Intermodal Drayage Home Daily
CDL-A Local Intermodal Drayage Driver – Tacoma, WA
Hiring Area: South Puget Sound • Terminal: Tacoma, WA
Tacoma, WA Local Port & Rail 2020–2025 Day Cabs
Move marine and rail containers between the Port of Tacoma, nearby rail facilities, and South Sound warehouses. Typical weekly gross $1,500–$1,800 with home daily returns after every shift.
Typical Weekly Gross
$1,500–$1,800
Typical Annualized: ~$85,800
Sign-On Bonus $1,500
Home Time Home Daily
Driver Type Company Driver
Typical Workweek 45–52 hours
Freight Type Marine & Rail Containers
Short-haul container drayage linking Port of Tacoma terminals, rail ramps, and South Puget Sound distribution centers.
- Complete port and rail terminal ingate/outgate procedures.
- Verify container numbers, seals, chassis condition, and interchange documents.
- Inspect tires, lights, air lines, locks, and other chassis equipment before departure.
- Deliver and recover containers at assigned warehouses and rail facilities.
- Report gate delays, releases, chassis issues, and appointment changes to dispatch.
- Complete electronic BOL, POD, interchange, and delivery records.
Pay combines hourly wages, overtime after 40 hours, and activity pay for completed container moves. A normal week with overtime and routine activity lands near $1,650 gross.
Weekly Gross $1,500–$1,800
Typical Week ~$1,650
Base Rate $29/hour
Overtime $43.50/hour after 40 qualifying hours
Activity Pay Per completed container move
Detention $30/hour after qualifying wait
Sign-On Bonus $1,500 ($500 after 30 / 90 / 180 days)
Pay Frequency Weekly direct deposit
Home Time Home Daily – return after every shift
Operating Area Tacoma–Fife–Puyallup–Sumner–Auburn–Kent corridor; occasional Seattle, DuPont, Frederickson
Terminal Tacoma-area terminal
Typical Workweek 45–52 hours
Start Times Early morning starts (commonly 4:00–7:00 AM range); some afternoon/evening rail activity; occasional Saturday
Tractor Years 2020–2025 day cabs
Makes Freightliner Cascadia and Volvo VHD
Transmission Automatic
Safety & Cab Features ELD, electronic DVIR, forward-facing dash camera, collision mitigation, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise on selected units, air-ride suspension, company communication equipment
Tractor Assignment Assigned when available; temporary changes for maintenance or repairs
Mixed 20-ft / 40-ft and 53-ft-compatible container chassis with sliding axles and standard locking systems. Drivers check locks, tires, lights, air connections, and frame condition before leaving any terminal or yard.
Marine containers, domestic containers, and rail-connected intermodal freight move import distribution, retail, consumer products, industrial materials, and regional warehousing cargo.
- Tacoma, WA → Fife, WA
- Tacoma, WA → Sumner, WA
- Tacoma, WA → Puyallup, WA
- Tacoma, WA → Auburn, WA
- Tacoma, WA → Kent, WA
- Tacoma, WA → Seattle, Frederickson, or DuPont
- Auburn / Sumner returns to Tacoma terminals and rail ramps
- Primary roads: I-5, WA-16, WA-18, WA-167, WA-512, SR-509, SR-99
- Review container assignments through the dispatch system at the start of the shift
- Perform pre-trip inspection of tractor and chassis at the Tacoma terminal
- Process gate check-in, appointment verification, and yard positioning at port or rail facility
- Complete customer delivery, seal check, and any required unloading wait
- Return empty containers to approved depots or pick up secondary moves
- Document delays, defects, and interchange records before ending the shift at terminal parking
About the Carrier
Short-haul container work between the Port of Tacoma, rail terminals, and South Sound warehouses keeps marine and domestic freight moving through the region. Dispatch assigns container pulls, returns, and secondary moves according to terminal releases, customer appointments, and chassis availability. Drivers stay inside the Tacoma–South Sound network and normally return home after each shift. The focus remains practical interchange procedures and flexible reassignment when rail or vessel schedules change.
