Intermodal Position Regional CDL-A

Regional CDL-A Intermodal Rail Driver – Mobile, AL

Hiring Area: Mobile, AL & Gulf Coast • Base Terminal: Mobile, AL

Mobile, AL Regional Intermodal 2020–2025 Day Cabs

Handle containerized import/export and domestic intermodal freight through Port of Mobile rail ramps and Gulf Coast lanes, earning $1,350–$1,500 weekly with home daily on most dispatches.

Typical Weekly Gross
$1,350–$1,500
Estimated Annual: $70,200–$78,000
Sign-On Bonus $1,500
Home Time Home Daily Most Dispatches
Driver Type Company Driver
Daily Moves 2–4 Containers Typical
Freight Type Container Intermodal

Daily Intermodal Operations

Company-driver role built around short container moves that connect the Port of Mobile, rail facilities, chassis pools, and customer yards across the Gulf Coast and Southeast.

  • Pick up import or export containers from the Port of Mobile or rail-connected facilities.
  • Inspect chassis, tires, lights, air lines, twist-locks and container condition before leaving the gate.
  • Complete short-haul deliveries to distribution centers, manufacturing sites and customer yards.
  • Return empty containers or interchange equipment according to dispatch instructions.
  • Verify container numbers, seals, chassis numbers and interchange paperwork at each move.
  • Manage terminal appointments, rail releases, gate queues and customer delivery windows.
  • Communicate with dispatch throughout the shift when containers, chassis or appointments are delayed.

Hourly Compensation Details

Pay follows actual hours worked, with overtime after 40 and separate activity pay for qualifying container or chassis moves.

Hourly Rate $24/hour
Overtime $36/hour after 40
Container/Chassis Move $25 per qualifying move
Detention $25/hour after 2 hours
Sign-On Bonus $1,500 ($500 at 30/90/180 days)
Payroll Weekly direct deposit

Schedule & Return Pattern

Home Time Home daily on most dispatches; occasional overnight only when late rail releases, customer appointments or HOS limits prevent same-day return
Operating Area Gulf Coast & Southeast within practical one-day radius
Base Terminal Mobile, AL
Daily Moves 2–4 container moves typical
Dispatch Window 5:00 AM–7:00 AM typical; Monday–Friday with some Saturday freight

Tractors & Chassis Equipment

Tractor Models Freightliner Cascadia & Kenworth T680 day cabs
Model Years 2020–2025
Transmission Automatic on most newer units
Safety Systems Forward-facing dash cameras, collision mitigation, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise
Assignment Assigned when available; slip-seating during maintenance cycles

Chassis cover 20', 40' and 45' units with sliding and pin-lock systems plus twist-lock equipment drawn from company-controlled and terminal pools. Standard equipment includes ELD with mobile dispatch, air-ride suspension, company fuel card and electronic DVIR. Maintenance runs through Mobile-area vendors; roadside issues are coordinated by dispatch.

Freight Mix & Regional Lanes

Most loads are containerized import/export or domestic intermodal cargo moving through the Port of Mobile and its rail network before delivery to consignees or inland transfer points.

  • Manufacturing components, retail distribution freight, packaging materials and imported consumer goods.
  • Mobile → Montgomery and Birmingham primarily via I-65 for inland industrial and distribution work.
  • Mobile → Hattiesburg and Jackson, MS via I-10 west and I-59.
  • Mobile → Pensacola, FL and New Orleans, LA on the I-10 Gulf Coast corridor.
  • Mobile → Birmingham → Atlanta, primarily via I-65 / I-20.
  • Out-and-back turns that pair an inland delivery with a Mobile-bound empty or reload.

Shift Flow Example

  • Pre-trip and ELD start near 5:30 AM before the first container assignment is confirmed.
  • Gate check-in at the terminal, followed by chassis and container inspection.
  • Short regional run on I-10 or I-65 to the assigned customer appointment.
  • Drop-and-hook or live delivery, then empty return or next available dispatch.
  • Second or third move later in the day depending on rail release and chassis supply.
  • Return to Mobile terminal or approved parking once the final move is complete.

