Hostler

Roadrunner Freight; Bolingbrook (IL); On-site; USD 25,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Roadrunner Freight in Chicago, IL is seeking a Hostler to manage yard and dock movement, load/unload freight, and maintain a safe, efficient flow of equipment. You will shuttle trailers, verify counts, and operate forklifts and pallet jacks while coordinating with dock supervisors to minimize delays.

This role emphasizes safety, accuracy, and teamwork in a fast-paced environment, with competitive hourly pay and full benefits. Onsite work in Chicago.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 0–3 years of experience in warehouse, logistics, or freight handling environments
• Forklift certification or ability to obtain certification
• Hazardous Materials training or willingness to complete training
• Ability to read and interpret safety rules, work orders, and procedural documentation
• Working math skills (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, decimals, and fractions)
• Strong verbal communication skills and ability to collaborate across operations teams
• Proven ability to prioritize tasks, manage time effectively, and handle multiple responsibilities
• Demonstrated sound judgment in environments with limited structure
• Experience operating yard tractors, hoists, or other material handling equipment

Responsibilities

• Execute yard and dock movement with precision
• Shuttle empty and loaded trailers across dock doors, staging areas, and parking lots
• Interpret work orders and verbal instructions to prioritize equipment movement
• Align trailer positioning with inbound/outbound scheduling needs
• Maintain continuous flow to eliminate bottlenecks and idle time
• Load, unload, and transport freight across dock, storage, and staging areas
• Move materials using forklifts, pallet jacks, or industrial equipment
• Stack, bundle, and secure freight to ensure safe handling and shipment readiness
• Verify and count freight accurately during movement
• Follow all safety protocols, including hazardous material handling procedures
• Perform routine checks and safe operation of forklifts and hoisting equipment
• Secure loads properly to prevent damage or operational risk
• Coordinate closely with operations and dock supervisors to align priorities
• Participate actively in team initiatives to improve workflow and productivity
• Adapt to shifting demands with speed and attention to detail
• Support team performance by maintaining consistency and reliability
• Execute with accountability and attention to detail
• Track tasks and complete assignments with minimal supervision
• Communicate clearly across teams to ensure operational clarity

Skills

Forklift certification

Hazardous Materials training

Reading safety rules

Math skills

Verbal communication

Team collaboration

Prioritization

Yard tractors/hoisting

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Forklifts

Pallet jacks

Hoisting equipment

Job description

The Hostler role sits at the core of our Operations function, ensuring the continuous, safe, and efficient movement of freight and equipment across the service center. This position directly impacts dock flow, trailer utilization, and overall throughput—making it essential to maintaining operational velocity and service reliability.As freight volumes scale and operational complexity increases, precision in yard and dock coordination becomes a critical advantage. Success in this role means minimizing delays, maintaining a clean and organized workspace, and enabling seamless handoffs between inbound, outbound, and storage functions. The Hostler ensures that the right assets are in the right place at the right time—every time.What you’ll do1. Execute yard and dock movement with precisionShuttle empty and loaded trailers across dock doors, staging areas, and parking lotsInterpret work orders and verbal instructions to prioritize equipment movementAlign trailer positioning with inbound/outbound scheduling needsMaintain continuous flow to eliminate bottlenecks and idle time2. Support freight handling operationsLoad, unload, and transport freight across dock, storage, and staging areasMove materials using forklifts, pallet jacks, or industrial equipmentStack, bundle, and secure freight to ensure safe handling and shipment readinessVerify and count freight accurately during movement3. Maintain safety, compliance, and equipment standardsFollow all safety protocols, including hazardous material handling proceduresPerform routine checks and safe operation of forklifts and hoisting equipmentSecure loads properly to prevent damage or operational riskMaintain clean, organized, and hazard-free work areas4. Enable operational efficiency and teamworkCoordinate closely with operations and dock supervisors to align prioritiesParticipate actively in team initiatives to improve workflow and productivityAdapt to shifting demands with speed and attention to detailSupport team performance by maintaining consistency and reliability5. Execute with accountability and attention to detailTrack tasks and complete assignments with minimal supervisionManage multiple priorities while maintaining accuracy and safetyApply sound judgment in dynamic, fast-paced environmentsCommunicate clearly across teams to ensure operational clarityWhat you bringHigh school diploma or GED, or equivalent combination of education and experience0–3 years of experience in warehouse, logistics, or freight handling environmentsForklift certification or ability to obtain certificationHazardous Materials training or willingness to complete trainingAbility to read and interpret safety rules, work orders, and procedural documentationWorking math skills (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, decimals, and fractions)Strong verbal communication skills and ability to collaborate across operations teamsProven ability to prioritize tasks, manage time effectively, and handle multiple responsibilitiesDemonstrated sound judgment in environments with limited structureExperience operating yard tractors, hoists, or other material handling equipmentHow you operateYou think in systems, ensuring flow and coordination across moving partsYou take ownership of outcomes, not just assigned tasksYou prioritize safety without compromising efficiencyYou execute quickly with precision and disciplineYou maintain focus and composure in fast-paced, high-demand environmentsYou communicate clearly and escalate issues proactivelyYou adapt to changing priorities without losing operational controlCompensation & SetupPay: $21.00 per hourLocation: Onsite | Chicago, ILBenefits: Full benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), and paid time offPhysical Demands and Work EnvironmentThe physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.Physical DemandsWhile performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel, reach with hands and talk and hear.The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl and smell.The employee must regularly lift and or move up to 50 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 80 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds.Specific vision abilities include color vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.Work EnvironmentWhile performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to moving vehicles, outside weather conditions and vibrations. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, high precarious places, and extreme temperatures.The noise level in the work area is usually moderate to high.The above statements reflect the general details necessary to describe the principal functions of the position and are not intended to be all inclusive.The position and any of the requirements listed above are subject to change at any time according to the changing needs of the company.* The above statements reflect the general details necessary to describe the principal functions of the position and are not intended to be all inclusive. The position and any of the requirements listed above are subject to change at any time according to the changing needs of the company.* Roadrunner is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind.* We will not accept unsolicited candidates from external recruiters or recruiting agencies. Thank you!#LI-OnsiteChicago, ILAbout RoadrunnerRoadrunner is for ambitious, smart people who excel at execution over talking about it, and who would rather invent the next standard in freight than accept the status quo.We are looking for the Best of the Best. Action driven leaders who want to be part of real change and help design the future of LTL in the U.S. This is a place where high performers can grow, influence outcomes, and make an impact while working directly with executives and smart people from across industries.We bring a winner mindset. We take ownership, raise the bar, and measure ourselves by results. We Run Safe. We Run Smart. We Run Together. These principles create an environment of high standards, clear ownership, and direct collaboration. We trust data over intuition, move with urgency, and hold each other accountable because winning requires it.Roadrunner exists to prove that LTL can be better than the industry has settled for. To be the best means we need to think bigger, look outside the box, and question every assumption: too many handoffs, limited visibility, and the quiet belief that “this is just how it works.” We rejected that story. We built a proprietary Smart Network for direct, long haul, metro to metro service that delivers fewer touches, faster transit, real time visibility, and genuine accountability. We are the most tech forward company in LTL, and we are not finished widening the gap.The foundation is already strong. Recognized as one of Built In Chicago’s Best Large Places to Work. Earning top marks for improvement, quality, and service. The real opportunity is still ahead: helping invent what comes next.If you want to be evaluated among the Best of the Best and help set the new standard in LTL, we should talk.