Port Drayage Position Local Intermodal

CDL-A Local Port Drayage Driver – Garden City Terminal

Hiring Area: Savannah, GA metro • Primary Terminal: Garden City Terminal

Savannah, GA Local Port Drayage 2020–2024 Day Cabs

Local container drayage centered on Garden City Terminal and nearby distribution sites. Drivers return home daily, work roughly 48–50 hours, and earn $1,450–$1,650 most weeks with annual gross near $80,600 when detention and activity pay are included.

Typical Weekly Gross
$1,450–$1,650
Estimated Annual: $75,400–$85,800
Sign-On Bonus $1,500
Home Time Home Daily
Driver Type Local Port Drayage
Typical Hours 48–50 / week
Freight Type Port Containers

Position Overview

Local port drayage supporting Garden City Terminal, nearby rail facilities and customer distribution yards throughout the Savannah freight market. Work consists of import pickups, export returns, empty-container moves and chassis exchanges rather than long-haul or sleeper runs.

  • Pulls import containers for delivery to local distribution and manufacturing sites.
  • Stages export containers and returns empties according to booking and depot instructions.
  • Inspects chassis, tires, lights, brakes and locking pins before every move.
  • Completes terminal gate transactions using required credentials, PINs and digital procedures.
  • Records qualifying customer detention and obtains signed delivery paperwork when needed.
  • Reports container, chassis or gate problems immediately to local dispatch.

Pay & Compensation Breakdown

Pay is hourly because short-haul port cycling and variable gate times make pure mileage pay impractical. Base rate is $28 per hour with overtime at 1.5× after 40 hours. Detention and normal operational activity pay typically add $50–$100 in a regular week and help reach the upper end of the range.

Typical Weekly Gross $1,450–$1,650
Estimated Annual $75,400–$85,800
Base Hourly $28 / hour
Overtime 1.5× after 40 hours
Detention $28 / hour after qualifying wait
Sign-On Bonus $1,500 paid $500 at 30 / 90 / 180 days
Pay Frequency Weekly direct deposit

Schedule, Home Time & Operating Area

Home Time Home daily
Typical Hours 48–50 per week
Start Window Usually 4:00–7:00 AM
Primary Area Savannah – Garden City – Port Wentworth – Pooler
Occasional Extensions Rincon, Bloomingdale, Statesboro, Charleston SC, Jacksonville FL
Weekend Work Limited and less consistent than weekday activity

Equipment & Cabin Specs

Tractors Freightliner Cascadia 2021–2024 and Kenworth T680 2020–2023 day cabs
Transmission 10-speed automated manual
Safety Equipment Forward-facing cameras, collision mitigation, lane-departure warning on most units
Chassis Company-provided standard and tri-axle units, generally 3–8 years old
Assignment Regular tractor when possible; slip-seating only during maintenance or fleet balancing

Air-ride suspension and ELD are standard. Yard and roadside maintenance is handled through company shops and outside vendors. The fleet is selected for reliability in repeated low-speed port and short-haul cycling.

Freight & Real Routes

Freight is primarily containerized retail merchandise, consumer products, furniture, appliances, industrial components, machinery and manufacturing inputs moving through Savannah’s ocean and rail network.

  • Most moves stay inside Savannah, Pooler, Port Wentworth, Rincon and Bloomingdale.
  • Occasional work reaches Statesboro or extends to Charleston, SC and Jacksonville, FL.
  • I-16 is the main westbound corridor; I-95 handles the principal north-south traffic.
  • U.S. 21 and Jimmy DeLoach Parkway support industrial and river-corridor deliveries.
  • The Brampton Road Connector links Garden City Terminal Gate 3 directly to I-16.
  • Next assignments follow container and chassis availability rather than fixed backhaul patterns.

Typical Week & Daily Workflow

  • First assignment is usually ready before or shortly after reporting at the terminal or approved parking location.
  • Pre-trip inspection covers both tractor and chassis; driver then proceeds to the assigned Garden City gate.
  • After obtaining the container, the next stop is typically a local customer yard or distribution center.
  • Once unloaded, dispatch may assign an empty return, another import, an export or a chassis reposition.
  • Two or three completed customer or container moves are common on a normal shift; more turns occur when gate conditions and appointments align.
  • Equipment returns to the company terminal or designated yard at the end of the shift while staying inside HOS limits.

