Fast-Track Driving Career: Forklift Operator / Yard Hostler & CDL Trainee Wanted!
Do you hold a valid Commercial Driver's License and want to gain valuable hands-on yard jockeying and material handling experience that accelerates your professional driving career? American Workforce Group has partnered with a premier manufacturing and distribution leader in Longview, WA to hire a full-time Forklift Operator / Yard Hostler & CDL Driver Trainee. In this dynamic, hybrid role, you will operate sit-down forklifts for warehouse staging, manage the yard hostler (yard goat) to position and back commercial trailers, and train into dedicated full-time CDL driving routes over time. If you bring a valid CDL, forklift proficiency, and a drive to move from the yard to the road, let's talk today!
Description for Yard Hostler / CDL Trainee:
- Operate industrial sit-down forklifts to load, unload, stage, and warehouse manufactured products and raw materials.
- Safely maneuver and operate a yard hostler (yard goat) truck to back, reposition, and dock commercial freight trailers across facility bays.
- Conduct pre-trip and post-trip inspections on yard trucks, trailers, and warehouse equipment to maintain site safety and DOT standards.
- Manage shipping and receiving documentation, bills of lading (BOLs), and inventory tracking sheets accurately.
- Work closely with warehouse and logistics leadership to transition into full-time commercial CDL driving routes as route volume scales.
- Maintain clean, hazard-free warehouse lanes and strictly follow all facility safety and Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures.
Details for Yard Hostler / CDL Trainee:
- Pay Rate: $20.00 – $24.00 / hour (Scaling based on CDL credentials, forklift skill, and experience / DOE).
- Schedule: Full-Time Monday – Friday (Consistent weekday schedule with weekends OFF!).
- Location: Longview, WA facility.
- Position Type: Full-Time, Temp-to-Hire career pathway moving from warehouse/yard hostler to full-time CDL driver.
Requirements for Yard Hostler / CDL Trainee:
- Licensing: Valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) required (Class A or Class B) with an insurable, clean driving record.
- Forklift Background: Demonstrated experience safely operating sit-down industrial forklifts in a manufacturing or distribution environment.
- Trailer Spotting / Hostler Experience: Prior experience operating a yard goat or backing/maneuvering commercial trailers is a huge plus (willing to train candidates with solid baseline driving fundamentals).
- Physical Stamina: Ability to lift 50+ lbs regularly, climb in and out of cabs, and handle active warehouse and yard labor.
- Exceptional history of daily attendance, prompt punctuality, and a safety-first mindset.
Benefits Include:
- Competitive $20.00–$24.00/hr starting pay rate.
- Consistent Monday–Friday daytime routine (Weekends OFF!).
- Direct pathway to full-time regional/local CDL driving assignments.
- Washington State Paid Sick Leave tracking.
- AWG SERVICES ARE ALWAYS 100% FREE TO JOB SEEKERS!
To apply:
Email your resume directly for review:
cowlitzjobs@americanworkforcegroup.com
Call our recruiting crew today: (360) 200-4900
Office Hours: Monday – Friday | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
American Workforce Group is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment on any basis protected by law.
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