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CDL-A Local Port Marine Freight Driver

Hiring Area: San Diego County • Primary Terminals: Tenth Avenue & National City

San Diego, CA Marine Harbor 2021–2025 Day Cabs

Local harbor work moving refrigerated, breakbulk, bulk and vehicle cargo between Port of San Diego terminals and nearby warehouses. Home every night. $1,500–$1,750 weekly gross on 44-hour average weeks.

Weekly Gross
$1,500–$1,750
Est. Annual: $78,000–$91,000
Base Rate $35/hr
Overtime $52.50/hr after 40
Sign-On $1,500
Home Time Daily
Miles/Week 900–1,400

What the Job Actually Involves

This is short-haul marine freight work tied to vessel schedules at the Port of San Diego. Most days stay inside San Diego County and finish at the company yard.

  • Present TWIC and load paperwork at secure terminal gates.
  • Match tractor, trailer/chassis and seal numbers before accepting cargo.
  • Move between Tenth Avenue, National City and local warehouses or drop yards.
  • Handle mix of preloaded equipment and live terminal/warehouse activity.
  • Complete BOL, POD and interchange documents accurately.
  • Report delays, seal issues or equipment defects to local dispatch immediately.

How Pay Is Calculated

Pay is straight hourly because terminal waits and short moves dominate the day. Base rate $35/hour. Overtime $52.50/hour after 40 hours. Typical week runs about 44 hours.

Base Rate $35.00 / hour
Overtime $52.50 / hour after 40
Typical Math (44 hrs) 40 × $35 = $1,400 + 4 × $52.50 = $210 → $1,610
Advertised Weekly Range $1,500 – $1,750
Detention $35/hour after 2 hours (documented)
Sign-On Bonus $1,500 paid $500 at 30 / 90 / 180 days

Schedule & Home Time

Home Time Home every night
Operating Area San Diego County – Bay waterfront, National City, Otay Mesa, Chula Vista
Start Window 4:30 AM – 7:00 AM (appointment driven)
Weekly Hours Approx. 40–48 (typical 44)
Weekly Miles 900–1,400

Tractors & Trailers You Will Run

Tractors 2021–2025 Freightliner Cascadia & 2021–2024 Kenworth T680 day cabs
Transmission Mostly automated-manual
Safety Systems Collision mitigation, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise on equipped units
Cab Equipment ELD, electronic DVIR, GPS tracking, forward-facing dash camera, air-ride
Trailers / Chassis 40–53 ft dry vans, 40/45 ft container chassis, occasional specialty marine equipment

Assigned tractors when available. Slip-seat possible during maintenance. Local shop and approved vendors handle repairs.

Freight & Actual Lanes

Cargo comes off vessels at the two Port of San Diego terminals and moves to local warehouses, industrial customers and drop yards.

  • Refrigerated and temperature-sensitive cargo through Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal (approx. 300,000 sq ft cold storage).
  • Vehicle imports/exports, lumber and project cargo at National City Marine Terminal.
  • Palletized commercial goods, packaged food, fertilizer, cement and breakbulk.
  • Core lanes: Tenth Avenue ↔ San Diego warehouses; National City ↔ Otay Mesa; San Diego ↔ Chula Vista / Mira Mesa.
  • Additional stops in Poway, Sorrento Valley and Escondido as cargo releases allow.
  • Main roads: I-5, I-805, I-15, I-8, SR-54, Harbor Drive, National City Boulevard.
  • Daily sequence changes with vessel discharge timing and warehouse appointments.

How a Normal Week Runs

  • First load is pre-planned around morning terminal appointments and vessel releases.
  • Most mornings start with a gate entry at Tenth Avenue or National City.
  • After delivery, the next assignment usually comes while you are still at the customer.
  • Typical day: 2–3 significant moves, 4–6 hours of actual driving.
  • Rest of the shift is gate processing, waiting for release, paperwork and inspections.
  • Equipment returns to company yard or designated local parking at end of shift.
  • No 34-hour resets required for this local schedule.

About the Carrier

Harbor freight at the Port of San Diego needs carriers that can handle the mix of refrigerated, breakbulk, bulk and vehicle cargo rather than pure high-volume container drayage. This mid-sized regional operation concentrates on short transfers between the two working marine terminals and the surrounding industrial network in Barrio Logan, National City, Chula Vista and Otay Mesa. Work is driven by vessel schedules and cargo release timing, not fixed highway lanes. Drivers stay local, run day cabs, and deal with real terminal gates and documentation every day.

Benefits & Support

Health Medical, dental, vision (employee contribution)
Retirement 401(k) with company match
TWIC / Port Access Company-paid application / reimbursement + onboarding help
Training Paid orientation (1–2 days) and required safety training
Other Uniforms after probation, high-visibility PPE, referral program

Requirements

  • Valid Class A CDL and current DOT Medical Certificate
  • 6–12 months CDL-A experience preferred (strong recent graduates considered)
  • Clean enough MVR to pass carrier safety review
  • Ability to obtain and maintain TWIC + Port of San Diego terminal access
  • Able to perform pre/post-trip inspections and handle up to 50 lbs

Real Delays You Will See

  • Gate queues when multiple vessels discharge at once
  • Warehouse appointment windows or dock space not ready
  • Morning and afternoon congestion on I-5 / I-805 corridor
  • Cargo release timing changes after you are already at the terminal
  • Occasional chassis or trailer shortages

Hiring Steps

1
Recruiter Call
Usually within 1 business day
2
CDL / MVR / History Check
Employment verification
3
DOT Clearance
Drug screen + Clearinghouse
4
Orientation
1–2 paid days + terminal access

Questions Drivers Actually Ask

Q: How much of the day is real driving versus waiting? ▼
Most shifts have only 4–6 hours of driving. The rest is gates, paperwork, inspections and customer check-in.
Q: Do I need TWIC before I can start? ▼
Yes for secure terminal work. Carrier helps with the application and Port of San Diego access process.
Q: What is the mix of preloaded vs live loads? ▼
Roughly 45–55 % preloaded or drop moves, 30–40 % live terminal or warehouse activity.
Q: Can a recent CDL school graduate get hired? ▼
Limited openings for graduates of accredited programs with clean records. Extra terminal training is provided.
Q: Where does the truck park at night? ▼
Company yard or approved local parking. Customer yards are not used for overnight parking.
Q: How often does paid detention actually happen? ▼
Typical weeks see 0–2 hours of documented detention that qualifies for the extra $35/hour.

San Diego CDL-A Market

San Diego’s Class A market is smaller and more local-oriented than Los Angeles/Long Beach. Port work, food distribution, construction materials, LTL, environmental services and defense-related freight create most of the demand. Hourly local positions for experienced drivers commonly sit in the low-to-mid $30s, with specialized roles higher. Drivers who already hold TWIC or know terminal procedures have a clear edge. The two working marine terminals plus border proximity keep steady need for short-haul operators who can handle documentation and congestion rather than pure over-the-road miles.

Why Freight Moves Through San Diego

The Port of San Diego runs two distinct cargo terminals. Tenth Avenue handles refrigerated, breakbulk and bulk commodities and holds roughly 300,000 square feet of temperature-controlled storage. National City specializes in vehicle imports and exports, lumber and project cargo, with on-dock rail. Cargo leaves these terminals for warehouses and industrial customers in Barrio Logan, National City, Chula Vista and Otay Mesa. Border proximity adds cross-border volume. I-5, I-805, I-15 and I-8 give direct freeway access. Military port status supports ongoing infrastructure. The result is consistent short-haul demand driven by vessel schedules and local distribution rather than long-haul corridors.

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