HC Leading Hand

The Virtual Recruiter; Cairns Regional; On-site; AUD 76,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Leadership pathway

40 hours per week guaranteed

Retention bonus

Job summary

The Virtual Recruiter is seeking a hands-on Yard Leader to drive safe, efficient yard operations in North Queensland. You will translate an Operations Supervisor’s plan into ready-to-work trucks and loads while coaching a growing team of drivers and apprentices.

Key responsibilities include onboard training, trailer audits, and maintaining strict safety standards. This is a leadership role with genuine authority within an established transport business.

Qualifications

• Substantial hands-on experience in heavy transport, crane truck, long-load, yard or loading operations.
• Onboard and practically train drivers on yard standards and depot procedures.
• Pre-starts, fatigue, mass and NHVR/Chain of Responsibility requirements.
• Experience onboarding, coaching or practically training drivers.
• Safety-first and hands-on leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead yard operations and ensure loading readiness of trucks, trailers and loads.
• Preload trailers and organise the yard for efficient depot operations.
• Provide daily task direction and coaching to Yard Hand / Driver Apprentice.
• Onboard and train new drivers on yard standards and procedures.
• Run trailer audits and ensure safety and compliance in the depot.
• Support investigations with accurate reporting.

Skills

Heavy transport experience

Crane truck operations

Yard operations

Loading operations

Onboard coaching drivers

Safety leadership

Australian working rights

MC licence

Forklift licence

Tools

MC licence

LF/Forklift licence

Job description

Lead from the front. Run a tight yard. Build a team that gets it right the first time.

About the Role

• Be the hands-on yard leader who turns the Operations Supervisor's plan into safe, ready-to-go trucks, trailers and loads

• Preload trailers, organise the yard, and manage day-to-day trailer and equipment readiness

• Provide daily task direction and practical coaching to the Yard Hand / Driver Apprentice

• Onboard and practically train new drivers on yard standards, load restraint and depot procedures

• Run trailer audits and pole stocktakes, and keep the depot safe, organised and efficient

• Support investigations and corrective actions with accurate, factual reporting

Essential Requirements

• Substantial hands-on experience in heavy transport, crane truck, long-load, yard or loading operations

• Current MC, LF/Forklift licence

• Extensive general freight load restraint experience with construction materials, roofing iron, trusses, steel & mesh

• Pre-starts, fatigue, mass and NHVR/Chain of Responsibility requirements

• Experience onboarding, coaching or practically training drivers

• Safety-first and hands-on — leads by example without overstepping

• Australian working rights

Desirable (or willingness to obtain)

• CV/Crane, Doggers tickets

• White Card

What We Offer

• $55.00 flat rate per hour

• $10,000 Retention Bonus available with current CV/Crane, Doggers

tickets — paid progressively over your first 12 months (see schedule, Section 2). Limited availability.

• Guaranteed 40 hours per week + 2 x 30-minute paid breaks daily

• A genuine leadership pathway — real hands-on authority, not just a title

• Join an established, growing family-owned North Queensland transport business

Law Transport — Delivering Service. Driving Reliability.