Intermodal Position Home Daily

CDL-A Intermodal Drayage Driver – Columbus, OH | Home Daily

Hiring Area: Central Ohio • Terminal: Columbus, OH

Columbus, OH Local Intermodal 2020–2025 Day Cabs

Short-haul intermodal container moves between Columbus rail ramps and local distribution centers. Home daily. Typical weekly gross $1,500–$1,700 on 45–50 paid hours plus activity pay.

Typical Weekly Gross
$1,500–$1,700
Estimated Annual: $83,200
Base Rate $29/hour
Overtime $43.50 after 40 hrs
Paid Hours 45–50 / week
Home Time Home Daily
Sign-On Bonus $1,500
Driver Type Company Driver

Position Overview

Local intermodal drayage centered on container moves between Columbus rail ramps and nearby warehouses.

  • Pick up and deliver intermodal containers between Columbus rail ramps and local distribution centers.
  • Complete rail ingate/outgate procedures and verify container, chassis, and seal numbers.
  • Inspect chassis, tires, lights, locking pins, and visible equipment condition before departure.
  • Handle short-haul container moves with multiple turns possible during a shift.
  • Follow customer appointment windows and terminal instructions at rail and warehouse locations.
  • Report ramp congestion, chassis shortages, damaged equipment, and container delays to dispatch.
  • Document completed moves, PODs, and qualifying detention time electronically.

Pay & Compensation Breakdown

Earnings combine hourly pay, overtime after 40 hours, and $10 activity pay per completed move. A normal week of 45–50 paid hours plus 12–20 moves produces the $1,500–$1,700 range. Detention is paid only after documented qualifying wait time and is not part of the typical weekly figure.

Hourly Rate $29/hour
Overtime $43.50 after 40 hours
Activity Pay $10 per completed qualifying move
Typical Paid Hours 45–50 per week
Typical Moves 12–20 per week
Typical Weekly Gross $1,500–$1,700
Detention $29/hour after qualifying wait
Sign-On Bonus $1,500 — $500 after 30 days, $500 after 90 days, $500 after 180 days
Pay Frequency Weekly direct deposit

Schedule, Home Time & Routes

Home Time Home daily
Operating Radius Primarily within 75 miles of Columbus; occasional longer Central Ohio turns
Typical Schedule Monday–Friday, occasional weekend coverage
Shift Length 9–12 hours
Weekly Miles 800–1,300 road miles plus yard repositioning

Equipment & Cabin Specs

Primary Tractors 2021–2025 Freightliner Cascadia day cabs
Additional Units 2020–2024 Volvo VHD day cabs, depending on terminal assignment
Transmission Automated manual or automatic
Safety Systems Collision mitigation, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise on equipped units
In-Cab Technology ELD with electronic DVIR, forward-facing dash camera
Chassis Company-controlled 20-, 40-, and 45-ft intermodal chassis
Assignment Assigned tractor when available; limited slip-seating possible

Air-ride suspension and fifth-wheel systems configured for container chassis work. Maintenance coordinated through the Columbus-area network.

Real Routes

Dry intermodal containers carry imported retail merchandise, consumer packaged goods, packaged food, paper products, industrial components, and automotive-related freight.

  • Rickenbacker, OH → Groveport, OH
  • Rickenbacker, OH → Lockbourne, OH
  • Rickenbacker, OH → Obetz, OH
  • CSX Columbus → Grove City, OH
  • CSX Columbus → Hilliard, OH
  • CSX Columbus → Plain City, OH
  • Rickenbacker → Newark, OH / Delaware, OH / Lancaster, OH
  • Primary corridors: I-270, I-70, I-71, US-33, Alum Creek Drive

Typical Week & Daily Workflow

  • First container assignment is usually received before arrival at the ramp.
  • Pre-trip tractor and chassis, then enter the designated rail gate.
  • Complete ingate, confirm numbers, and inspect equipment for damage.
  • Deliver to customer yard or staging area; typical wait 30–90 minutes.
  • Collect POD or electronic confirmation and receive the next move.
  • Return empty or reposition per dispatch; finish with post-trip at the terminal.

