Local Intermodal Home Daily
CDL-A Local Intermodal Container Driver
Hiring Area: Santa Teresa · Sunland Park · West El Paso • Base: Santa Teresa, New Mexico
Santa Teresa, NM Rail Drayage Day Cab
Local container hauling between the Santa Teresa rail ramp and nearby commercial customers. Earn $1,300–$1,750 gross per week through hourly pay, overtime and completed-move pay. Daily terminal return, company day cabs and a $750 sign-on bonus.
Weekly Gross Range
$1,300–$1,750
Typical Weekly Gross: $1,550
Sign-On Bonus $750
Home Time Daily
Driver Type Company Driver
Hourly Base $25–$27
Freight Sealed Containers
Move intermodal containers between the Santa Teresa rail facility, staging yards and local customer locations.
- Pick up and deliver containers according to dispatch instructions.
- Inspect the tractor, chassis, tires, lights, brakes and container securement.
- Verify container identification and required release paperwork.
- Complete gate procedures and customer delivery documentation.
- Coordinate available return loads, empty containers and chassis exchanges.
- Report delays, equipment defects and appointment changes promptly.
Weekly earnings combine hourly compensation, overtime after 40 hours and additional pay for completed container moves.
Weekly Gross Range $1,300–$1,750
Typical Weekly Gross $1,550
Estimated Annual at Typical Weekly $80,600
Hourly Base $25–$27 per hour
Overtime $37.50–$40.50 per hour after 40 hours
Container Move Pay $45–$65 per completed qualifying move
Sign-On Bonus $750, subject to hiring bonus terms
Actual weekly gross depends on hours worked, completed qualifying moves and available freight. Annual earnings are an estimate based on typical weekly gross, not a guaranteed salary.
Home Time Daily return to the Santa Teresa-area terminal
Operating Area Santa Teresa, Sunland Park and nearby El Paso locations
Shift Start Early morning dispatch; exact start varies by assignment
Work Pattern Multiple local turns as releases and appointments permit
Overnight Trips Not part of the normal local schedule
Tractors Freightliner Cascadia and Kenworth T680 day cabs
Fleet Age Primarily 2021–2025 models, with selected older units
Transmission Predominantly automatic
Safety Systems ELD, GPS, forward-facing cameras and equipped-unit collision mitigation
Tractor Assignment Assigned unit when available; limited slip-seat operation may apply
Drivers inspect chassis, coupling components, twist locks, air lines, electrical connections and container condition before departure. Unsafe equipment must be reported and exchanged before continuing.
Local runs connect the Santa Teresa intermodal area with industrial customers, distribution properties and container staging locations.
- Santa Teresa rail ramp to Sunland Park industrial customers via NM-136 and local access roads.
- Santa Teresa to west El Paso commercial locations using NM-136 and I-10 where appropriate.
- Local container deliveries between the Santa Teresa Gateway area and nearby distribution properties.
- Return trips carrying export containers or repositioning empties to designated yards.
- Short repositioning runs between approved chassis and container staging areas in the Borderplex.
- Receive the dispatch plan and verify container release information.
- Complete the tractor and chassis inspection before entering the rail queue.
- Pick up a loaded container and deliver it to the assigned customer.
- Confirm the next move, return load or empty-container instruction.
- Handle gate delays and customer appointment changes through dispatch.
- Complete end-of-shift paperwork and report equipment issues.
- Return the tractor to the terminal at the end of the workday.
About the Carrier
This regional trucking operation supports intermodal freight moving between rail facilities and commercial customers in southern New Mexico and the El Paso area. The fleet is sized for local container work, with day-cab tractors, established dispatch procedures and drivers handling equipment checks and delivery documentation. Operations depend on rail releases, chassis availability and customer appointment windows. The company focuses on keeping local moves organized, maintaining serviceable equipment and coordinating the next assignment when freight is available. Drivers work with dispatch to manage delays and return to the terminal after their scheduled local runs.
