🗺 Location & Operations Context
- Base city: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Port operations tied to Port Milwaukee bulk commodity flow
- Freight ecosystem: steel, grain exports, construction aggregates, industrial imports
- Warehouse and rail yard integration across southeastern Wisconsin
- Short-haul port rotations and high-frequency dock cycles
- Shift patterns tied to vessel arrivals and rail unload schedules
📋 Job Description
- Move bulk trailers between port terminals, rail yards, and industrial sites
- Operate hopper bottom, end dump, and walking floor trailers
- Coordinate with dispatch during vessel and rail arrival cycles
- Perform load securement checks and axle weight compliance
- Manage staging lanes and dock congestion during peak unload periods
- Complete scale tickets, BOLs, and ELD updates per shipment
✅ Requirements
CDL Class A
Required for all port and bulk freight operations
Experience
1+ year preferred (bulk, tanker, or flatbed experience helpful)
Age
21+ years old
MVR
Clean record with no major violations or safety disqualifications
Physical
Load securement, trailer inspections, backing at docks and terminals
Endorsements
Not required (bulk experience preferred)
🚛 Equipment & Fleet
- Day cabs and regional sleeper units
- Mack Anthem and Freightliner Cascadia units
- Hopper bottom, end dump, and walking floor trailers
- Automatic transmissions standard across fleet
- Fleet age: 2–7 years
- GPS tracking, ELD systems, and Yard Management System (YMS)
- Preventive maintenance with rapid-turn repair cycles
🏠 Home Time
- Home daily after port or regional cycle completion
- Rotating shifts based on vessel and rail schedules
- Night and weekend dispatch availability during peak cycles
- Predictable return to yard after load completion
📍 Real Routes Our Drivers Take
- Milwaukee, WI → Chicago, IL industrial corridor via I-94
- Port Milwaukee → Wisconsin Rapids grain and aggregate facilities
- Milwaukee rail yards → Southeast Wisconsin manufacturing plants
- Milwaukee → Green Bay logistics and distribution terminals
- Great Lakes port rotation cycles within regional bulk network
🎁 Benefits & Bonus Structure
📝 Hiring Process
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is a CDL-A required?
Yes, a valid CDL Class A license is required for all port and bulk freight assignments.
Do I need bulk experience?
1+ year of driving experience is preferred, especially with bulk, tanker, or similar freight types.
What is the workload like?
Work includes trailer movement, dock backing, load securement, and coordination during port cycles.
What shifts are available?
Rotating shifts based on port and rail schedules, including night operations during peak cycles.
Is overtime available?
Yes, overtime is available during high-volume shipping periods and vessel arrival surges.
What equipment is used?
Drivers operate hopper bottom, end dump, and walking floor trailers with modern automatic tractors.
💼 Career Opportunities
CDL-A drivers working in port and bulk commodity operations in Milwaukee typically begin in entry-level yard or short-haul positions supporting dock-to-yard freight movement for steel, grain, salt, and construction aggregates. With consistent performance, drivers progress into bulk specialist roles handling hopper bottom, end dump, or walking floor trailers with greater responsibility for load securement and weight compliance. Over time, experienced drivers may transition into lead driver assignments coordinating shuttle cycles between Port Milwaukee terminals, rail yards, and regional industrial facilities across southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Additional advancement paths include training roles focused on safety compliance and port operations procedures, as well as dispatch coordination positions managing vessel-based freight scheduling and yard congestion flow. Long-term opportunities within the same operational network may extend into terminal supervision, logistics coordination, or fleet operations support, depending on organizational structure and experience level. Career development in this environment is closely tied to reliability, safety record, and ability to operate efficiently in high-frequency port cycles where timing depends on rail and vessel arrival schedules. This structure supports steady internal mobility within bulk freight and port logistics operations.
🔗 CDL-A Port & Bulk Driver – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
CDL-A port and bulk materials operations in Milwaukee, Wisconsin are supported by steady freight movement through Port Milwaukee and surrounding industrial corridors connected to steel, agriculture, and construction supply chains. With weekly pay ranging from $1,500–$2,400, this role reflects demand created by continuous import and export activity across the Great Lakes shipping network. Drivers support freight flow between port terminals, rail yards, grain elevators, and manufacturing facilities throughout southeastern Wisconsin and nearby Illinois distribution hubs. Typical commodities include steel coils and slabs, grain exports, road salt, sand, and construction aggregates, all requiring strict adherence to securement and weight regulations. The operational environment is influenced by vessel arrival schedules, seasonal grain exports, and inbound steel shipments feeding regional fabrication and construction sectors. Milwaukee’s logistics ecosystem benefits from proximity to Interstate 94 and Interstate 43, enabling short-haul and regional cycles that typically range between 50 and 300 miles. Drivers coordinate closely with yard management systems (YMS), ELD tracking platforms, and dispatch teams to manage dock scheduling and staging lane congestion during peak unloading windows. Bulk freight demand remains consistent due to ongoing industrial production and infrastructure maintenance across the Midwest corridor, including Chicago-area intermodal hubs. The role requires flexibility during peak port congestion periods and winter weather disruptions affecting Great Lakes shipping activity. Overall, this position reflects a structured freight environment where port operations, rail interchanges, and industrial warehousing systems interact continuously, supporting long-term CDL-A employment opportunities in bulk commodity transportation.
🚀 Apply for This CDL-A Position
Complete the form below to apply for CDL-A Port & Bulk Materials Driver in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.