Port Drayage Position Local Intermodal
CDL-A Port Container Drayage Driver
Hiring Area: Miami Metro • Terminal: Miami
Miami, Florida Local Home Daily 2020-2024 Day Cabs
Local intermodal port drayage moving import and export ISO containers through PortMiami and Miami-area warehouses. Weekly pay $1,350–$1,900, estimated annual $70,200–$98,800, home every day.
Weekly Gross
$1,350–$1,900
Estimated Annual: $70,200–$98,800
Sign-On Bonus $1,500
Home Time Home Daily
Driver Type Company Driver
Weekly Activity 26–34 Moves
Freight Type Port Containers
Drivers support daily import and export container operations across the PortMiami logistics network, adapting to vessel arrivals, terminal releases, chassis availability, and customer appointments.
- Complete TWIC gate entry and verify container release data.
- Inspect chassis, twist locks, tires, brakes, and lighting systems.
- Verify seal numbers, booking references, and BOL documentation.
- Report equipment defects or container damage immediately.
- Maintain accurate electronic records through ELD and dispatch platform.
- Communicate gate congestion, customs holds, and receiving delays.
Earnings combine completed container moves with efficiency and freight availability across the PortMiami network.
Weekly Pay $1,350–$1,900
Container Move Pay $42–$68 per move
Estimated Annual $70,200–$98,800
Sign-On Bonus $1,500 ($500 at 30/90/180 days)
Detention Pay $30/hour after approved delays
Referral Bonus Up to $1,000
Pay Frequency Weekly direct deposit
Home Time Home every day
Work Week Monday–Friday + rotating Saturdays
Shift Day shifts, occasional early dispatch
Start Window 5:00 AM–7:00 AM
Operating Area Miami metropolitan area
Terminal Miami terminal
Tractors 2020–2024 Freightliner Cascadia & 2019–2023 Kenworth T680 day cabs
Fleet Age Approximately 3–7 years
Transmission Automatic
Chassis 20-ft, 40-ft & extendable chassis
Technology Samsara ELD, electronic DVIR, GPS dispatch
Safety Systems Forward dash cams, collision mitigation, lane departure, adaptive cruise
Other Features Air ride suspension, disc brakes, sliding fifth wheels
Assigned chassis not guaranteed; exchanges occur multiple times per shift. Preventive maintenance through Miami facility with roadside assistance coordination.
Import containers arrive via international shipping lines and move to distribution centers, cross-docks, consolidators, customs sites, and warehouses. Export containers return to PortMiami.
- Primary lanes: PortMiami to Doral, Medley, Hialeah, Opa-locka, Miami Gardens, Fort Lauderdale
- Return moves: Medley, Doral, Hialeah, Opa-locka back to PortMiami
- Freight: retail merchandise, electronics, home improvement, household goods, apparel, packaged food, general merchandise
- Key corridors: I-95, SR-836, SR-112, Florida Turnpike, Okeechobee Road (US-27), NW 74th Street, Port Boulevard
- Mix includes loaded imports, empty returns, yard repositioning, and chassis exchanges
- Dispatch adjusts sequencing based on vessel discharge, customs status, and customer dock availability
- First dispatch received before arrival; pre-trip completed at terminal
- TWIC gate entry at PortMiami followed by container pickup after release confirmation
- Delivery to warehouse or cross-dock with appointment check-in and seal verification
- Live unload, drop-and-hook, or yard drop completed; POD collected
- Next assignment issued before current delivery finishes — empty return or another import
- 4–7 container moves per shift depending on gate times and customer delays
- Shift ends after final return; equipment staged at Miami terminal
About the Carrier
Port container logistics connecting marine terminals with inland warehouse networks demand specialized short-haul capacity that can respond to vessel schedules and chassis pools. This mid-sized regional intermodal division focuses exclusively on day-cab operations supporting import and export container flow through South Florida’s primary gateway. Continuous coordination with terminal clerks, chassis providers, and warehouse receivers keeps equipment utilization high while handling the variable release and appointment windows typical of ocean freight. The operation prioritizes practical equipment suited to frequent terminal entry and urban stops rather than long-haul configurations.
