🗺 Location & Routes
- Base city: Portland, OR
- Route type: Local intermodal port & rail shuttle
- Freight: Sealed intermodal shipping containers (no-touch)
- Schedule: Appointment-based port and rail rotations, 8–12 hour shifts
📋 Job Description
- Move sealed containers between Port of Portland terminals and rail ramps
- Drop & hook container chassis — no-touch freight
- Pick up import/export loads from port and inland rail yards
- Deliver containers to Portland metro and Vancouver, WA distribution hubs
- Return empty containers back to port or rail staging yards
- Work structured dispatch schedule tied to port arrival windows
✅ 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, port-access eligible
Physical
Light yard maneuvering and container handling support when needed
Endorsements
TWIC preferred for port access, Hazmat optional
🚛 Equipment & Fleet
- Truck assignment: mixed day cab rotation (assigned or semi-assigned depending on dispatch cycle)
- Fleet average age: newer Cascadia units mixed with long-running Volvo VNL tractors
- Features: Cascadia + Volvo fleet mix, occasional truck swaps during shop rotation, inverter-equipped units, partial APU coverage
🏠 Home Time
- Home daily in most dispatch cycles
- Some weeks shift to every-other-day depending on port volume flow
📍 Real Routes Our Drivers Take
- I-5: Portland, OR → Vancouver, WA → Wilsonville, OR container corridor
- I-84: Portland, OR → Troutdale rail ramp → Hood River industrial stops
- I-5: Portland, OR → Salem, OR → Eugene, OR regional freight cycle
🎁 Benefits & Bonus Structure
💰 Bonus Structure
📝 Hiring Process
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How consistent are the port pickups week to week?
Most weeks stay steady, but volume can shift when vessels hit the port or rail ramps stack up.
Do I stay in the same truck or does it rotate?
You’ll usually keep a unit, but swaps happen when trucks go into shop rotation.
Is this mostly drop & hook or live freight?
It’s mostly drop & hook container moves, minimal live unload situations.
How often am I actually home?
Most drivers get home daily, sometimes every other day depending on port flow.
What slows the week down the most?
Port congestion and rail ramp timing can affect how quickly containers cycle out.
Do I need TWIC right away?
It’s preferred for port access, but onboarding can start while it’s being processed.
📊 Local Market Insights
Intermodal freight around Portland moves in tight loops between the Port of Portland terminals, nearby rail ramps, and industrial warehouses along the I-5 and I-84 corridors. Most of the container flow cycles through Vancouver, WA and the North Portland industrial zones before rolling back into rail staging yards. When vessel arrivals stack up, port pickups compress into short bursts, then settle back into steady shuttle rhythm. The structure stays mostly local, so drivers see repeat lanes more than long-haul variation. Rail coordination plays a bigger role than distance, especially when chassis availability shifts during peak import windows.
🔗 CDL-A Intermodal Container Driver – Portland, OR
Portland intermodal work runs tight between port terminals, rail ramps, and nearby warehouse corridors. Most of the movement sits along I-5 between Oregon and Washington, with short hops into I-84 rail-connected zones toward Troutdale. The week usually feels structured around appointment windows, where containers are staged, picked up, and cycled back into rotation without long over-the-road stretches. Drivers stay mostly local, so the rhythm comes from port timing more than mileage. Some days move fast when vessels unload, other days settle into steady rail yard transfers with repeat cycles.
🚀 Apply for This CDL-A Position
Complete the form below to apply for CDL-A Intermodal Container Driver – Portland, OR.
