🗺 Location & Routes
- Base city: Columbus, Ohio
- Route type: Local Intermodal / Yard & Short-Haul Drayage Hybrid
- Freight: Domestic rail containers, chassis moves, yard transfers
- Schedule: Rotating yard windows aligned with rail arrivals (day/night split)
📋 Job Description
- Pickup and delivery of intermodal containers between rail yards and nearby DCs
- DOT inspections on chassis, containers, and yard tractors before moves
- ELD logs maintained across gate-in / gate-out yard cycles
- Load securement checks during container and chassis transitions
- Loading and unloading coordination in staging yards and rail terminals
- Compliance handling for rail yard entry, seals, and dispatch instructions
✅ Requirements
CDL Class A
Valid CDL-A license required
Experience
6+ months intermodal preferred
Age
Minimum 21 years old
MVR
Clean record, no major violations
Physical
Chassis coupling checks and light yard movement tasks
Endorsements
None required
🚛 Equipment & Fleet
- Truck assignment: International LT day cabs + yard tractors rotation pool
- Fleet average age: 3–7 years mixed cycle units
- Features: ELD tablets, geofenced yard tracking, chassis ID systems
🏠 Home Time
- Home daily after scheduled yard rotations
- Shift changes may extend during rail surge arrival windows
📍 Real Routes Our Drivers Take
- Rickenbacker Intermodal → Groveport DC corridor (I-270 congestion, gate dwell delays)
- Norfolk Southern Rickenbacker yard → South Columbus warehouse loop (chassis swaps, queue stacking)
- Rickenbacker → Dayton I-70 west drayage lane (scale house delays, staging lot bottlenecks)
🎁 Benefits & Bonus Structure
📝 Hiring Process
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is this strictly yard work or highway driving?
Mostly yard-to-yard and short drayage runs. Highway segments are occasional and limited to short intercity hops.
How predictable are weekly hours?
Hours fluctuate based on rail arrival waves. Some weeks are steady, others compress into high-cycle yard rotations.
Do drivers handle freight loading?
No live loading responsibility. Drivers focus on container movement, inspections, and securement checks.
Is detention common at rail gates?
Yes, especially during inbound train clustering. Detention applies after extended gate holds.
What equipment is assigned?
Mix of day cabs and yard tractors depending on shift rotation and terminal assignment.
Is prior rail experience required?
Not required, but familiarity with intermodal yards improves dispatch assignment priority.
💼 Career Opportunities
Dispatch notes show steady intermodal volume through the Rickenbacker rail complex with consistent container turnover tied to Midwest import cycles. Drivers in this lane typically transition from yard switching into dedicated regional drayage or trainer roles after gaining terminal familiarity. Some move into compliance support or fleet safety coordination as operational knowledge builds. The freight pattern is not linear; workload shifts with rail arrival density and chassis availability across the yard network. Over time, drivers can access higher-frequency lanes tied to larger warehouse contracts or become lead operators during peak inbound rail windows. Internal rotation allows movement between yard tractors and road units depending on performance and availability.
🔗 Rail Yard Switch & Transfer Driver – Columbus, Ohio
Intermodal operations in Columbus continue to move steady rail container volume through Rickenbacker and surrounding logistics corridors. This role sits between yard switching and short drayage support, with dispatch cycles driven by train arrivals and chassis turnover speed. Drivers operate in structured but variable yard conditions, where gate delays and staging congestion influence daily flow. Pay is tied to both hourly operation and movement frequency, with detention applied during rail gate holds. The position remains stable due to consistent Midwest freight distribution and expanding inland port activity supporting regional warehouse networks.
🚀 Apply for This CDL-A Position
Complete the form below to apply for CDL-A Rail Yard Switch & Transfer Driver (Drayage Support Hybrid) in Columbus, Ohio.