Health Coverage Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Retirement 401(k) with company matching
Time Off Paid holidays and earned PTO
Orientation Paid orientation and terminal familiarization
Additional TWIC renewal reimbursement, uniforms, high-visibility apparel
Support Company ELD, toll transponder, driver lounge with secure parking
Recognition Safety awards based on annual performance
- Valid Class A CDL with current DOT qualification
- TWIC card required before PortMiami operations
- Minimum 1 year CDL-A experience preferred; 6 months intermodal or container preferred
- Minimum age 21
- Acceptable MVR with no serious violations
- Pass DOT drug screen, Clearinghouse query, and background review
- Knowledge of HOS and electronic logging devices
- Ability to inspect tractors, chassis, locking systems, airlines, lighting, brakes, and tires
- Gate congestion after major vessel arrivals
- Customs inspections and container release delays
- Chassis shortages or equipment defects requiring replacement
- Warehouse dock backlogs during retail import peaks
- Traffic on I-95, SR-836, Port Boulevard, and warehouse corridors
- Weather impacts during hurricane season or heavy rain
1
Recruiter Contact
Phone call within one business day
2
Screening
MVR, employment history, drug screen, Clearinghouse
3
Orientation
Paid one-day orientation at Miami terminal
4
Start
First dispatch within 5–7 business days
Q: How often do chassis get exchanged during a shift? ▼
Assigned chassis are not guaranteed. Drivers may exchange chassis several times depending on equipment condition, customer requirements, or terminal availability.
Q: What percentage of deliveries are live unload versus drop-and-hook? ▼
Approximately 55% live unloading, 30% drop-and-hook or grounded exchanges, and 15% yard drops or empty repositioning.
Q: Are overnight trips ever required? ▼
Overnight trips are uncommon. Freight stays concentrated within South Florida and drivers return home daily.
Q: How are detention delays handled? ▼
Qualifying terminal or customer delays are documented through dispatch. Approved detention pays $30 per hour after company policy thresholds.
Q: What happens if a container is not yet released when I arrive? ▼
Dispatch monitors release status and may redirect to another available pickup or empty return instead of waiting.
Q: Is Saturday work mandatory every week? ▼
Saturday coverage rotates based on vessel arrivals and terminal workload. Shifts are scheduled in advance when possible.
Q: Where do tractors park overnight? ▼
Most tractors begin and end shifts at the Miami terminal with secured parking. Overnight parking away from the terminal is uncommon.
Miami ranks among the strongest CDL-A markets in the Southeast. PortMiami, Port Everglades, Miami International Airport cargo operations, and dense warehouse clusters in Doral, Medley, Hialeah, and Opa-locka create steady demand for experienced drivers. Local intermodal and port drayage positions form a specialized segment that requires TWIC credentials and terminal familiarity, narrowing the candidate pool compared with general dry-van work. National intermodal carriers, regional drayage fleets, logistics providers, and independent owner-operators compete for the same talent. Turnover tends to be lower than in long-haul fleets when home-daily schedules and consistent import volume are present. Activity-based container pay combined with detention compensation remains common. Year-round international trade and retail distribution keep hiring active across local, dedicated, and specialized categories throughout the metro.
PortMiami functions as one of Florida’s primary international container gateways, linking ocean carriers with distribution networks that serve South Florida and the broader Southeast. Imported consumer goods, electronics, apparel, furniture, packaged foods, and household products move rapidly into warehouse districts concentrated in Doral, Medley, Hialeah, Opa-locka, and Miami Gardens. Export volume includes agricultural products, industrial materials, and recycled commodities bound for Caribbean and Latin American markets. Vessel schedules, terminal productivity, and ocean container availability drive the freight cycle more than rail intermodal patterns. Retail inventory build-ups and holiday shipping periods produce noticeable volume spikes, while tropical weather can temporarily affect vessel arrivals. Major corridors—I-95, SR-836, Florida’s Turnpike, SR-112, and US-27—connect the port with inland logistics parks. This combination of international trade, dense warehouse infrastructure, and year-round consumer demand sustains continuous short-haul container movement across the metro.