🗺 Location & Routes
- Base city: San Diego, California
- Route type: Local Intermodal Drayage
- Freight: Import/export containers, retail goods, machinery parts
- Schedule: Early dispatch waves tied to vessel arrivals and border release timing
📋 Job Description
- Pick up and deliver sealed import/export containers between port, border, and inland yards
- Perform DOT inspections on tractor and chassis before and after each cycle
- Maintain ELD logs aligned with gate queue delays and staging windows
- Secure container loads and verify seals at pickup and drop points
- Handle loading and unloading coordination at port and transload facilities
- Ensure compliance handling with customs, terminal, and dispatch instructions
✅ Requirements
CDL Class A
Valid CDL-A license required
Experience
2+ years CDL-A, port or drayage experience required
Age
Minimum 21 years old
MVR
Clean driving record, no major violations
Physical
Frequent chassis checks and securement tasks
Endorsements
TWIC preferred
🚛 Equipment & Fleet
- Truck assignment: rotating Volvo VNL day cabs with high reassignment flow during peak vessel arrivals
- Fleet average age: 3–7 years operational mix with yard-drift adjustments
- Features: GPS dispatch, chassis pool system, seal verification tools, ELD compliance platform
🏠 Home Time
- Home daily under normal dispatch flow
- Occasional delayed returns during port congestion waves and border backlog cycles
📍 Real Routes Our Drivers Take
- Otay Mesa Port of Entry → Kearny Mesa transload hub (border release cycle runs)
- Port of San Diego terminals → National City container yard (marine import surge)
- Chula Vista staging yard → Inland Empire rail interconnect (overflow recovery routing)
🎁 Benefits & Bonus Structure
📝 Hiring Process
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need port experience?
Preferred, but drivers with strong drayage backgrounds are accepted after terminal onboarding.
Is work consistent year-round?
Yes, import and cross-border freight maintain continuous container flow.
How often do I go home?
Most drivers return daily unless port congestion delays cycles.
What causes delays?
Customs clearance timing and vessel arrival peaks at Otay Mesa.
Is equipment shared?
Yes, chassis and tractors rotate during high demand waves.
Are bonuses guaranteed?
Border turn and detention pay are earned per completed cycle conditions.
💼 Career Opportunities
Dispatch flow in this operation follows continuous import movement between port terminals and cross-border staging lanes. Drivers operate inside a high-frequency container system where assignment timing shifts based on vessel discharge schedules and customs release pacing. Over time, operators move into lead drayage roles, trainer positions for port procedures, and compliance-focused assignments tied to terminal safety systems. Some drivers transition into dedicated regional accounts supporting rail intermodal expansion or export consolidation lanes. The work rhythm is structured but reactive, with experience directly improving cycle efficiency and priority assignment within the dispatch queue.
🔗 CDL-A Port & Border Dual-Drayage Container Driver – San Diego, California
This drayage role operates inside a high-volume container flow system connected to port terminals and the Otay Mesa border crossing. Drivers handle continuous import and export cycles where dispatch timing depends on vessel arrivals, customs release windows, and yard congestion levels. The work includes short-haul container movements between marine docks, staging yards, and inland transload facilities. Routing changes are common during peak freight waves when chassis availability and gate queues shift throughout the day. Drivers typically complete multiple cycles with structured wait times at terminals. The operation maintains steady freight movement supported by retail imports and industrial supply chains feeding regional distribution networks. Earnings average $1,500–$2,100 per week depending on cycle volume and detention activity.
🚀 Apply for This CDL-A Position
Complete the form below to apply for CDL-A Port & Border Dual-Drayage Container Driver in San Diego, California.