or switchers — are invaluable in maintaining yard efficiency and avoiding costly incidents with vehicles, cargo and other employees. This Safe & Smart® program will teach your trainers to deliver the practical, hands-on training your drivers need to operate safely and efficiently while moving your company’s trailers in the yard and on the road.
How Our Training Program Works
During this onsite program, our trainers will teach your drivers using a comprehensive program that consists of these elements:
Online Course Review
Ensures trainers have a strong understanding of the same content your yard switchers will be tested on while taking our Safe & Smart™ online courses.
Classroom Instruction
Teaches your trainers how to effectively use and deliver our course curriculum materials in the classroom.
Range Training
Demonstrates how to set up a range, conduct yard truck inspections and backing exercises, coach drivers behind the wheel and conduct closed-course final testing.
Evaluation & Certification
Concludes with recommendations for improvements, advice on best practices and certification to deliver the Safe & Smart™ Program to yard drivers.
Why Our Program is So Effective
We employ a team of experienced instructors who are skilled at training in yard trucks. You'll be assigned a trainer who we've certified as highly qualified in training on the specific type of vehicles your staff will train on. These instructors combine our proprietary program methods with advanced adult learning techniques to maximize retention. And all of this is tailored for the unique needs of your company.
Training Program Resources
In addition to teaching your trainers using the actual yard truck types they'll train with, this program provides all of the content and resources needed, including:
- Safe & Smart™ Trainer Program Guidebook PowerPoint presentation for conducting classroom instruction
- Access to all Safe & Smart™ yard driver training online courses
- Safe & Smart™ yard driver training workbooks
- Two-year certification of Safe & Smart™ yard jockey trainers
- Monthly Driver Training Awareness newsletter
- Unlimited access to subject matter experts for regulatory & safety questions
Improve Yard Driver Safety & Efficiency
Discover how J. J. Keller’s Safe & Smart Yard Jockey Driver Training provides practical instruction for moving trailers safely and efficiently in the yard and on the road, including coupling and uncoupling, vehicle inspections, backing and docking, and more.
Resources
Critical Questions to Address if You Use Yard Jockeys
Nearly all freight moves on trucks at some point. Most likely, a yard driver, also known as a yard jockey, hostler or switcher, helped get the goods to the destination. The short move in a trailer to and from the dock is a vital link that must be done safely by skilled and qualified employees.
Defensive Driving — Not a One and Done
Defensive driving skills that should be covered regularly include seeing and being seen, visual scanning, speed and space management, merging, and navigating intersections. Plan to cover each of these topics at least once a year, or more often if you notice a need for refresher or corrective-action training.
Five Key Elements of a Yard Driver Training Program
Skilled yard drivers, yard jockeys, spotters, or whatever the job title is at your company are crucial to yard safety and efficiency. It is imperative to train CDL-holding and non-CDL yard drivers, reduce potential liability and avoid accidents, injuries, or worst-case, a fatality, even if they never leave your yard.
3 Tips for Providing Driver Training to a Diverse Group of Learners
Trucking is a diverse industry. It employs individuals of various ages, backgrounds, and experiences. This diversity adds value to an organization, but it can also present challenges for even the most experienced driver trainer. What may work in an instructional setting for one individual may not work for another.
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