Yard Drivers: the quiet forces that keep operations running smoothly at our sites
Anyone who drives through or past our sites every day has surely seen them many times: drivers in Terberg tractors neatly positioning trailers for departure, or driving from site to site to transport a trailer. Behind these activities is our team of Yard Drivers: often flying under the radar, but one thing is certain: they are indispensable. Zafer Altintas knows this well, as he has been part of the Genk HQ Yard Driver team for 20 years and is happy to explain why his job is important.
What does your job mainly involve?
Zafer: “We ensure that operations at our sites run smoothly. Using our Terberg tractors, we move trailers around the site so they’re at the right loading or unloading docks at the right time. We have three shifts, and each shift has six or seven active drivers. Everyone is responsible for a specific warehouse. On top of that, we also have ‘shuttle drivers’ who move trailers from one site to another. I always say that we feed all the warehouses. If we didn’t do our job, the logistics process would grind to a halt.”
How does that translate in practice?
Zafer: “We receive assignments from the dispatchers, and they appear on the screen in our cab. When the dispatcher needs a trailer, they enter the trailer’s number. The GPS tracker shows us where that trailer is located. I then drive there and deliver the trailer to the correct loading dock. Our work is important because the cargo that truck drivers bring in doesn’t need to be at a loading dock immediately. It can sometimes take a few hours before the trailer is needed; often the driver has already left by then, and that’s where we come in.”
Who can become a Yard Driver?
Zafer: “Anyone with a CE driver’s license and an ADR certificate (to transport dangerous goods) can become a Yard Driver.
What are the biggest advantages of the job?
Zafer: “You can work independently with your own tractor-trailer, you always know what you need to do, and you’re always outdoors. I personally enjoy working outdoors, so I appreciate that independence. At the same time, we have a top-notch team where everyone is on the same page. We know what to expect from each other, and that makes it all the more enjoyable.”
And the challenges?
Zafer: “In bad weather, you have to adapt because driving conditions are different. In snow, for example, you really have to pay close attention. Especially since we always take safety rules very seriously here.”
How strict are the safety regulations?
Zafer: “They’re pretty strict: your lights must always be in perfect working order, safety gear is mandatory, you must wear gloves when opening trailers, and of course there’s an absolute zero-tolerance policy on the use of drugs and alcohol.”
What misconception about the job do you want to clear up?
Zafer: “People sometimes think we drive irresponsibly because the tractor unit can be quite loud. But we drive on the sites with a speed limiter precisely because we want to avoid dangerous situations. You won’t see us driving recklessly around the sites.”