Intermodal Position Local CDL-A
CDL-A Intermodal Rail Drayage Driver – CSX Winter Haven / Tampa Rail Network
Hiring Area: Lakeland, FL • Base: Lakeland-area staging yard
Lakeland, Florida Local Intermodal 2021–2024 Day Cabs
Move containerized freight on short-haul CSX Winter Haven and Tampa rail lanes while earning $1,300–$1,650 weekly and returning home daily under dispatch-dependent schedules.
Weekly Gross
$1,300–$1,650
Typical Annual: ~$75,400
Sign-On Bonus $800–$1,500 structured
Home Time Home Daily
Driver Type Local Intermodal
Weekly Miles 800–1,400
Freight Type Intermodal Containers
Container moves between CSX Winter Haven rail facilities, staging yards, distribution centers and Tampa-area terminals form the core of this local drayage role.
- Inspect chassis, verify container numbers and engage locking mechanisms before departure.
- Complete interchange documents and gate procedures at rail ramps.
- Deliver loaded containers and retrieve empties at customer or staging sites.
- Report equipment defects, seal mismatches and delays to dispatch immediately.
- Maintain accurate ELD records throughout each rail-driven cycle.
- Secure tractor and equipment according to terminal and customer rules.
Hourly structure accounts for terminal time, gate queues and chassis work rather than pure highway miles. Weekly earnings vary with scheduled hours, overtime, detention and dispatch volume. Eligible hours over 40 are paid at 1.5× where applicable.
Weekly Range $1,300–$1,650
Hourly Rate $28–$34
Typical Weekly Gross ~$1,450
Typical Annual ~$75,400
Detention $25/hr after 2 hours (documented)
Sign-On Bonus $800–$1,500 structured
Pay Frequency Weekly
Home Time Home daily, dispatch dependent
Operating Corridor Lakeland–Winter Haven–Tampa–Central Florida
Typical Hours 42–47 per week
Weekly Miles 800–1,400
Dispatch Windows Example shifts 5 AM–3 PM, 7 AM–5 PM or 10 AM–8 PM
Tractors Freightliner Cascadia & Kenworth T680 day cabs, 2021–2024
Transmission Automatic
Chassis 20-ft & 40-ft container chassis with adjustable configurations
Safety Systems Collision mitigation, lane-departure alerts, forward-facing dash cameras
ELD Samsara or Geotab
Assignment Slip-seat / dispatch-based
Air-ride suspension is standard. Drivers verify container seating, twist locks, air and electrical connections before every departure.
Primary freight consists of containerized retail merchandise, consumer products and manufacturing-related loads moving through the Central Florida intermodal network.
- Lakeland to Winter Haven rail moves via US-98, FL-540 and Polk County connectors.
- Winter Haven to Lakeland warehouse and staging returns.
- Lakeland to Tampa container runs using I-4 and I-75.
- Tampa to Lakeland inbound repositioning work.
- Winter Haven to Orlando distribution moves on the I-4 corridor.
- Orlando to Winter Haven empty or loaded backhauls.
- Lakeland to Plant City short-distance staging movements.
- Receive first container assignment before or upon reporting to the Lakeland yard.
- Proceed to Winter Haven rail ramp, complete gate check-in and locate equipment.
- Inspect chassis and container, connect air/electrical lines and verify locks.
- Exit terminal, deliver to assigned customer or distribution facility and drop the load.
- Pick up empty or another container when directed by dispatch.
- Return equipment to rail or staging location and accept reassignment if HOS allows.
- End shift at approved terminal or staging yard after final move.
About the Carrier
Rail-served distribution across Central Florida depends on short-haul container movements that link CSX facilities with warehouses and transload sites. A mid-sized regional carrier fills this need by focusing exclusively on intermodal drayage rather than long-haul dry van. Its operation centers on the Winter Haven rail network and supporting Tampa-area freight infrastructure, handling loaded and empty containers for retail, consumer and manufacturing customers. The carrier maintains day-cab fleets suited to repeated terminal turns and coordinates closely with rail schedules, chassis pools and customer appointment windows so that equipment keeps circulating efficiently within the local corridor.
Health Coverage Medical, dental and vision options after eligibility
Retirement 401(k) with company match
Paid Time Off Paid vacation and paid holidays
Payroll Weekly with electronic statements
Support Rail orientation, chassis training, company fuel card, terminal PPE
- Valid Class A CDL
- 1 year CDL-A experience preferred; 6–12 months considered
- Minimum age 21
- Clean and acceptable MVR
- Meet DOT physical, drug/alcohol and Clearinghouse requirements
- TWIC recommended for certain terminal access
- Train arrivals and container grounding schedules can shift unexpectedly.
- Chassis availability fluctuates during peak rail volume.
- Gate queues lengthen when multiple trains and appointments overlap.
- I-4 corridor traffic between Lakeland, Tampa and Orlando varies by time of day.
- Seasonal retail surges increase terminal congestion and tighten appointment windows.
1
Application Review
CDL status and work history check
2
Recruiter Screen
Phone conversation within one day
3
Records & Screening
MVR, PSP, background and drug test
4
Orientation & Dispatch
Terminal training then first assignment
Q: Does the driver unload the container contents? ▼
No. Container freight is no-touch. Work is limited to chassis connections, inspections and documentation.
Q: Are routes fixed every day? ▼
No. Dispatch assigns based on container availability, rail schedules and customer appointments. Lanes shift within the Central Florida network.
Q: What happens if a train is delayed? ▼
Dispatch reassigns the driver to another available container or staging move to protect HOS limits.
Q: Can the truck be taken home overnight? ▼
Drivers are home daily, but tractor take-home is not guaranteed. Equipment normally returns to the designated Lakeland base or approved staging location.
Q: Are pets allowed in the cab? ▼
Generally not. Slip-seat day-cab assignments and terminal rules restrict animals.
Q: Is weekend work required? ▼
Weekday volume is most consistent, yet rail and retail demand can require weekend coverage.
Central Florida’s I-4 corridor between Tampa Bay and Orlando sustains steady demand for CDL-A drivers. Local intermodal, LTL, dedicated grocery, retail distribution and industrial accounts compete for experienced talent around Lakeland, Winter Haven and Plant City. Warehouse growth along the corridor keeps short-haul and home-daily openings active year-round. Drivers with clean records can move between drayage, regional and specialized fleets without leaving the region. Seasonal retail peaks and continuous rail volume further support consistent hiring across multiple carrier types.
Lakeland sits at the center of the I-4 logistics spine that links Tampa Bay ports and distribution with Orlando’s retail and consumer markets. The Central Florida Intermodal Logistics Center in Winter Haven functions as a key CSX hub, concentrating container traffic for regional warehouses and transload facilities. Ongoing development of rail-served parks and new distribution centers continues to generate short-haul container volume. Retail merchandise, imported goods and manufacturing freight flow steadily through the corridor, while highway access via I-4, I-75 and secondary routes keeps equipment circulating efficiently between rail ramps and customer yards throughout the week.
