🗺 Location & Routes
- Base city: Joliet, IL
- Route type: Local home-daily intermodal
- Freight: Ocean containers, retail distribution, industrial shipments
- Schedule: early rail picks, evening terminal cycles, multiple short turns per shift
📋 Job Description
- Haul intermodal containers between rail terminals and regional ramps
- Work BNSF Logistics Park Chicago (Elwood) and Union Pacific Joliet rail system
- Move sealed ocean import/export containers across metro lanes
- Drop & hook container chassis operations throughout shift
- Handle multiple short drayage turns tied to rail schedule flow
- Operate within Chicago–Joliet intermodal freight corridor
✅ Requirements
CDL Class A
Valid CDL-A license required
Experience
6–12 months tractor-trailer experience preferred
Age
Minimum 21 years old
MVR
Clean driving record, no major violations
Physical
occasional container checks and chassis handling
Endorsements
None required
🚛 Equipment & Fleet
- Truck assignment: Mixed yard rotation (no fixed unit daily)
- Fleet average age: newer Cascadia units mixed with mid-cycle tractors
- Features: Freightliner Cascadia, Volvo VNL, GPS dispatch tracking, chassis compliance systems
🏠 Home Time
- Back home every day after rail and terminal cycles
- Occasional split shifts depending on rail arrival timing
📍 Real Routes Our Drivers Take
- I-55: Joliet rail terminals → BNSF Logistics Park Elwood → south Chicago industrial ramps
- I-80: Joliet → Chicago metro intermodal ramps → western Indiana rail connectors
- I-80 East corridor: Joliet → Gary, IN logistics zone → regional container return cycles
🎁 Benefits & Bonus Structure
💰 Bonus Structure
Add-ons depend on how rail cycles run that week. Not every load hits every bonus, it comes down to terminal timing and freight flow.
📝 Hiring Process
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How steady is the pay with rail container work here?
It stays tied to how many terminal turns you get in a week. Most weeks land in a similar range unless rail flow slows down.
Am I really home every day or does it run late sometimes?
You’re back daily, but rail timing can push shifts later. Dispatch adjusts start times around container arrival cycles.
How much time do I sit at BNSF or UP yards?
Depends on inbound rail waves. Some days are quick in-and-out, others you wait on container release timing.
Do I keep the same truck or switch units often?
Mostly rotation-based. You’ll see Cascadias and Volvos depending on what’s available in the yard that week.
What kind of freight am I actually hauling every day?
Mostly sealed ocean containers and retail loads moving between rail ramps and local distribution points.
Do detention and wait times really matter for pay?
Yeah, rail delays can add to the week. That time is tracked and paid separately once it kicks in.
📊 Local Market Insights
Freight in the Joliet corridor moves tightly between I-55 and I-80, feeding directly into Chicago rail ramps and nearby industrial zones. Most container flow cycles between BNSF Logistics Park in Elwood and Union Pacific Joliet terminals, creating repeat drayage loops throughout the day. I-80 eastbound lanes toward Indiana handle a steady stream of return chassis movements tied to port containers. Rail timing drives most of the workload, so dispatch rhythm shifts around inbound and outbound train arrivals rather than long-haul mileage.
🔗 CDL-A Intermodal Drayage Driver – Joliet, IL (BNSF / Union Pacific Rail Yards)
In Joliet, IL intermodal drivers stay on short repeat cycles moving containers between rail ramps and nearby industrial zones. Most of the work runs through the I-55 and I-80 corridors, connecting BNSF Elwood and Union Pacific Joliet terminals with Chicago metro distribution points. It’s not long-haul driving — it’s constant terminal rotation. Some days are quick drop & hook runs, other times you’re waiting on rail release timing before the next dispatch. The pay structure reflects that flow, mixing mileage with hourly detention when rail delays stack up. Drivers usually settle into a predictable rhythm after a few days on the lanes, especially once they learn the yard patterns and container flow cycles. Freight stays consistent because it’s tied to import containers moving inland from West Coast ports into Midwest distribution hubs.
🚀 Apply for This CDL-A Position
Complete the form below to apply for CDL-A Intermodal Drayage Driver – Joliet, IL (BNSF / Union Pacific Rail Yards) in Joliet, IL.
