🗺 Location & Routes
- Base city: San Diego, California
- Route type: Port Drayage / Local Intermodal
- Freight: Import/export containers, retail goods, construction materials
- Schedule: Appointment-based terminal cycles with variable gate queues
📋 Job Description
- Pickup and delivery of import/export containers between port terminals and inland yards under tight appointment windows
- DOT inspections with emphasis on chassis condition, seal integrity, and terminal compliance before gate entry
- ELD logs maintained during variable port wait times and staged loading cycles
- Load securement verification and container locking procedures across multiple terminal systems
- Loading/unloading coordination at transload facilities during congestion-driven yard staging delays
- Compliance handling including TWIC gate procedures, dispatch updates, and reroute confirmations
✅ Requirements
CDL Class A
Valid CDL-A required
Experience
2+ years CDL-A experience required
Age
Minimum 21 years old
MVR
Clean record, no major violations
TWIC
Required for port access
Compliance
Ability to operate in port appointment systems
🚛 Equipment & Fleet
- Truck assignment: Peterbilt 579 automatic fleet rotation with reassignment flexibility
- Fleet behavior: high reassignment during terminal congestion waves and container imbalance cycles
- Features: Container chassis pool, Omnitracs ELD, air-ride suspension, TWIC-enabled yard integration
- Dispatch interaction: real-time rerouting during port delays and gate stacking events
🏠 Home Time
- Home daily under normal terminal flow conditions
- Occasional delayed return during vessel peak unload cycles or yard stacking events
📍 Real Routes Our Drivers Take
- Port of San Diego → Kearny Mesa distribution warehouses (container staging and retail imports)
- Otay Mesa terminals → Inland Empire rail ramps (cross-border freight consolidation flow)
- National City yard → Escondido transload facilities (construction and building material freight cycles)
🎁 Benefits & Bonus Structure
📝 Hiring Process
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need port experience?
Preferred but not required. TWIC and gate system familiarity can be trained during onboarding.
Is home time guaranteed daily?
Yes under normal flow, though vessel surges may extend shifts during peak port congestion.
What causes delays?
Terminal stacking, vessel arrivals, and chassis availability fluctuations.
How are containers assigned?
Dispatch assigns loads dynamically based on gate appointments and yard availability.
Is detention pay available?
Yes, $35/hr applies during terminal or warehouse delays beyond appointment windows.
What equipment will I drive?
Late-model day cab trucks with dedicated chassis pool rotation.
💼 Career Opportunities
Dispatch operations in this port drayage environment follow consistent import flow cycles tied to vessel arrivals and regional warehouse demand. Drivers gain exposure to high-frequency container movement, terminal coordination systems, and intermodal routing between coastal and inland logistics hubs. As experience builds, drivers can move into senior port specialist roles, trainer positions for new TWIC-qualified operators, or dedicated account lanes supporting high-volume importers. Safety compliance and efficient gate execution are key advancement metrics. The freight network remains steady year-round due to consumer imports and construction supply chains, with opportunities expanding into regional shuttle coordination and chassis management oversight roles within the fleet structure.
🔗 CDL-A Port Container Drayage Driver – San Diego, CA
Port container drayage operations in San Diego support continuous import and export movement through marine terminals and regional transload yards. Drivers operate within structured appointment windows, moving freight between port gates, inland warehouses, and distribution hubs. Daily workflows include chassis pickup, container verification, and scheduled terminal entry procedures. Yard congestion and vessel schedules influence timing, requiring coordination with dispatch systems for efficient routing. This local intermodal position supports home daily operations with earnings of $1,400–$2,000 per week depending on terminal flow and detention activity. Drivers benefit from predictable freight demand driven by retail imports and construction materials, with structured dispatch cycles ensuring steady container movement across Southern California logistics corridors and inland distribution networks.
🚀 Apply for This CDL-A Position
Complete the form below to apply for CDL-A Port Container Drayage Driver in San Diego, CA.