🗺 Location & Routes
- Base city: San Diego, California
- Route type: Local Port Drayage (Intermodal / Yard)
- Freight: Ocean containers, chassis, cross-border freight via Otay Mesa
- Schedule: Port-driven dispatch aligned with vessel arrivals and terminal cutoffs
📋 Job Description
- Move ocean containers between Port of San Diego, Otay Mesa rail ramps, and regional warehouses
- Perform gate check-in and check-out procedures under strict port compliance rules
- Stage chassis and containers in congested yard environments with time-sensitive dispatch cycles
- Coordinate closely with dispatch teams based on vessel arrivals and customs clearance timing
- Navigate heavy congestion corridors including I-5, SR-905, and border-adjacent freight zones
- Maintain TWIC security compliance and follow all port terminal access protocols
✅ Requirements
CDL Class A
Valid CDL-A license required
Experience
1+ year preferred drayage experience
Age
Minimum 21 years old
MVR
Clean driving record, no major violations
Physical
Occasional chassis hookup and container checks
Endorsements
TWIC preferred or required for port access
🚛 Equipment & Fleet
- Freightliner Cascadia, Kenworth T680, Volvo VNL (mixed fleet conditions)
- ELD systems including Samsara, Omnitracs, and legacy dispatch units
- Real-world port wear: congestion delays, chassis rotation shortages, yard congestion stress
🏠 Home Time
- Home daily after port and yard shifts
- Occasional weekend rotations during peak vessel arrival cycles
📍 Real Routes Our Drivers Take
- San Diego Port → Otay Mesa Rail Yard via I-5 / SR-905 container corridor
- San Diego → Chula Vista cross-dock warehouses via I-805 freight loop
- Otay Mesa → Inland Empire transload hubs via I-15 northbound logistics lane
🎁 Benefits & Bonus Structure
💰 Bonus Structure
Port drayage bonuses are tied to safety, efficiency, and detention performance in high-congestion terminal environments.
📝 Hiring Process
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a home-daily job?
Yes, drivers return home daily after completing port and yard runs.
What kind of freight is moved?
Primarily ocean containers, chassis units, and cross-border freight via Otay Mesa.
How unpredictable is the schedule?
Work volume depends on vessel arrivals, customs clearance, and port congestion cycles.
What are the pay expectations?
Weekly earnings depend on container turns, waiting time, and terminal flow efficiency.
What equipment will I drive?
A mixed fleet of Cascadia, T680, and Volvo tractors with standard ELD systems.
What is the hardest part of the job?
Port gate delays, chassis shortages, and heavy congestion near border freight corridors.
💼 Career Opportunities
This San Diego CDL-A port drayage role builds strong entry into Southern California’s intermodal logistics network. Drivers often progress into dedicated regional container lanes, terminal shuttle operations, or higher-volume port work across Los Angeles–Long Beach freight corridors. Experience with TWIC-controlled environments and chassis/container cycling creates long-term opportunities in cross-border freight, rail ramp operations, and transload coordination roles. Some drivers transition into trainer positions or dispatch support after gaining terminal and yard expertise. While advancement depends on performance, reliability, and port operational needs, drayage experience remains one of the most valuable foundations in West Coast trucking careers due to constant import/export demand and tight logistics scheduling.
🔗 CDL-A Port Drayage / Intermodal Yard Driver – San Diego, California (Local)
San Diego CDL-A port drayage drivers operate at the intersection of international trade and regional freight redistribution. The Port of San Diego and Otay Mesa border corridor create a continuous flow of import containers, requiring precise chassis movement, yard coordination, and fast gate compliance. With freight traveling through I-5, SR-905, SR-125, and I-8 corridors, drivers play a critical role in moving goods between maritime terminals, rail ramps, and Southern California warehouses. This local drayage position offers home-daily scheduling, stable weekly earnings of $1,100–$1,700, and consistent exposure to high-volume container logistics. It is ideal for drivers who understand tight dispatch windows, congestion variability, and the operational pressure of port-driven supply chains. CDL-A jobs in San Diego, California remain highly competitive due to steady cross-border trade and limited TWIC-qualified drivers. This role connects directly to regional trucking jobs across California freight corridors including Los Angeles, Inland Empire, and Baja border logistics networks.
🚀 Apply for This CDL-A Position
Complete the form below to apply for CDL-A Port Drayage / Intermodal Yard Driver – San Diego, California (Local) in San Diego, California.
