Port Drayage Position Local CDL-A

Local CDL-A Port Container Drayage Driver — Mobile, AL

Hiring Area: Mobile / Theodore / Saraland / Prichard • Terminal: Mobile-area

Mobile, AL Port Drayage 2020–2025 Day Cabs

Move import and export containers between the Port of Mobile and nearby warehouses on a home-daily schedule. Typical weekly gross runs $1,450–$1,700, with most work staying within the Mobile–Theodore–Saraland operating area along the I-10/I-65 corridor.

Typical Weekly Gross
$1,450–$1,700
Estimated Annual at Typical $1,600 Weekly: $83,200
Sign-On Bonus None listed
Home Time Home Daily
Driver Type Company Driver
Operating Area Mobile–Theodore–Saraland corridor
Freight Type Ocean Containers

Port Drayage Role Overview

This mid-sized regional carrier needs drivers who can move sealed ocean containers through APM Terminals Mobile and local industrial accounts without touching the cargo itself.

  • Verify container, chassis, seal and dispatch details before leaving the terminal.
  • Follow port gate, truck-control and security procedures at every transaction.
  • Meet customer appointment windows while staying inside HOS limits.
  • Report delays, damage and equipment issues to local dispatch immediately.
  • Complete BOL/POD and electronic paperwork accurately after each move.
  • Coordinate empty-container returns to the correct off-dock depot or terminal location specified by the steamship line and dispatch.

Hourly Pay Plus Container & Detention

Earnings combine base hourly, overtime, per-move pay and qualifying detention. A typical week lands near $1,600. The example below is an illustrative week (not a guaranteed average) that shows how the components add up.

Base Rate $28/hour
Overtime $42/hour after 40
Container Move Pay $25 per completed move
Qualifying Detention $28/hour after the first 2 hours when documented and approved
Illustrative Week Example 40 hrs + 8 OT + 4 moves + 1 detention hour ≈ $1,584
Payroll Weekly direct deposit

Daily Schedule & Operating Window

Home Time Home daily
Operating Corridor Mobile / Theodore / Saraland / Prichard / I-10 & I-65
Terminal Base Mobile-area terminal or approved parking
Typical Hours 46–50 per week
Work Days Monday–Friday, occasional Saturday
First Dispatch Usually 5:00–7:00 AM

Tractors, Chassis & Safety Systems

Tractor Models Freightliner Cascadia day cabs 2021–2025
Additional Tractors Kenworth T680 day cabs 2020–2024
Transmission 10-speed and automated-manual
Chassis 20' and 40' chassis are common; 45' equipment used when assigned to the specific container
Assignment Assigned when practical; limited slip-seating possible

Fleet units carry ELD/GPS tracking, forward-facing dash cameras, collision mitigation on newer tractors, lane-departure warning and adaptive cruise on selected late-model trucks. Working pin-lock systems and inspected air/electrical connections are required before departure. Maintenance is handled at the Mobile-area terminal or contracted shops; roadside issues are coordinated through dispatch.

Container Lanes & Freight Flow

Sealed ocean containers move import and export consumer goods, industrial components, packaged products and machinery-related materials. The work stays predominantly no-touch.

  • Primary lanes run Mobile–Theodore, Saraland and Prichard.
  • Occasional short-regional moves may extend toward Spanish Fort, Gulfport, MS, or Pensacola, FL when dispatch and equipment requirements call for it.
  • Highways used include I-10, I-65, US-43 and I-165.
  • Typical mix is 60–70% terminal/customer moves and 20–30% empty repositioning.
  • Empty containers may be returned to an off-dock depot or terminal location specified by the steamship line and dispatch.
  • South Alabama Logistics Park in Theodore sits about 12 miles from the container terminal.

How a Normal Shift Unfolds

  • First appointment and container details arrive before the shift begins.
  • Morning port transaction is followed by a customer delivery and empty instructions.
  • Most drivers complete roughly 3–5 turns or container moves during a full shift, although port queues, chassis availability and customer appointment windows can reduce that number.
  • Dispatch resequences afternoon work when terminal delays cut into available HOS.
  • Most shifts end with return to the Mobile-area terminal or approved parking.
  • Local dispatch monitors appointments, chassis availability and detention in real time.

