🗺 Location & Routes
- Base city: Eugene, OR
- Route type: Regional intermodal drayage
- Freight: Rail containers (20’, 40’, 53’) drop & hook
- Schedule: Rail appointment cycles, 8–12 hour shifts
📋 Job Description
- Move intermodal containers between Eugene rail yard and regional terminals
- Run Portland metro and Willamette Valley distribution corridors
- Handle drop & hook container rotations with sealed freight
- Work rail appointment dispatch tied to train arrival schedules
- Short regional drayage cycles, no OTR mileage structure
- Yard coordination and chassis pickup/drop flow management
✅ Requirements
CDL Class A
Valid CDL-A license required
Experience
6–12 months experience preferred
Age
Minimum 21 years old
MVR
Clean driving record, no major violations
Physical
Securing containers, occasional yard movement support
Endorsements
None required
🚛 Equipment & Fleet
- Truck assignment: drivers mostly stay in assigned units unless shop rotation
- Fleet average age: newer Cascadia units mixed with long-standing Volvo VNL fleet
- Features: GPS dispatch tracking, yard compliance systems, mixed APU & inverter units
🏠 Home Time
- Most drivers make it back daily depending on rail cycle timing
- Occasional every-other-day resets when Portland runs stack up
📍 Real Routes Our Drivers Take
- I-5: Eugene → Springfield → Portland rail terminals (container transfer loop)
- I-5: Eugene → Salem → North Portland distribution yards
- I-5 / I-84 connection: Eugene → Portland → regional intermodal ramp system
🎁 Benefits & Bonus Structure
💰 Bonus Structure
📝 Hiring Process
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How often am I actually getting home on this rail rotation?
Most drivers are back daily, but when Portland cycles stack up, it can shift to every other day depending on rail timing.
Is this mostly repeat routes or different runs every day?
You’ll see the same Eugene–Portland–Salem corridors a lot, freight just rotates between terminals.
What kind of freight am I pulling?
Mostly sealed intermodal containers moving between rail yard and regional distribution points.
Do drivers stay in the same truck?
Yeah, usually assigned units unless something goes into shop rotation.
How bad do rail yard delays get?
Some days smooth, some days you sit waiting on train unload cycles. Detention covers those gaps.
Is this heavy touch freight?
No real touch freight. Mostly drop & hook container moves in and out of the yard.
📊 Local Market Insights
Freight in Eugene runs tight around the I-5 corridor, feeding directly into Portland rail and distribution loops. Most container flow moves between rail ramps and warehouse clusters in Springfield, Salem, and north Portland. The work stays centered on repeat yard cycles rather than long mileage swings. Delays usually show up during rail unload peaks, especially when multiple trains hit the yard at the same time.
🔗 CDL-A Intermodal Rail Driver – Eugene, OR (Union Pacific Yard)
Eugene intermodal runs stay pretty structured around the rail yard cycles. Most of the week you’re moving containers between the Eugene terminal and Portland-area intermodal ramps along the I-5 corridor, with short hops into Salem and Springfield distribution zones. It’s not long-haul work — freight comes in waves based on train arrivals, so some days feel steady and others tighten up when multiple containers need to clear the yard fast. Drivers usually stay in a repeat rhythm once they’re on the rotation, working drop & hook moves and backing into the same familiar docks. Pay lands in a consistent regional range, and the schedule is shaped more by rail timing than road miles.
🚀 Apply for This CDL-A Position
Complete the form below to apply for CDL-A Intermodal Rail Driver – Eugene, OR (Union Pacific Yard) in Eugene, OR.
