Local Intermodal Home Daily
CDL-A Local Intermodal Container Driver
Hiring Area: El Paso, TX and Santa Teresa, NM • U.S.-Side Rail and Container Operations
El Paso–Santa Teresa Day Cab Weekly Pay
Local container transportation between rail facilities, staging yards, and customer locations. Earn $24 per hour, with overtime at $36 per hour after 40 hours, a $1,000 sign-on bonus, and daily home time.
Estimated Weekly Gross
$1,200–$1,450
Estimated Annual: $62,400–$75,400
Base Rate $24/hour
Overtime $36/hour after 40 hours
Sign-On Bonus $1,000
Home Time Home Daily
Work Type Intermodal Container Hauling
Operate a day-cab tractor on local intermodal assignments connecting rail ramps, container yards, and commercial delivery points.
- Pick up and deliver loaded or empty shipping containers.
- Complete rail-gate check-in, interchange, and release procedures.
- Inspect chassis, tires, brakes, lights, and locking mechanisms.
- Verify container identification and transport documents.
- Coordinate pickup windows and delivery appointments with dispatch.
- Report equipment problems, holds, and delays promptly.
Hourly compensation covers local driving and qualifying on-duty work. Overtime applies after 40 hours in a workweek.
Regular Rate $24 per hour
Overtime Rate $36 per hour after 40 hours
Estimated Weekly Gross $1,200–$1,450
Estimated Annual Gross $62,400–$75,400
Sign-On Bonus $1,000, paid in scheduled installments
Pay Frequency Weekly
Earnings depend on hours worked, available assignments, and qualifying overtime. Annual estimates exclude the sign-on bonus.
Home Time Daily
Work Area El Paso–Santa Teresa corridor
Workweek Full-time, with overtime opportunities
Start Times Based on dispatch and rail availability
Overnight Trips Not part of the standard local assignment
Daily hours may change with rail releases, gate queues, equipment availability, and customer appointments.
Tractor Models Freightliner Cascadia and Kenworth T680 day cabs
Fleet Age Generally 3–7 years
Transmission Automatic
Technology ELD, GPS, electronic logging, and safety systems on equipped units
Equipment Assignment Assigned when practical; otherwise controlled rotation
Drivers must inspect tractor and chassis condition, verify secure container connections, and report defects before operating unsafe equipment.
Assignments focus on U.S.-side container transfers serving the Santa Teresa rail and industrial area and the El Paso distribution market.
- Santa Teresa rail facilities to industrial and transload sites in west El Paso via NM-136 and I-10.
- Santa Teresa logistics area to customer locations around Sunland Park and west El Paso.
- Santa Teresa to industrial and distribution locations in the Socorro area using I-10 and local access roads.
- El Paso staging or transload locations back to Santa Teresa rail facilities for container returns.
Routes depend on released containers, customer appointments, chassis availability, and dispatch instructions. International border crossings are not part of standard assignments.
- Complete the pre-trip inspection and review the day's assignments.
- Confirm container release, pickup details, and chassis availability.
- Check in at the rail facility and verify container identification.
- Transport the container to the designated customer or staging location.
- Complete the interchange paperwork and report the next available move.
- Return to the assigned yard and complete the end-of-shift inspection.
About the Operation
This regional trucking operation supports intermodal freight moving between rail facilities, container yards, transload locations, and commercial customers. The local fleet uses day-cab tractors for repeated short-haul assignments rather than long-distance highway runs. Dispatch coordinates container availability, equipment positioning, and delivery windows throughout the workday. Drivers are expected to handle equipment carefully, maintain accurate interchange records, and communicate delays promptly. The operation combines established customer freight with changing rail schedules, requiring dependable attendance, safe chassis handling, and consistent communication between drivers, dispatch, and terminal personnel.
Health Coverage Medical, dental, and vision options for eligible employees
Retirement 401(k) plan with company matching under plan terms
Orientation Paid onboarding and job-specific training
Driver Support Dispatch coordination and equipment issue reporting
Sign-On Bonus $1,000 under the scheduled payment terms
- Valid Class A CDL and eligibility to operate in interstate commerce.
- At least 1 year of verifiable tractor-trailer driving experience.
- Acceptable MVR and driving history.
- Current DOT medical qualification and successful drug screening.
- Minimum age of 21 and compliance with applicable FMCSA requirements.
- Ability to inspect chassis, connect equipment, climb access steps, and work outdoors.
- Rail containers awaiting release or inspection.
- Gate queues and unavailable chassis.
- Customer receiving windows and loading-area congestion.
- Incomplete interchange documentation or equipment defects.
- Traffic and roadwork affecting I-10 and local industrial access roads.
1
Apply
Submit the online application
2
Screen
Review experience and availability
3
Verify
Complete required safety checks
4
Onboard
Complete orientation and equipment training
Q: How is this intermodal position paid? ▼
The regular rate is $24 per hour, with overtime at $36 per hour after 40 hours in a workweek. Payroll is weekly.
Q: Will I be home every day? ▼
Yes. The standard assignment is local, with the driver returning home after the shift.
Q: Is previous intermodal experience required? ▼
At least one year of verifiable tractor-trailer experience is required. Drivers must be able to learn and follow the applicable rail-gate, container, and chassis procedures.
Q: Will I need to cross the border into Mexico? ▼
No. Standard assignments operate on the U.S. side of the El Paso–Santa Teresa corridor.
Q: Do drivers unload containers? ▼
No. The driver's responsibility is to transport the container and handle the required tractor, chassis, inspection, and interchange procedures.
Q: What trucks are used for this position? ▼
The operation uses Freightliner Cascadia and Kenworth T680 day-cab tractors, generally three to seven years old.
Q: Is overtime available? ▼
Overtime is paid at $36 per hour after 40 hours in a workweek. Actual hours depend on assignments, rail availability, and operating requirements.
Q: What can delay a local shift? ▼
Rail release holds, gate congestion, chassis shortages, customer appointments, and incomplete documentation can affect the number and timing of completed moves.
The El Paso CDL-A job market includes local delivery, intermodal container hauling, LTL freight, dedicated routes, regional dry van, and OTR trucking. Local intermodal positions appeal to drivers who want daily home time without committing to long-distance schedules. Recent listings show a mix of hourly local work, mileage-based regional assignments, and owner-operator container hauling, so compensation depends heavily on employment type and operating costs. Company drivers generally compare hourly rates and overtime for local work, while regional and OTR positions commonly use cents-per-mile or weekly earnings structures. Employers typically require a valid Class A CDL, verifiable driving experience, a satisfactory safety record, and compliance with DOT screening requirements. Rail familiarity can be useful when handling containers and chassis.
The El Paso–Santa Teresa region connects Southwest distribution networks with manufacturing and cross-border supply chains serving the wider Borderplex. Rail intermodal facilities near Santa Teresa support container transfers, while industrial and warehouse operations around El Paso generate demand for short-haul tractor-trailer movements. Freight includes automotive components, electronics, machinery, packaged consumer goods, and other containerized products. Day-cab tractors and container chassis are suited to repeated transfers between rail ramps, staging yards, transload facilities, and receiving locations. Interstate 10 provides the principal highway connection through El Paso, while New Mexico State Road 136 serves the Santa Teresa logistics area. Local operating conditions include rail release timing, gate queues, chassis availability, and appointment windows. These factors can change trip sequences and time spent at facilities.