Intermodal Position Regional Drayage

CDL-A Intermodal / Drayage Driver – San Antonio & Laredo Rail Network

Hiring Area: San Antonio, Texas • Terminal: San Antonio area

San Antonio, TX Regional Intermodal 2022–2025 Tractors

Sealed-container moves link San Antonio rail ramps with Laredo border freight under a home-daily model most shifts, $1,300–$1,850 weekly including mileage and accessorials, plus occasional extended turns.

Typical Weekly Gross
$1,300–$1,850
Estimated Annual: $91,000
Sign-On Bonus Up to $3,000
Home Time Home Daily / Occasional Next-Day
Driver Type Company Driver
Weekly Miles 1,900–2,500
Freight Type Sealed Intermodal Containers

Position Overview

Rail releases and container availability set the pace instead of fixed daily routes across this South Texas network.

  • Confirm container, chassis and seal numbers prior to leaving any facility.
  • Complete chassis hookup, fifth-wheel lock and air-line verification.
  • Observe rail-gate instructions and customer appointment requirements.
  • Record detention, gate delays, defects and customer exceptions accurately.
  • Update dispatch on availability shifts or needed route changes.
  • Inspect tractor and chassis before and after every move.

Pay & Compensation Breakdown

Base mileage combines with container activity and detention to form the full weekly total under the account plan.

Typical Weekly Gross $1,300–$1,850 including mileage and qualifying accessorial pay
Estimated Annual Approximately $91,000
Base Rate $0.60–$0.75 CPM
Detention $25–$35/hour after free time
Container Activity Approximately $50 per qualifying move
Sign-On Bonus Up to $3,000
Pay Frequency Weekly payroll cycle

Schedule, Home Time & Routes

Home Time Home daily; occasional next-day return on extended Laredo turns
Operating Area San Antonio metro, Von Ormy, Schertz, New Braunfels, Seguin, selected Laredo turns
Terminal Base San Antonio area
Weekly Miles Approximately 1,900–2,500 paid miles
Dispatch 24/7 rail-driven; start times shift with releases and appointments

Equipment & Cabin Specs

Primary Tractors Freightliner Cascadia 2022–2025; Kenworth T680 2022–2024
Configuration Day-cab and regional sleeper
Transmission Automatic common; manual experience acceptable
Chassis & Containers Terminal/chassis-pool supplied; 20', 40' and 53' combinations
Systems ELD, in-cab communications, forward-facing dash camera, collision mitigation and lane-departure on newer units, air-ride, sliding fifth wheels
Assignment Assigned when practical; slip-seat or temporary changes possible during maintenance

Older units stay in rotation only as backup. Roadside repairs route through dispatch and maintenance rather than the driver alone.

Real Routes

Sealed intermodal boxes move retail merchandise, consumer goods, automotive-related freight, manufactured products and general industrial cargo from rail ramps to customer yards.

  • San Antonio / Von Ormy UP terminal south on I-35 to Laredo
  • Laredo north on I-35 to San Antonio or Schertz
  • Von Ormy to Schertz or New Braunfels via I-35 and Loop 1604
  • San Antonio–Seguin out-and-back on I-10
  • Same-day or extended San Antonio–Laredo–San Antonio turns
  • Local drops at distribution centers, manufacturing and transload sites

Typical Week & Daily Workflow

  • First assignment arrives linked to a rail release and set appointment.
  • Arrive at ramp or staging yard for gate-in and equipment check.
  • Hook a serviceable chassis then mount or pull the released container.
  • Deliver for drop-and-hook or remain for live customer unloading.
  • Return empty or loaded gear and accept the next move while still out.
  • Two to six turns occur depending on short local cycles versus Laredo runs.
  • Stay inside HOS; park only at approved sites if an overnight becomes necessary.

About the Carrier

Container flow between Union Pacific ramps and South Texas warehouses depends on carriers able to match rail release timing rather than fixed schedules. The carrier operates a mid-sized regional fleet focused on intermodal and drayage capacity that links the Von Ormy terminal and Laredo border facilities with distribution centers, manufacturing plants and transload sites. Sealed-container control, chassis-pool management and appointment-driven deliveries form the core of the operation instead of traditional long-haul linehaul. Daily decisions turn on container availability, cut-offs and yard conditions inside a defined I-35 corridor network.

