Port Drayage Position Local CDL-A
CDL-A Port Drayage Driver — Miami, FL
Hiring Area: Miami-Dade County & South Florida • Terminal: Miami-area yard
Miami, Florida Local Port Drayage 2020–2025 Day Cabs
Local import and export container moves between PortMiami terminals, yards, and South Florida warehouses. Home daily. Weekly gross $1,450–$1,750 with typical week at $1,560 and estimated annual gross $81,120.
Weekly Gross Range
$1,450–$1,750
Estimated Annual Gross: $81,120 at the typical week
Sign-On Bonus $1,000
Home Time Home Daily
Driver Type Employee
Typical Week 48 paid hours
Freight Type Import/Export Containers
This role centers on short-haul container handling between marine terminals and inland facilities. Drivers manage gate transactions, equipment verification, and appointment coordination under local dispatch.
- Verify container numbers, release status, and chassis compatibility before pickup.
- Complete terminal gate procedures and present required credentials and transaction details.
- Inspect tires, brakes, lights, coupling components, and container securement devices.
- Report gate delays, rejected transactions, and customer hold-ups promptly to dispatch.
- Obtain delivery receipts, interchange records, and electronic proof of delivery.
- Return loaded or empty containers only to the specifically authorized location.
Compensation is hourly with overtime. Regular rate $30/hr; overtime $45/hr. A typical week of 40 regular plus 8 overtime hours equals $1,560 gross. Annual estimate at that pace is $81,120 before any bonus. Sign-on bonus of $1,000 is a proposed model and must be confirmed with payout schedule before publication.
Weekly Gross Range $1,450–$1,750
Typical Weekly Gross $1,560
Estimated Annual Gross $81,120 at typical week
Regular Hourly Rate $30/hr
Overtime Rate $45/hr
Sign-On Bonus $1,000 (proposed; confirm terms)
Detention Paid as on-duty hourly time
Home Time Home daily
Operating Area PortMiami, Miami-Dade, selected South Florida sites
Typical Paid Hours Approximately 45–52 in a normal full week
Workdays Commonly five scheduled days; occasional weekend coverage
Start Window Early-morning or daytime based on terminal and warehouse appointments
Tractor Models Freightliner Cascadia and Kenworth T680 day cabs
Model Years Primarily 2020–2025
Transmission Automated manual or automatic
Chassis 20-ft & 40-ft (including high-cube); 45-ft when permitted
Electronics ELD, electronic dispatch, GPS, dash cameras
Some newer units include collision-mitigation and lane-departure systems. Assigned tractors are used when available; limited slip-seating may occur during maintenance or peak periods. Pre-trip inspections cover tires, lights, brakes, coupling components, air lines, electrical connections, and securement devices. Company-approved PPE, high-visibility vest, and safety footwear are required.
Freight consists of import and export containers with packaged consumer goods, apparel, retail merchandise, beverages, selected building products, and other approved general cargo. Daily sequences depend on vessel releases, appointments, and equipment availability.
- PortMiami → Doral / Medley warehouses via PortMiami Tunnel and SR 836
- PortMiami → Hialeah industrial and transload sites via SR 836 / SR 826
- PortMiami → Opa-locka freight facilities via SR 826 and local industrial roads
- PortMiami → Pompano Beach / Fort Lauderdale customers via I-95 when assigned
- Empty returns to designated shipping-line depots as instructed by dispatch
- Receive first container assignment and review release details before departing the yard.
- Complete tractor and chassis inspection, then travel to PortMiami or designated terminal.
- Process gate transaction, confirm interchange record, and secure the released container.
- Deliver to the assigned warehouse, follow site rules, and obtain unloading confirmation.
- Accept next move—loaded pickup, empty return, or reposition—from electronic or phone dispatch.
- Return the tractor to the company yard, submit paperwork, and note any equipment issues.
About the Carrier
Short-haul container drayage links marine terminals with warehouses, transload yards, and distribution facilities throughout the PortMiami market. A mid-sized regional carrier operating in this segment coordinates pickups, deliveries, empty returns, and equipment repositioning according to terminal availability and customer appointments. Work remains local within Miami-Dade and selected South Florida corridors. The operation prioritizes accurate interchange records, practical equipment use, and prompt communication when gate queues or release holds alter the planned sequence.
