Yard truck safety covers the hazards of terminal tractors that move trailers around distribution yards, such as struck-by, coupling, and fall risks.
The practices that protect operators and nearby workers around yard trucks — also called terminal tractors, yard dogs, or yard jockeys — which move trailers between parking spots and dock doors at distribution centers, ports, and rail yards. Key hazards include pedestrian struck-by incidents, falls while climbing on and off the deck, coupling and air-line connection injuries, and trailer creep or pull-away at the dock.
A distribution center reduces yard incidents by setting a 10 mph speed limit, marking pedestrian walkways in the yard, requiring high-visibility vests, and installing dock locks so trailers cannot be pulled away while forklifts are loading them.
Yes, operators should receive training on the specific vehicle, coupling and uncoupling procedures, yard traffic rules, and dock communication; a commercial driver's license may also be required if the truck operates on public roads.
Operators should maintain three points of contact when climbing onto the deck or into the cab, keep steps and decks clean and free of ice, and use the grab handles and non-slip surfaces provided.
Pull-away happens when a trailer is moved while a forklift or worker is still inside it, often due to miscommunication between the dock and the yard driver; dock locks, wheel chocks, and clear signaling systems help prevent it.
Part of SafetyIQ's EHS glossary: plain-English definitions of workplace health and safety terms.
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