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CDL-A Intermodal Yard Driver – Container Transfer Operations

Hiring Area: Savannah, GA • Terminal: Savannah-area

Savannah, GA Local Port & Rail Day Cabs 2020–2025

Local intermodal container transfers around Garden City Terminal and Savannah rail facilities pay $1,450–$1,800 weekly with daily home time.

Typical Weekly Gross
$1,450–$1,800
Estimated Annual: $83,200
Sign-On Bonus $1,500
Home Time Home Daily
Driver Type Local Intermodal
Weekly Hours 40–48
Freight Type Ocean Containers

Intermodal Container Transfer Role

This local position centers on short container turns that connect the Port of Savannah’s Garden City Terminal with nearby rail ramps, customer yards and storage locations. Drivers manage chassis and equipment rather than long highway runs.

  • Local intermodal work centered on Garden City Terminal and Savannah-area rail facilities
  • Short-haul container moves generally remain within the Savannah / Pooler / Port Wentworth operating area
  • Drivers handle chassis connections, container inspections, gate procedures and equipment exchanges rather than loading or unloading freight
  • Daily work mixes port turns, rail transfers, customer-yard deliveries and empty-container repositioning
  • Most schedules provide daily home time, with start times driven by terminal appointments, vessel activity and rail cutoffs
  • Compensation is built around a $31 hourly base, overtime after 40 hours and qualifying transfer pay
  • Best suited to drivers comfortable working around terminals, chassis equipment, changing appointment windows and outdoor conditions

Hourly Rate Plus Qualifying Transfer Pay

Pay is structured as an hourly base with overtime after 40 hours, plus activity pay only for moves that meet the account’s qualifying criteria. Weekly totals therefore vary with hours worked and the number of eligible transfers completed.

Base Rate $31/hour
Overtime $46.50/hour after 40
Qualifying Transfer Pay $75 per eligible move
Typical Weekly Gross $1,600
Normal Range $1,450–$1,800
Sign-On Bonus $1,500 ($500 after 30/90/180 days)

Local Daily Schedule

Home Time Home Daily
Work Days Monday–Friday with occasional Saturday coverage
Start Window Early morning through mid-morning depending on terminal appointments, vessel activity and account needs
Typical Hours 40–48 per week
Operating Area Savannah / Garden City and nearby freight locations

Day-Cab Tractors & Chassis Equipment

Tractors Freightliner Cascadia and Kenworth T680 day cabs, primarily 2020–2025 model years
Transmission Automated manual
Safety Features Collision mitigation, lane-departure warning and forward-facing dash cameras on equipped units
Chassis 20-ft and 40-ft equipment with tri-axle, tandem and slider configurations as needed
Assignment Assigned or controlled slip-seat depending on shift coverage

Company-controlled chassis pool supplies normal operations; availability can vary by terminal and account. Local maintenance and roadside assistance support the fleet.

Local Container Lanes

Sealed ocean containers move between the port, rail facilities and nearby yards. Drivers do not unload the freight inside the containers.

  • Garden City Terminal to Pooler, Port Wentworth, Rincon and Bloomingdale yards
  • Savannah and Garden City exchanges with local customer and storage locations
  • Occasional outlying turns toward Statesboro or Brunswick when specifically assigned
  • Primary corridors I-16, I-95, I-516 and local port connectors
  • Import retail merchandise, consumer goods, industrial components and packaging materials
  • Automotive-related and general containerized manufacturing freight
  • Majority of moves are equipment exchanges; some customer locations require live appointments

Typical Day and Week Flow

  • Check in with local dispatch and review the first container assignment.
  • Arrive at the designated port or rail gate with required identification and appointment information.
  • Locate the assigned container, connect the chassis and verify twist locks and connections.
  • Exit the terminal and deliver or return the equipment to the customer or storage yard.
  • Receive the next assignment while still completing the current move when equipment becomes available.
  • Complete two to four container turns on most active days, depending on gate times and equipment status.
  • Return the tractor to the company terminal or an approved yard at the end of the shift.

