🗺 Location & Routes
- Base city: Joliet, IL
- Route type: Local home-daily intermodal shuttle
- Freight: International shipping containers, sealed rail cargo
- Schedule: Night shift rail cycle operations, evening dispatch
📋 Job Description
- Move containers between Joliet rail yards and Elwood intermodal terminals
- Run scheduled shuttle cycles tied to overnight rail arrivals
- Handle drop & hook container pickups and staging operations
- Work with rail ramp dispatch timing and yard coordination
- Complete short-haul runs into Chicago metro distribution points
- Maintain container flow across I-55 / I-80 intermodal corridor
✅ 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, no major violations
Physical
Securing chassis connections and container handling at rail yards
Endorsements
None required
🚛 Equipment & Fleet
- Truck assignment: terminal-assigned intermodal chassis tractors (varies by dispatch)
- Fleet average age: mixed newer Cascadia and mid-cycle Volvo units
- Features: GPS dispatch tracking, rail compliance systems, drop & hook chassis operation
🏠 Home Time
- Home daily after night rail cycles finish
- Most resets happen back at Joliet base, depending on yard timing
📍 Real Routes Our Drivers Take
- I-55: Joliet Rail Yard → Elwood Intermodal Terminal → Chicago Southwest DC loop
- I-80: Joliet → Chicago Metro Distribution Centers → return rail ramp rotation
- I-55 / local connectors: Joliet → Southwest Chicago industrial zones → yard staging return
🎁 Benefits & Bonus Structure
💰 Bonus Structure
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How strict is the night schedule with rail timing?
It runs around train arrivals. Some nights move fast, others slow down if rail cycles shift.
Do I stay in the same truck or rotate units?
Mostly assigned truck, but you can rotate if a unit goes into service or yard maintenance.
Are the miles consistent week to week?
Fairly steady since it’s shuttle-based, but rail timing can change how many turns you run per shift.
What kind of freight am I moving exactly?
Mostly sealed international containers moving between rail ramps and Chicago-area DCs.
Is there much waiting at the rail yards?
Sometimes. Detention is paid, especially during peak rail unload windows overnight.
How does a typical night actually feel on this run?
Short hops between yards, drop & hook cycles, repeat lanes through I-55 and I-80 corridors.
📊 Local Market Insights
Most container movement here follows the I-55 spine between Joliet rail yards and Elwood intermodal ramps, with steady back-and-forth cycles through the night. The I-80 corridor feeds Chicago metro distribution centers, so you’ll see repeat rotations instead of long unpredictable stretches. Rail timing drives most of the rhythm — when trains stack up, yard flow tightens and drivers cycle shorter runs. Between those windows, freight movement smooths out into consistent shuttle loops across the industrial zones south and southwest of Chicago.
🔗 CDL-A Intermodal Local Night Driver – Joliet, IL (Rail Shuttle Runs)
Joliet intermodal work runs on a tight rail rhythm, not long-haul miles. Drivers spend most of the shift moving containers between rail ramps in Joliet and Elwood, with quick turns into Chicago-area distribution points. The I-55 and I-80 corridors shape the whole flow — short bursts of movement, then yard time depending on train arrivals. It’s steady but not flat, since rail delays and staging windows can compress or stretch the night. Most weeks feel repetitive in a good way: same terminals, same docks, same cycle patterns. Once you settle into dispatch, the runs become predictable enough to plan your night around, even when rail timing shifts things slightly.
🚀 Apply for This CDL-A Position
Complete the form below to apply for CDL-A Intermodal Local Night Driver – Joliet, IL (Rail Shuttle Runs) in Joliet, IL.