Medical / Dental / Vision Medical insurance options plus dental and vision coverage
Retirement 401(k) with company match
Orientation & Training Company-paid orientation; chassis, terminal, and interchange training
Additional Support TWIC reimbursement; paid DOT physical renewal; company uniform after introductory period
Programs Safety recognition; referral program; terminal parking; maintenance support network
- Valid Class A CDL
- Approximately 6–12 months CDL-A experience preferred; prior intermodal, port, or rail experience preferred but not required
- Acceptable MVR and safety history; ability to couple/uncouple chassis and perform basic visual inspections
- Meet DOT physical and medical certification requirements; pass required DOT drug and alcohol testing; maintain accurate ELD/HOS records
- TWIC preferred for regular port access; company reimburses qualifying TWIC costs; occasional Saturday availability
- Port gate queues and terminal congestion
- Rail cutoffs and delayed container releases
- Chassis shortages or unavailable equipment
- Customer appointment windows and receiving waits
- I-5 and South Sound traffic during peak periods
- Weather or construction slowdowns on local industrial roads
1
Recruiter Call
Contact within one business day of application
2
Qualification Checks
MVR, employment verification, CDL, Clearinghouse, drug screen
3
Offer & Orientation
Confirm pay, schedule, and equipment; Tacoma terminal orientation
4
First Dispatch
Tractor assignment; initial shifts may include trainer support
Q: How variable are start times? ▼
Most shifts begin early in the morning, commonly in the 4:00–7:00 AM range. Rail or terminal activity can push some work into afternoon or evening hours. Occasional Saturday freight occurs during heavier periods.
Q: Do drivers unload the containers? ▼
No. Drivers handle the container move only. Warehouse or customer personnel perform unloading.
Q: What happens when a planned container is not available? ▼
Dispatch checks for another available move when possible. If no replacement container is ready, the driver remains on duty and documents the delay according to company procedure.
Q: Are overnight stays required? ▼
No planned overnight stays. Drivers normally return to the Tacoma-area terminal or home after each shift.
Q: How are chassis problems handled? ▼
Drivers inspect tires, lights, air lines, locks, and frame condition before leaving a terminal. Defects are reported immediately; equipment in questionable condition is not taken on the road.
Q: Is terminal and chassis training provided? ▼
Yes. Orientation covers chassis inspection, gate procedures, interchange rules, and account-specific processes. New intermodal drivers may work initial shifts with an experienced trainer.
Tacoma maintains a strong CDL-A hiring market because several freight systems operate within a compact geography: the Port of Tacoma, BNSF and Union Pacific rail infrastructure, I-5 regional distribution, and South Sound industrial parks. Local intermodal and port drayage roles compete with dry-van, LTL, food distribution, and construction fleets for the same driver pool. Intermodal positions remain more specialized than ordinary local dry-van work. Employers look for drivers who move efficiently through terminal gates, handle chassis correctly, manage appointment references, and stay productive when rail or port conditions change. Experienced port and rail drivers therefore carry more bargaining power. Home-daily schedules paired with hourly-plus-activity pay structures are common recruiting tools. Seasonal import peaks and steady retail distribution keep demand active most of the year.
The Port of Tacoma functions as a major Pacific Northwest gateway for containerized import and export cargo. Warehouse and industrial districts in Fife, Puyallup, Sumner, Auburn, Kent, Frederickson, and DuPont absorb that freight into the regional distribution network. I-5 serves as the primary north-south corridor, supported by WA-16, WA-167, WA-18, and WA-512. Rail-served intermodal volume from BNSF and Union Pacific adds a second major stream of container movements. Typical commodities include consumer products, retail merchandise, packaged goods, industrial materials, and imported household goods. Retail and import volumes often increase ahead of major shopping seasons, while port and rail congestion can create temporary spikes. Winter weather occasionally slows travel on I-5 and local industrial roads. National intermodal carriers, dedicated port drayage fleets, and smaller owner-operator operations all compete in the same corridor, sustaining ongoing demand for short-haul container capacity.