Local Intermodal Container Driver – Port Drayage

Jacksonville port drayage centers on efficient container cycles rather than highway miles, linking marine terminals with rail and local distribution.

• Verifies container numbers, seals and interchange data at every gate.
• Performs visual chassis inspections including tires, brakes, lights and pin locks.
• Reports damage or discrepancies before leaving any terminal or customer yard.
• Coordinates with local dispatch on real-time assignment changes and delays.
• Maintains accurate electronic logs and required port documentation.
• Follows customer appointment windows and terminal operating procedures.

Compensation combines hourly base with activity pay because earnings track terminal efficiency more than miles.

Forward-facing dash cameras and Florida-ready air conditioning are standard. Drivers handle only visual inspections; major repairs go through company service locations.

Containerized import and export freight—consumer goods, retail merchandise, industrial equipment, manufacturing components, agricultural products, building materials and imported machinery—moves on short local cycles. Some refrigerated containers appear when temperature-sensitive cargo arrives.

• Jacksonville Port to local distribution centers for import delivery.
• Blount Island Terminal to North Jacksonville warehouses supporting retail freight.
• Dames Point Terminal to Jacksonville rail facilities for intermodal connections.
• Talleyrand Terminal to Jacksonville industrial areas.
• Port to Baldwin / West Jacksonville logistics area for warehouse support.
• Occasional equipment-balancing transfer Jacksonville to Savannah, GA.
• Primary corridors: I-95, I-295 beltway, I-10, US-17 and Heckscher Drive port access.

• Valid Class A CDL and current DOT medical certification
• 12 months CDL-A experience preferred; container or port experience preferred
• Current TWIC card or ability to obtain before port access
• Acceptable MVR history and ability to pass DOT drug screen
• FMCSA Clearinghouse query clearance
• Ability to perform repeated cab climbs, chassis inspections and outdoor work in Florida conditions

• Vessel arrival surges create longer terminal gate queues.
• Yard congestion and chassis shortages slow container turns.
• Morning and afternoon traffic on I-295 and Heckscher Drive affects timing.
• Customer unloading or paperwork waits can extend delivery windows.
• Normal congestion runs 30–90 minutes; peak periods run longer.

Jacksonville’s CDL-A market stays active year-round because of its Atlantic port, interstate junctions and growing warehouse network. Local and regional positions dominate, especially intermodal, port drayage, dedicated distribution and short-haul dry-van work. Port and rail activity create steady demand for drivers comfortable with terminal procedures and chassis equipment. Retail, manufacturing and construction freight keep additional local and shuttle jobs open. Specialized openings in refrigerated and flatbed appear less frequently but remain part of the mix. Drivers with clean records and port or intermodal experience usually find multiple options within Northeast Florida, while new CDL holders often start in local warehouse or shuttle roles before moving into container work.

Jacksonville functions as a major Southeast logistics gateway because Atlantic vessel traffic meets three interstates and extensive rail connections. Containerized imports of consumer goods, retail merchandise and industrial equipment arrive at Blount Island, Dames Point and Talleyrand terminals, then move quickly into regional distribution centers that supply Florida and neighboring states. Agricultural exports and building materials reverse the flow, creating balanced two-way volume. The I-95, I-10 and I-295 corridors plus Heckscher Drive port access roads keep short-haul moves efficient. Warehouse growth in North and West Jacksonville, along with rail intermodal yards, sustains continuous demand for local container transportation. Seasonal vessel schedules and retail inventory cycles produce measurable peaks, yet the underlying combination of port, rail and distribution infrastructure keeps freight moving steadily throughout the year.