About the Carrier

This position is built around the daily movement of containers between Mobile-area port and rail facilities, customer yards and distribution locations. Drivers work primarily from a day cab and normally return to the Mobile terminal or approved parking location after completing their dispatches. The work centers on short regional turns rather than sleeper-team or multi-day OTR cycles, so the focus stays on gate procedures, chassis handling and appointment windows. Freight volume is driven by vessel arrivals, rail releases and the steady flow of manufacturing and retail freight that moves inland from the Gulf Coast.

Benefits & Support

Medical / Dental / Vision Available with employee contribution options
Retirement 401(k) with company match
Orientation & Training Paid orientation plus chassis and terminal training
Equipment Support TWIC reimbursement after qualification, PPE assistance, uniform allowance
Additional Holiday pay, referral bonus, roadside assistance

Minimum Qualifications

  • Valid Class A CDL and current DOT medical card
  • At least 6 months verifiable tractor-trailer experience preferred
  • Acceptable MVR and safety history; must pass DOT drug screen
  • Ability to inspect tractor/chassis combinations and operate ELD systems
  • TWIC preferred; required for certain port-gate assignments

Real-World Delays

  • Container release delays at rail or port facilities
  • Chassis pool shortages during peak vessel activity
  • Gate queues at terminals during heavy rail or vessel periods
  • Customer appointment windows and limited yard space
  • I-10 / I-65 construction and Mobile morning traffic
  • Gulf Coast thunderstorms or tropical weather disruptions

Application Steps

1
Recruiter Screen
Phone call within one business day
2
Document Check
CDL, MVR, employment verification
3
DOT Clearance
Drug screen and Clearinghouse query
4
Orientation
1–2 day paid Mobile terminal training

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much of the work is drop-and-hook versus live unload? ▼
Roughly 60–70% of container moves are drop-and-hook or yard interchange. The balance involves live deliveries or pickups at customer facilities.
Q: How often do overnight turns occur? ▼
Overnight regional turns are the exception. They occur only when a late rail release, customer appointment or HOS limit makes same-day return impractical.
Q: Is TWIC required? ▼
TWIC is preferred and required for certain port-gate assignments. Company reimbursement is available after qualification and continued employment.
Q: Where do drivers park at the end of the day? ▼
Most nights the tractor returns to the company terminal or an approved Mobile drop yard. Occasional overnights use commercial truck parking along the assigned corridor.
Q: What happens when a container is not released on time? ▼
Dispatch will normally look for another available move when the original container is delayed, but terminal and rail constraints can still create periods of waiting.
Q: How soon after hire does regular dispatch begin? ▼
Most drivers reach independent dispatch within 5–10 business days once background checks, drug screen and orientation are complete.

CDL-A Market in Mobile

Mobile regularly supports CDL-A openings tied to port drayage, regional distribution, manufacturing and Gulf Coast freight. Intermodal and container roles form a consistent share of local demand because the Alabama State Docks and connected rail facilities generate ongoing need for drivers who can handle gate procedures, chassis and short turns. Local and regional dry-van or dedicated positions also appear, yet specialized experience with containers, rail ramps or TWIC access often opens a narrower group of assignments than general over-the-road backgrounds. Carriers in the area typically look for drivers comfortable with early starts and equipment interchange rather than long-haul sleeper work.

Why Freight Moves Through Mobile

The Port of Mobile serves as a primary Gulf Coast gateway for containerized imports and exports, supported by an on-dock Intermodal Container Transfer Facility and rail connections that reach inland markets such as Chicago, Memphis and Detroit. Manufacturing plants and distribution centers across Alabama, Mississippi and the Florida Panhandle create secondary demand once containers clear the marine terminal. I-10 and I-65 form the main highway corridors linking the port to these inland points, while shorter coastal routes use US-90 and US-98. Vessel schedules, rail cut-offs and retail replenishment cycles influence day-to-day volume, yet the mix of consumer goods, industrial components and export products keeps container traffic moving through the region throughout the year.

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