Sign-On Bonus $750 subject to applicable bonus terms
Health Coverage Medical, dental and vision insurance; employee contribution applies
Retirement 401(k) with company match after eligibility
Orientation Paid orientation and intermodal safety instruction
Driver Support ELD, dispatch communication, terminal parking and roadside assistance
- Valid Class A CDL and current DOT medical certification.
- At least 12 months of verifiable CDL-A tractor-trailer driving experience.
- Acceptable motor vehicle record and safety history.
- Ability to couple a chassis, inspect securement components and work safely in rail yards.
- Ability to follow dispatch instructions, gate procedures and customer requirements.
- Successful completion of required background, drug and alcohol screening.
- Intermodal or container-hauling experience is required.
- Rail release changes and container availability.
- Gate queues and chassis shortages.
- Customer appointment changes and unloading-area congestion.
- Traffic on I-10 and local industrial access roads.
- High winds, dust and summer heat during outdoor inspections.
- Border-related documentation holds affecting individual shipments.
1
Application
Submit CDL details and driving history.
2
Recruiter Screen
Review experience and local schedule.
3
Qualification
Complete required safety and compliance checks.
4
Orientation
Review equipment, rail procedures and dispatch.
Q: Is this a local or regional CDL-A driving job? ▼
This is a local intermodal position serving Santa Teresa, Sunland Park and nearby El Paso customers, with daily return to the terminal.
Q: How is driver pay calculated? ▼
Compensation combines an hourly base of $25–$27, overtime after 40 hours and $45–$65 for each completed qualifying container move. Actual weekly earnings depend on hours and available work.
Q: Is intermodal experience required? ▼
Yes. Applicants must have at least 12 months of verifiable CDL-A tractor-trailer experience, including intermodal or container-hauling experience.
Q: Do drivers unload the containers? ▼
No. The driver's duties involve transporting containers, checking equipment, completing gate procedures and handling delivery documentation.
Q: What happens if a container or chassis is unavailable? ▼
Contact dispatch for an updated assignment, an alternative available container or instructions for repositioning equipment. Release and yard conditions can affect the next move.
Q: What equipment will I drive? ▼
The fleet uses Freightliner Cascadia and Kenworth T680 day cabs, primarily automatic, with electronic logs and available safety systems.
Q: Is a sign-on bonus available? ▼
Yes. The advertised sign-on bonus is $750, subject to the applicable hiring bonus terms.
The Santa Teresa–El Paso area offers a varied CDL-A employment market, with local dry van, intermodal, dedicated, regional truckload and specialized delivery positions. Recent local listings include home-daily driving, rail-related work and regional routes, indicating that drivers can compare several employment models rather than rely on a single freight segment. Pay structures vary: local jobs commonly use hourly wages, some positions add overtime or activity-based compensation, and regional or OTR carriers frequently advertise mileage-based or weekly earnings. Home-daily schedules are available, while regional and long-haul positions offer different mileage and home-time arrangements. Employers commonly require a valid CDL-A, medical certification, acceptable driving history and documented experience. Container work places additional value on chassis handling and rail-yard familiarity. The market is active but varies by account, shift and experience level; advertised openings do not establish a uniform driver shortage.
Santa Teresa sits within the New Mexico–West Texas Borderplex, where cross-border manufacturing, rail intermodal service and regional distribution generate commercial freight. The Union Pacific intermodal facility and the Santa Teresa Port of Entry support container movements connected to manufacturing and trade with northern Mexico. Typical intermodal loads include industrial components, machinery, packaged products and finished goods, generally transported in sealed containers on chassis. NM-136 connects the industrial area with I-10, the principal east-west highway serving El Paso and surrounding markets. Local drayage focuses on rail-to-customer transfers and empty-container repositioning, while longer regional and OTR routes extend freight movement beyond the immediate border area. Operations are affected by rail release timing, gate queues, chassis availability, customer appointment windows and cross-border documentation requirements. Wind, blowing dust and summer heat can also affect outdoor yard work and equipment inspections.