About the Carrier

Short-haul container moves between Garden City Terminal, nearby chassis yards and local distribution or manufacturing sites form the core of Savannah port logistics. This opening reflects a mid-sized regional carrier focused on local drayage rather than long-haul or sleeper operations. The work stays tied to daily truck-gate volume at Georgia Ports Authority facilities and the industrial corridors along I-16 and I-95. Drivers operate inside a chain controlled by ocean carriers, the terminal, chassis providers, rail partners and receivers, so productivity depends on adjusting quickly to gate status, container availability and appointment changes.

Benefits & Healthcare Coverage

Health Coverage Medical, dental and vision with employee contribution
Retirement 401(k) with company match
Time Off Paid time off according to tenure; holiday pay per company schedule
Orientation & Training Paid orientation plus chassis inspection and port-procedure training
Additional Support TWIC renewal reimbursement after qualifying service; work-shirt allowance; terminal PPE

Driver Qualification Requirements

  • Valid Class A CDL
  • Minimum 6 months verifiable tractor-trailer experience preferred
  • Current TWIC card required for regular Garden City Terminal access
  • Previous port, container or intermodal experience strongly preferred
  • Acceptable MVR and safety history; must pass DOT physical, drug screen and Clearinghouse query
  • Ability to inspect chassis, locking pins and seals and to enter/exit the cab repeatedly

Operational Delays

  • Single-container transactions can average around 30–35 minutes; dual moves generally take longer.
  • Gate congestion, container availability or chassis problems can extend individual turns well beyond those averages.
  • Customer appointment windows and live-unload waits create variable detention time.
  • Traffic on I-16, I-95 and industrial roads around Port Wentworth affects daily timing.
  • Seasonal import peaks and manufacturing schedule changes can shift priorities with little notice.

Hiring Process

1
Application & Screen
Recruiter call usually within one business day
2
Background Verification
MVR, employment history, Clearinghouse query
3
Drug Screen & Credentials
DOT drug screen and TWIC status review
4
Orientation & First Dispatch
Paid local orientation then assignment

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many container moves can a driver expect on a normal shift? ▼
Two or three completed customer or container moves are common. Some days produce more when gate conditions and appointment schedules cooperate; congestion can reduce the total.
Q: Do drivers have to get out of the truck frequently at the terminal? ▼
Yes. Chassis inspection, seal checks, locking-pin verification, coupling/uncoupling and gate procedures require repeated cab entry and exit throughout the day.
Q: What happens if a chassis fails inspection? ▼
The driver reports the problem to local dispatch. The next assignment may change to an empty return, alternate chassis yard or different container while maintenance handles the unit.
Q: Is slip-seating common? ▼
Regular tractor assignment is preferred. Slip-seating occurs mainly when a truck is in scheduled maintenance or during temporary fleet balancing.
Q: Are weekend shifts required? ▼
Weekend work is less consistent than weekday activity. Limited assignments may be offered when Saturday gates operate under ocean-carrier authorization and customer demand.
Q: Can recent CDL graduates apply? ▼
Recent graduates are not the primary candidate profile because of specialized gate and chassis procedures. Applicants with solid tractor-trailer training and some terminal exposure may still be considered individually.

CDL Job Market in Savannah

Savannah is a high-demand CDL-A market, but openings concentrate around port, intermodal, distribution and manufacturing work rather than conventional long-haul dry van. Drivers who already hold TWIC cards and understand container and chassis procedures often have several employers competing for them. National fleets, specialized intermodal carriers and smaller local operators all maintain active hiring. Port-experienced applicants generally need less operational supervision than drivers coming from pure highway work. The tightest shortage appears among candidates already comfortable with terminal gates, appointment windows and digital documentation. Demand remains steady because the port and surrounding industrial base generate consistent short-haul volume throughout the year.

Location & Freight Market

The Port of Savannah serves as a major Southeast intermodal gateway with direct access to I-16 and I-95 plus on-terminal CSX and Norfolk Southern rail service. Garden City Terminal handles roughly 14,000 truck gate moves daily and supports digital transaction processing and chassis operations. Mason Mega Rail moves dozens of trains each week. Expanding manufacturing, including the Hyundai supplier network, adds container demand beyond pure import distribution. Industrial activity along Highway 21, Jimmy DeLoach Parkway and the broader I-16/I-95 corridor keeps local volume high. Retail goods, consumer products, furniture, appliances, industrial components and machinery form the core freight mix. Seasonal import peaks and manufacturing schedule shifts influence the daily balance between inbound and outbound moves, yet the overall logistics infrastructure continues to support steady short-haul work year-round.

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