Benefits & Healthcare Coverage

Health Coverage Medical, dental and vision options
Retirement 401(k) with company contribution/match per plan eligibility
Paid Time Off Paid vacation and paid holidays
Incentives Safety up to $250–$600 quarterly; performance $100–$400; referral $500–$1,000
Support Paid orientation, intermodal training, TWIC assistance where required, ELD support, roadside breakdown coordination, preventive maintenance scheduling, terminal parking, electronic toll support

Driver Qualification Requirements

  • Valid unrestricted CDL Class A; minimum age 21; current DOT medical card
  • 6+ months CDL-A experience preferred; intermodal, drayage or rail-yard experience strong advantage
  • Acceptable MVR; no serious recent safety violations; terminal access in good standing
  • Ability to climb in/out of tractor, inspect chassis and containers outdoors, work around rail and industrial yards
  • TWIC preferred for certain facility access; no HazMat required for ordinary general-freight containers

Operational Delays

  • Rail stack, grounding sequence or release timing can leave a container unavailable at the gate
  • Chassis-pool issues with tires, lights, air systems or pin locks
  • Customer yard congestion or appointment delays of one or more hours
  • I-35 and Loop 1604 traffic, construction or weather stretching turn times
  • Heavier import periods produce longer terminal queues and competition for equipment

Hiring Process

1
Application
Submit online with CDL and history
2
Recruiter Screen
Contact within one business day
3
Qualification
MVR, employment and safety review
4
Drug & Clearinghouse
DOT screen and query completed
5
Orientation
Paid intermodal training at terminal
6
First Dispatch
Equipment assignment then first move

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How often do Laredo turns require an overnight? ▼
Most San Antonio moves finish the same day. Extended Laredo import cycles can push return into the next day; these remain operational exceptions, not scheduled multi-day trips.
Q: What happens if the assigned container is not available at the ramp? ▼
Contact dispatch at once. The next assignment may shift to another released container, a staging yard or a revised customer sequence.
Q: Is cargo loading or unloading part of the job? ▼
Drivers handle sealed containers only. Contents stay untouched; any lumper service follows the specific customer procedure.
Q: How are chassis problems handled at the terminal? ▼
Document the defect before leaving the gate and secure serviceable equipment. Accepting questionable chassis is not expected.
Q: Are start times fixed each week? ▼
No. Rail releases and customer appointments produce variable windows that can include early morning, evening or overnight starts.
Q: Can recent CDL graduates apply? ▼
The role targets drivers who can operate independently with chassis and rail-yard judgment. Recent graduates are not the primary focus, though a solid safety record may open the door with extra training.
Q: Does this position require a TWIC card? ▼
TWIC is preferred for certain customer or facility access requirements. Assistance is available where an assigned account makes it necessary.
Q: How far is the typical San Antonio–Laredo turn? ▼
The corridor runs roughly 150 miles one way on I-35. Total paid miles depend on whether the move is a single turn or includes additional local stops.
Q: Is the work mostly day-cab or sleeper? ▼
Both day-cab and regional sleeper configurations are used depending on the assignment. Most normal San Antonio cycles stay within a single shift.

CDL Job Market

San Antonio’s location at the crossing of I-10, I-35 and I-37 sustains a wide CDL-A market that ranges from national fleets and regional carriers to private distribution, LTL, foodservice, construction, tanker and intermodal operators. Overall competition sits at market-average to competitive levels rather than a pure driver shortage. Local and dedicated day-cab openings remain plentiful, while intermodal and drayage roles draw from a narrower pool because of the extra demands of rail gates, chassis inspection and irregular terminal timing. Continued industrial growth on the south and northeast sides keeps warehouse and manufacturing freight moving, and the I-35 corridor toward Laredo maintains steady need for drivers comfortable with border-related container work. Carriers filling intermodal seats usually highlight dependable home time, maintained equipment and pay above ordinary local day-cab rates.

Location & Freight Market

Industrial activity around San Antonio and the city’s place on the main trade route to Laredo generate ongoing demand for container movement between rail ramps and regional distribution or manufacturing sites. The Union Pacific intermodal terminal at Von Ormy runs seven days a week around the clock, releasing sealed boxes that carry retail merchandise, consumer goods, automotive parts and general industrial cargo into South and Northeast San Antonio warehouses. The same corridor returns export equipment and empty chassis toward the border. I-35 forms the primary spine connecting the metro with Laredo’s 24/7 rail facilities and the broader Mexico-bound freight network. Retail peaks and import waves raise volume, while manufacturing and transload work supply steadier year-round flow. Geography, rail infrastructure and the border trade corridor combine to keep intermodal and short-haul container demand consistent across the region.

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