About the Carrier

Local intermodal capacity keeps containers circulating between the port, rail ramps and nearby distribution points. The operation focuses on short turns, chassis control and appointment-driven gate work rather than long-haul mileage. Dispatch coordinates directly with terminal, customer and maintenance personnel so drivers receive clear equipment assignments and can report defects or delays in real time. Company-controlled chassis and day-cab tractors support the daily cycle of port pickups, rail transfers and empty returns that define this Savannah market role.

Benefits Package

Health Coverage Medical, dental and vision with employee contribution
Retirement 401(k) with company match after eligibility period
Time Off Paid time off according to tenure plus holiday pay
Orientation Paid orientation and chassis/terminal training
Additional TWIC reimbursement after qualifying period, weekly direct deposit

Driver Requirements

  • Valid Class A CDL and current DOT medical qualification
  • 6 months of recent tractor-trailer experience preferred; applicants with comparable commercial driving experience may be considered
  • Acceptable MVR, safety history and Clearinghouse query
  • Ability to pass company DOT drug and alcohol screening
  • TWIC preferred and may be required for specific port-access assignments
  • Ability to perform pre- and post-trip inspections and safely connect chassis outdoors in varying weather

Typical Operational Delays

  • Gate congestion around vessel activity and rail cutoffs
  • Container release delays when equipment has not yet been made available
  • Chassis inspection failures that require exchange before the move can continue
  • Customer yard capacity limits or last-minute appointment changes
  • Traffic on I-16, I-95 and port access roads during peak periods
  • Weather impacts from heavy rain, heat or tropical systems

Hiring Process

1
Application
Submit CDL-A application with employment history
2
Phone Screen
Initial recruiter contact after application review
3
Verification
MVR, employment, drug screen and Clearinghouse
4
Orientation
Paid terminal orientation and equipment familiarization

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is prior port or intermodal experience required? ▼
Preferred but not mandatory. Drivers with solid tractor-trailer experience and a clean safety record can receive company training on chassis connections and terminal procedures.
Q: How does qualifying transfer pay work? ▼
$75 is paid for each move that meets the account’s qualifying criteria. The number of eligible transfers varies from week to week based on completed work and equipment availability.
Q: What happens if a chassis fails inspection? ▼
Report it to dispatch. The unit is exchanged or repaired before the container is moved; drivers do not operate defective equipment.
Q: Are most moves drop-and-hook or live? ▼
A majority of moves are equipment exchanges or drop-and-hook transactions. Some customer locations still require live appointments.
Q: Does the job involve unloading freight? ▼
No. Freight is no-touch. Drivers move sealed containers and handle only equipment connections, inspections and documentation.
Q: How long does the hiring process usually take? ▼
Most candidates complete screening, verification and orientation in approximately 5–10 business days depending on background checks and TWIC status.
Q: Is a HazMat endorsement required? ▼
Not required for standard container operations. Specific accounts may request it later if needed.

CDL Job Market in Savannah

Savannah’s CDL-A market is shaped by the overlap of port drayage, rail intermodal, warehouse distribution and regional dry-van work inside a relatively compact area. Garden City Terminal’s highway access and on-terminal rail service create ongoing demand for drivers who can handle gate procedures and chassis equipment. National fleets and smaller local carriers both compete for experienced intermodal talent, while warehouse and dedicated retail accounts add further openings. Drivers who already understand terminal operations and equipment interchanges hold an advantage, yet solid tractor-trailer experience still opens training pathways. Port volume and distribution activity keep hiring active through most of the year.

Savannah Freight Landscape

The Port of Savannah is one of the busiest container gateways on the East Coast. Garden City Terminal covers more than 1,300 acres and combines marine operations with on-terminal intermodal rail, producing a steady flow of import retail goods, consumer products, industrial components and automotive-related cargo. Direct links to I-16 and I-95 move containers quickly to distribution centers in Pooler, Port Wentworth, Bloomingdale and surrounding communities. The Mason Mega Rail facility and nearby industrial developments further concentrate traffic. Vessel schedules and rail cutoffs determine daily equipment availability, creating continuous short-haul demand that keeps local transfer capacity in use throughout the year.

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