Intermodal Position Local CDL-A

Intermodal CDL-A Driver – CSX Rail Terminal

Hiring Area: Greater Cincinnati • Terminal: CSX Queensgate

Cincinnati, OH Local Rail Drayage 2021–2025 Day Cabs

Short-haul container work from CSX Queensgate keeps drivers in the Cincinnati–Northern Kentucky market and home every day, with typical weekly gross of $1,650–$1,850 and estimated annual around $91,000.

Typical Weekly Gross
$1,650–$1,850
Typical Week ~$1,750 · Estimated Annual ~$91,000
Base Rate $29.50/hr
Overtime $44.25 after 40
Activity Pay $25 per container
Home Time Home Daily
Schedule Mon–Fri, 45–48 hrs
Sign-On $1,500 staged

Position Overview

Daily container turns between the CSX Queensgate ramp and local warehouses or plants define the work.

  • Picks up loaded containers from CSX Queensgate and delivers them to local warehouses and industrial customers.
  • Checks container numbers, seals, chassis condition and dispatch instructions before leaving the ramp.
  • Handles 40-ft and 53-ft chassis and performs safe backing into customer yards and docks.
  • Completes 2–3 container moves on productive days, depending on rail releases and appointment times.
  • Returns empties or picks up the next assigned container based on dispatch instructions.
  • Records gate, arrival, departure and detention times through the ELD or dispatch system.

Pay & Compensation Breakdown

Compensation combines an hourly base that covers on-duty time with separate activity pay for every completed container move.

Base Hourly Rate $29.50/hour
Overtime Rate $44.25/hour after 40 hours
Container-Move Pay $25 per completed move
Typical Hours 45–48 per week
Typical Moves 10–15 per week
Typical Weekly Gross $1,650–$1,850
Typical Week ~$1,750
Estimated Annual ~$91,000
Sign-On Bonus $1,500 staged ($500 / 30 / 90 / 180 days)
Pay Frequency Weekly direct deposit

Schedule, Home Time & Operating Area

Home Time Home daily
Operating Area Greater Cincinnati + Northern Kentucky
Primary Terminal CSX Queensgate, Cincinnati
Typical Schedule Monday–Friday, 45–48 hours
Start Windows Approximately 5:00 AM–9:00 AM
Weekend Work Occasional during higher-volume periods

Equipment & Cabin Specs

Tractor Models Freightliner Cascadia / Kenworth T680
Model Years 2021–2025 day cabs, depending on availability
Transmission Automatic
Safety Systems Collision mitigation, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise
Chassis 40-ft and 53-ft adjustable slider chassis
In-Cab Technology ELD, electronic DVIR, forward-facing dash camera

Assigned power is provided when available; limited slip-seating can occur during vacations or maintenance. Maintenance support runs through the Cincinnati-area shop with 24/7 roadside assistance.

Real Routes

Sealed intermodal containers move consumer products, packaged goods, paper, packaging and industrial freight between the rail ramp and regional warehouses or manufacturing sites.

  • Queensgate to Hebron, Florence, Walton or Erlanger, KY
  • Queensgate to West Chester, Monroe or Fairfield, OH
  • Occasional longer turns toward Dayton, OH or Indianapolis, IN
  • Primary roads include I-75, I-71, I-74, I-275, I-471 and US-42
  • Outbound freight serves warehouse and manufacturing districts in northern Kentucky and greater Cincinnati
  • Empty returns and chassis repositioning fill the balance of most shifts

Typical Week & Daily Workflow

  • First assignment is normally issued before or near the start of the shift
  • Driver proceeds to the Queensgate gate, verifies information and inspects the chassis
  • Loaded container is delivered to the assigned warehouse or customer yard
  • Dispatch then issues empty-return or next-container instructions
  • Most productive days produce 2–3 completed container movements
  • Same-day changes remain common when rail releases or appointments shift

About the Carrier

This Cincinnati operation is built around short-haul intermodal drayage from CSX Queensgate. The carrier uses company equipment and dispatch support to move containers between the rail ramp, distribution centers and manufacturing customers across the Cincinnati–Northern Kentucky market. Drivers work primarily within a defined local area and return to the terminal and home daily. Dispatch coordinates rail releases, customer appointments, empty returns and chassis issues so drivers can keep the day moving when terminal conditions change.

Benefits & Healthcare Coverage

Health Coverage Medical, dental and vision options
Retirement 401(k) with company contribution
Paid Time Off Paid vacation after eligibility requirements
Holidays Paid holidays according to company policy
Additional Paid orientation, driver referral program, uniforms

Driver Qualification Requirements

  • Valid Class A CDL and current DOT medical qualification
  • 6 months of CDL-A tractor-trailer experience preferred
  • Safe driving history and ability to pass company MVR review
  • Ability to pass DOT drug screen and FMCSA Clearinghouse requirements
  • Ability to operate a tractor with container chassis and back in confined yards

Operational Delays

  • Rail containers may not be released on the original planned schedule
  • Gate and yard congestion increases during high-volume periods
  • Chassis defects require inspection or exchange before departure
  • I-71/I-75 and I-275 corridors regularly produce traffic delays
  • Customer appointment windows can shift during the shift

Hiring Process

1
Recruiter Call
Usually within one business day
2
Document Review
CDL, MVR and employment history
3
Screening
DOT drug test and Clearinghouse query
4
Orientation
Paid rail-ramp and chassis training

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is this position paid by the mile or by the hour? ▼
The position is hourly-based at $29.50 per hour, with overtime at $44.25 after 40 hours and an additional $25 for each completed container move.
Q: How many container moves occur on a typical day? ▼
Productive days usually produce 2–3 completed container movements depending on distance, rail availability and customer dwell time.
Q: Are HazMat or Tanker endorsements required? ▼
HazMat and Tanker endorsements are not required for the standard assignment. Any site-specific access credential requirements are confirmed during hiring.
Q: What happens if a chassis has a safety defect? ▼
Drivers report the issue before leaving the ramp. Maintenance decides whether to repair on site or exchange the chassis.
Q: Is weekend work expected? ▼
The core schedule is Monday–Friday. Occasional weekend freight appears only during elevated rail or customer demand.
Q: How is detention handled? ▼
Arrival and departure times are documented. Because the base hourly rate already covers on-duty time, detention is not paid as a separate double rate.

CDL Job Market

Cincinnati’s CDL-A market is heavily tied to intermodal, warehousing, manufacturing and regional distribution. CSX Queensgate gives local drayage carriers a major rail-origin freight base, while warehouses and manufacturing sites across Northern Kentucky, West Chester, Monroe and the I-75 corridor create short-haul container demand. Local drivers can also find work in food distribution, dedicated warehouse operations, construction materials and regional dry van. For drivers who prefer home daily, intermodal and dedicated local work are among the more relevant segments around the Cincinnati metro.

Location & Freight Market

Cincinnati sits at the junction of I-71, I-74 and I-75, giving the metro direct access to three major north–south and east–west corridors. This geography has long supported rail classification yards, intermodal ramps and a dense network of distribution centers serving consumer goods, paper, packaging and industrial products. CSX Queensgate functions as a primary intermodal node, while nearby manufacturing and warehouse clusters in northern Kentucky and the West Chester–Monroe corridor generate continuous outbound and inbound container demand. For this type of work the practical freight pattern is short-haul container movement from Queensgate into Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and nearby Ohio distribution corridors, with most drivers returning to the terminal and home the same day.

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