About the Carrier

Steady container volume between rail terminals and regional distribution centers requires consistent short-haul capacity. This mid-sized regional carrier focuses on local intermodal drayage serving the Norfolk Southern Rickenbacker Intermodal Facility and the CSX Columbus operation. Operations stay inside the Central Ohio network, supporting continuous movement of domestic and imported containers into warehouses around Groveport, Lockbourne, Obetz, and the west-side industrial corridor rather than long-haul lanes.

Benefits & Healthcare Coverage

Health Coverage Medical, dental, and vision options
Retirement 401(k) with company contribution after eligibility
Paid Time Off Paid holidays and vacation based on service policy
Training Paid orientation, rail-ramp safety, and chassis inspection training
Equipment Support Company ELD, safety vest, required terminal PPE
Parking Terminal and fleet yard parking for assigned equipment

Driver Qualification Requirements

  • Valid CDL Class A
  • Approximately 6 months recent tractor-trailer experience preferred
  • Intermodal, container, or local drayage experience preferred but not required
  • Acceptable MVR and employment history
  • Pass DOT physical, drug screen, and Clearinghouse query
  • Comfortable working inside active rail yards around moving equipment
  • HazMat and Tanker endorsements not required for standard dry-container work

Operational Delays

  • Gate congestion after multiple train releases
  • Chassis shortages requiring equipment substitution
  • Customer appointment windows and staging waits of 30–90+ minutes
  • Container not yet grounded or released when the driver arrives
  • Peak traffic on I-270, I-70, I-71, and the Rickenbacker corridor
  • Winter weather slowing yard and highway movements

Hiring Process

1
Recruiter Call
Phone screen within one business day
2
Record Review
CDL, MVR, employment history, Clearinghouse
3
Orientation
One-day local terminal orientation and ramp training
4
First Dispatch
Supervised start, then regular intermodal rotation

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does this job involve operating locomotives or rail switching? ▼
No. You drive a highway day-cab tractor pulling intermodal chassis and containers between the rail ramps and customer facilities.
Q: How much of the work is live unload versus drop-and-hook? ▼
Freight is primarily no-touch. Most moves are drop-and-hook or pre-positioned. Live waits typically run 30–90 minutes when required.
Q: Is a TWIC card required? ▼
TWIC is not required for standard Columbus rail-ramp assignments.
Q: What happens if the assigned container is not ready? ▼
Dispatch decides whether you wait, take another available container, or reposition to a different ramp or customer.
Q: How often are weekends required? ▼
Weekend work is not routine. It appears mainly during heavier freight periods or for customers that operate seven days.
Q: Where is the truck parked overnight? ▼
At the carrier’s Columbus terminal or secured fleet yard. Public truck-stop parking is not part of the normal routine.

CDL Job Market

Columbus is one of Ohio’s strongest CDL-A hiring markets. High daily truck volume—more than 15,000 movements originating or terminating in the metro—supports steady demand across local dry-van, dedicated, LTL, food distribution, parcel, and intermodal fleets. Both national carriers and smaller regional operators recruit continuously. Home-daily positions remain plentiful, yet competition for clean records and intermodal experience is higher than in smaller Ohio markets. The combination of warehouse density, manufacturing, and continuous container flow through the southeast corridor keeps year-round opportunities available for Class A drivers.

Location & Freight Market

Central Ohio sits at a natural inland crossroads linking Midwest production with East Coast and national distribution networks. I-70 handles the primary east-west flow; I-71 connects Cincinnati, Louisville, and Cleveland; the I-270 beltway keeps local traffic off downtown streets. The southeast quadrant around Rickenbacker International Airport, Rickenbacker Global Logistics Park, Groveport, Lockbourne, and Obetz concentrates warehouses, air cargo, and Norfolk Southern’s intermodal terminal. On the west side, the CSX Columbus facility near I-270/I-70 supports additional industrial growth. These nodes generate continuous container and distribution freight that sustains short-haul and local intermodal demand throughout the year.

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