Position Description

Job Title: Yard Signalman

Reports To: ICD Supervisor

Department Operations / Yard Management

Location Uganda, Ntinda

Interacts/Interfaces

with:

Internal: External:

• • Head of Operations – ICD & COLOG
• • Logistics Officers
• • Operations team
• • Equipment operators and ground
• personnel
• • Internal ICD clients
• • URA officials
• • UNBS officials
• • External ICD clients

Job Summary

The Yard Signalman ensures the safe and efficient movement, positioning, and stacking of containers and trucks within the yard by providing accurate hand signals, radio instructions, and coordination with equipment operators and ground personnel.

Responsibilities

Safety and Compliance

• • Guide trucks, forklifts, reach-stackers, cranes, and shunters using correct and recognized hand signals.
• • Ensure safe distances between equipment, personnel, and cargo during operations.
• • Report unsafe acts, near misses, and equipment defects immediately.

Equipment and Traffic Coordination

• • Direct trucks to loading, offloading, parking, and inspection zones.
• • Support shunting operations by guiding equipment positioning.
• • Coordinate with forklift/reach-stacker operators to align with container bays.
• • Ensure smooth traffic flow to prevent congestion and accidents.

Container and Yard Operations

• • Assist in identifying and confirming container numbers before loading/offloading.
• • Verify bay locations and guide operators to correct stack positions.
• • Support physical checks of container condition (if assigned).
• • Relay instructions between the logistics officers and ground operators.

Communication and Documentation

• • Maintain clear radio communication with yard supervisors and equipment operators.
• • Record operational movements when required (time stamps, bays, equipment used).
• • Report delays or operational anomalies immediately.

Person Specification

Education, Training, Skills & Experience

Education and Experience

• • O-Level or A-Level Certificate (minimum).
• • Safety training (OSH, defensive operations, signalling) preferred.
• • At least two years’ experience in an ICD, depot or related environment.

Personal Attributes

• • Ability to work in high-pressure, fast-moving environments.
• • Physical fitness and ability to stand for long periods.

Key skills

• • Excellent understanding of yard hand signals and radio communication codes.
• • Good knowledge of container operations (loading, offloading, stacking).
• • Basic problem-solving and incident-reporting ability.

• Guide trucks, forklifts, reach-stackers, cranes, and shunters using correct and recognized hand signals.
• Ensure safe distances between equipment, personnel, and cargo during operations.
• Report unsafe acts, near misses, and equipment defects immediately.
• Direct trucks to loading, offloading, parking, and inspection zones.
• Support shunting operations by guiding equipment positioning.
• Coordinate with forklift/reach-stacker operators to align with container bays.
• Ensure smooth traffic flow to prevent congestion and accidents.
• Assist in identifying and confirming container numbers before loading/offloading.
• Verify bay locations and guide operators to correct stack positions.
• Support physical checks of container condition (if assigned).
• Relay instructions between the logistics officers and ground operators.
• Maintain clear radio communication with yard supervisors and equipment operators.
• Record operational movements when required (time stamps, bays, equipment used).
• Report delays or operational anomalies immediately.

• Excellent understanding of yard hand signals and radio communication codes.
• Good knowledge of container operations (loading, offloading, stacking).
• Basic problem-solving and incident-reporting ability.
• Ability to work in high-pressure, fast-moving environments.
• Physical fitness and ability to stand for long periods.

• O-Level or A-Level Certificate (minimum).
• Safety training (OSH, defensive operations, signalling) preferred.
• At least two years’ experience in an ICD, depot or related environment.