About the Carrier

Port container logistics on the Gulf Coast depends on short-haul drayage that links deepwater terminals with nearby warehouses, transload sites and industrial customers. A mid-sized regional carrier fills that role by concentrating on appointment-driven moves through APM Terminals Mobile and the surrounding I-10/I-65 industrial corridor. The operation stays focused on local radius work rather than long-haul lanes, coordinating chassis pools, empty-depot instructions and vessel schedules so containers keep moving between the marine terminal and distribution facilities in Theodore, Saraland and Prichard. Drivers work under local dispatch that understands gate procedures and equipment constraints unique to this port network.

Benefits & Support Package

Health Coverage Medical, dental and vision options may be available, subject to eligibility
Retirement 401(k) with company match may be offered, subject to eligibility
Time Off Paid holidays and paid vacation/PTO after eligibility
Training & Credentials Paid orientation, port/chassis training, TWIC renewal assistance
Operational Support Company ELD, electronic tolls, secure terminal parking, maintenance coordination

Driver Qualification Requirements

  • Valid Class A CDL and valid TWIC card
  • At least 6 months recent tractor-trailer experience preferred
  • Clean, responsible driving history; pass MVR and safety review
  • DOT physical, drug screen and FMCSA Clearinghouse query
  • Ability to operate automatic or manual/automated-manual tractor
  • Ability to safely inspect container chassis and work port/warehouse yards

Common Port & Yard Delays

  • Gate congestion or overlapping appointments at APM Terminals
  • Container or chassis not available when the truck arrives
  • Customer warehouse receiving capacity temporarily full
  • I-10/I-65 construction, bridge approaches or urban traffic
  • Gulf Coast weather shifting vessel schedules or receiving plans
  • Empty-container instructions changing to an off-site depot mid-shift

Hiring Steps

1
Recruiter Call
CDL, experience and TWIC check
2
Safety Screening
MVR, PSP, employment, drug screen
3
Clearinghouse & Offer
FMCSA query then conditional offer
4
Paid Orientation
Port, chassis and ELD training at terminal

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is TWIC required on day one? ▼
Yes. The position is intended for drivers who already hold a valid TWIC for unescorted access to restricted port areas.
Q: Do drivers unload the containers? ▼
No. The freight is no-touch. Responsibility stops at safe movement of the container and chassis plus accurate documentation.
Q: How are empty containers handled? ▼
After delivery the empty may be directed to an off-dock depot or terminal location specified by the steamship line and dispatch, rather than straight back to the main terminal.
Q: Can a driver take the tractor home? ▼
When operationally permitted and subject to company parking and security rules. Loaded containers are not routinely taken home.
Q: How many moves are normal in a shift? ▼
Most drivers complete roughly 3–5 turns or container moves during a full shift, although port queues, chassis availability and customer appointment windows can reduce that number.
Q: Is recent port experience mandatory? ▼
Preferred but not automatic. Six to twelve months of safe tractor-trailer experience can be considered with strong safety history and completion of port/chassis orientation.
Q: How long does hiring usually take? ▼
Most local applicants finish screening in 3–7 business days when documents and previous employment responses arrive promptly.

CDL Job Market in Mobile

Mobile-area CDL-A openings commonly span port drayage, LTL, tanker, food distribution, regional dry van and industrial freight. Local jobs are concentrated around the port, Theodore industrial corridor and I-10/I-65 distribution network, while regional positions extend into Mississippi, northwest Florida and inland Alabama. Port, chassis and TWIC experience give applicants options among intermodal carriers and local operations. Hourly postings in the area currently range from the low $20s for some intermodal work to the upper $20s and mid-$30s for other local CDL roles. Demand is supported by container activity at APM Terminals, industrial freight and warehouse activity along the I-10/I-65 corridor.

Location & Freight Market — Mobile

The Port of Mobile handles containerized ocean freight together with steel, forest products, project cargo and bulk commodities, giving the city a diversified Gulf Coast freight base. Container activity centers on APM Terminals Mobile, while industrial and logistics zones stretch through Theodore, Saraland, Prichard and the I-10/I-65 corridor. South Alabama Logistics Park, a 1,300-acre development roughly 12 miles from the terminal, links port drayage with warehouse distribution. Import and export containers move between the marine terminal, off-dock empty depots, transload facilities and manufacturing customers. Highway access via I-10 and I-65 supports both local and short-regional flows, creating steady demand for truck capacity that connects the port with nearby distribution and industrial accounts.

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