diff --git a/HERCULES_READER_COMMANDS.md b/HERCULES_READER_COMMANDS.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7022b08
--- /dev/null
+++ b/HERCULES_READER_COMMANDS.md
@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+# Hercules Card Reader Device Commands
+
+This document contains the Hercules console commands used to manage the card reader device (00C/3505).
+
+## View Device Status
+
+```
+devlist 00c
+```
+
+**Example Output:**
+```
+HHC02279I 0:000C 3505 3505 sockdev ascii trunc eof IO[2]
+HHC02279I      (no one currently connected)
+```
+
+**Key Information:**
+- `IO[n]` - Shows the I/O state number
+- `(no one currently connected)` - Socket is free
+- `(client IP (<unknown>) connected)` - Socket is in use
+
+## Reset Card Reader (When Stuck)
+
+### Method 1: Detach and Reattach (Recommended)
+
+```
+detach 00c
+attach 00c 3505 3505 sockdev ascii trunc eof
+```
+
+This completely removes and recreates the device, clearing any stuck connections.
+
+### Method 2: Devinit (May Not Work if Socket is Wedged)
+
+```
+devinit 00c 3505 3505 sockdev ascii trunc eof
+```
+
+**Note:** `devinit` may fail with "Address already in use" if the socket is stuck. Use Method 1 instead.
+
+## Common Issues
+
+### Device Stuck in "IO[n] open" State
+
+**Symptoms:**
+- `devlist 00c` shows `IO[5] open` or similar
+- Client shown as connected even after jobs complete
+- New connections rejected with "device busy or interrupt pending"
+
+**Solution:**
+```
+detach 00c
+attach 00c 3505 3505 sockdev ascii trunc eof
+```
+
+### Connection Refused from Workflow
+
+**Symptoms:**
+- Workflow logs show: `Connection refused` from netcat
+- Device shows: `localhost:3505` in devlist
+
+**Problem:** Device bound to localhost only, not accepting external connections.
+
+**Solution:**
+Use port number only (binds to all interfaces):
+```
+detach 00c
+attach 00c 3505 3505 sockdev ascii trunc eof
+```
+
+**DO NOT USE:**
+```
+attach 00c 3505 localhost:3505 sockdev ascii trunc eof  # Wrong - localhost only
+attach 00c 3505 0.0.0.0:3505 sockdev ascii trunc eof    # Also fails on some systems
+```
+
+## Device Configuration for Workflow
+
+For the Gitea workflow to connect successfully, the card reader must be configured to accept connections from any interface:
+
+```
+attach 00c 3505 3505 sockdev ascii trunc eof
+```
+
+Verify with:
+```
+devlist 00c
+```
+
+Should show:
+```
+HHC02279I 0:000C 3505 3505 sockdev ascii trunc eof IO[n]
+```
+
+**Not:**
+```
+HHC02279I 0:000C 3505 localhost:3505 sockdev ascii trunc eof IO[n]  # Wrong
+```
+
+## Troubleshooting Workflow Socket Issues
+
+If workflows are failing with socket errors:
+
+1. **Check device status:**
+   ```
+   devlist 00c
+   ```
+
+2. **Look for stuck connections:**
+   - `IO[5] open` with client connected = stuck
+
+3. **Reset the device:**
+   ```
+   detach 00c
+   attach 00c 3505 3505 sockdev ascii trunc eof
+   ```
+
+4. **Verify it's ready:**
+   ```
+   devlist 00c
+   ```
+   Should show `(no one currently connected)`
+
+## Prevention
+
+The `submit_job.py` script now includes a 10-second delay between submissions to prevent socket conflicts:
+- Upload job submits
+- Wait 10 seconds for JES to process
+- Compile job submits
+
+This gives Hercules time to fully close the socket between connections.
diff --git a/scripts/submit_job.py b/scripts/submit_job.py
index 9152024..66537c7 100755
--- a/scripts/submit_job.py
+++ b/scripts/submit_job.py
@@ -18,31 +18,26 @@ MVSHOST = "oldcomputernerd.com"
 RDRPORT = 3505
 MVS_PASSWORD = os.environ.get("MVS_BATCH_PASSWORD")
 
-def wait_for_port(host, port, timeout=30, poll_interval=1):
-    """Wait for port to become available (not in use)"""
-    print(f"Waiting for port {port} on {host} to be ready...")
-    start_time = time.time()
+def wait_for_reader(host, port, wait_seconds=10):
+    """
+    Wait for card reader to finish processing previous job.
 
-    while time.time() - start_time < timeout:
-        try:
-            # Try to connect - if successful, port is available
-            sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
-            sock.settimeout(2)
-            result = sock.connect_ex((host, port))
-            sock.close()
+    Hercules keeps the socket in IO[n] open state while JES processes
+    the submitted job. We need to wait long enough for:
+    1. JES to read the job from the internal reader
+    2. Hercules to close the socket completely
+    3. The port to be ready for a new connection
 
-            if result == 0:
-                print(f"Port {port} is ready")
-                return True
-            else:
-                print(f"Port {port} not responding (error {result}), waiting...")
-                time.sleep(poll_interval)
-        except socket.error as e:
-            print(f"Socket error: {e}, retrying...")
-            time.sleep(poll_interval)
-
-    print(f"Timeout waiting for port {port} to be ready after {timeout}s")
-    return False
+    A simple fixed delay is more reliable than trying to probe the port,
+    since the port will respond even when Hercules will reject connections.
+    """
+    print(f"Waiting {wait_seconds} seconds for card reader to finish processing...")
+    for i in range(wait_seconds):
+        time.sleep(1)
+        if (i + 1) % 3 == 0:
+            print(f"  {wait_seconds - i - 1} seconds remaining...")
+    print("Card reader should be ready now")
+    return True
 
 
 def create_jcl_payload(local_file, dataset_name, member_name): 
@@ -206,10 +201,9 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     if upload_source(local_file, dataset_name, member_name, mvshost) != 0:
         sys.exit(1)
 
-    # Wait for card reader port to be ready before submitting compile job
-    if not wait_for_port(mvshost, RDRPORT, timeout=30):
-        print(f"Error: Card reader port {RDRPORT} not available")
-        sys.exit(1)
+    # Wait for card reader to finish processing upload job before submitting compile job
+    # This prevents "device busy or interrupt pending" errors from Hercules
+    wait_for_reader(mvshost, RDRPORT, wait_seconds=10)
 
     # Step 2: Submit JCL job
     exit_code = submit_jcl(job, mvshost)