Sign-On Bonus $1,000 proposed; terms confirmed at hire
Medical Employee medical insurance options (eligibility applies)
Dental & Vision Supplemental coverage where included in plan
Retirement 401(k) access if offered by employer
Paid Time Off Accrual under written company leave policy
Port & Equipment Support TWIC application assistance, chassis inspection training, port onboarding, local dispatch help, maintenance coordination, PPE, designated yard parking
- Valid Class A CDL
- Minimum 2 years verifiable CDL-A experience, including at least 1 year container drayage or comparable intermodal work
- Prior experience with terminal gate transactions, container pickup/return, and chassis inspections
- Valid TWIC; additional port or customer credentials may be required
- Acceptable motor vehicle record under carrier insurance and safety standards
- Current DOT medical certification and compliance with FMCSA drug-and-alcohol testing requirements
- Ability to inspect tractor-trailer connections, recognize chassis defects, and complete electronic documentation
- Clear English communication for safety and operational purposes
- Terminal gate queues and missing or incomplete release data
- Container on hold or chassis rejected at interchange
- Occupied warehouse doors and limited receiving capacity
- Congestion on PortMiami Tunnel approaches, I-95, SR 836, and SR 826
- Vessel discharge timing, customs holds, and chassis shortages
- Summer storms or hurricane-related disruptions to port and customer operations
1
Application
Submit CDL-A history and port/container experience
2
Screening
Phone review of terminal work, availability, and pay expectations
3
Verification
CDL status, MVR, prior employment, DOT medical, drug test, Clearinghouse, TWIC
4
Orientation & Start
Road test or equipment assessment if required, paid orientation, tractor assignment, first dispatch
Q: Is a TWIC card required before starting? ▼
Yes. A valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential is required for access to secure areas at PortMiami. Assistance with the application process may be available under company policy.
Q: Can the driver take the tractor home overnight? ▼
It depends on company policy, approved parking availability, and whether the unit is assigned to the driver. The standard practice is to return the tractor to the designated Miami-area yard.
Q: Are backhauls guaranteed after every delivery? ▼
No. Dispatch may assign another loaded container, an empty repositioning move, or a non-revenue return depending on equipment balance and customer needs.
Q: What happens if a container is on hold at the gate? ▼
Contact dispatch immediately. Do not re-enter the queue without a correction plan. Dispatch verifies the release status and decides whether to wait or reassign the move.
Q: Is Spanish required? ▼
Spanish is useful with some local customers and warehouse personnel but does not replace the required English safety and documentation skills.
Q: How is the sign-on bonus paid? ▼
The $1,000 figure is a proposed amount. Exact eligibility, schedule, and conditions must be confirmed in writing with the employer before acceptance.
Q: Are hazmat loads part of ordinary assignments? ▼
Ordinary general-cargo containers do not require a HazMat endorsement. Any regulated hazardous-materials work needs separate authorization and qualifications.
Miami’s CDL-A market supports port container drayage, local distribution, food and beverage freight, parcel operations, and regional trucking. PortMiami handled 1,115,058 TEUs in fiscal year 2025, reinforcing its role in South Florida’s container network. Port-driver candidates need more than general tractor-trailer experience: terminal access, chassis inspections, container interchange procedures, and accurate electronic documentation matter daily. Local company-driver roles often feature home-daily schedules, yet earnings depend on paid hours, overtime eligibility, appointments, and terminal delays. Candidates should compare hourly rates, overtime policies, benefits, TWIC requirements, and the actual work area before accepting a port drayage position.
PortMiami connects marine container terminals with distribution and transload operations across Miami-Dade County. Common local destinations include Doral, Medley, Hialeah, and Opa-locka, with selected deliveries extending into Broward County when assigned. The PortMiami Tunnel links the port to the regional highway system; SR 836, SR 826, and I-95 provide access to inland customers. Import deliveries depend on cargo release, terminal availability, chassis supply, and warehouse receiving appointments. Export moves must meet customer and terminal cutoffs. Gate congestion, urban traffic, summer storms, and occasional hurricane disruptions can affect daily productivity, making dispatch coordination and realistic appointment planning essential for local drayage drivers.