CDL-A Local Intermodal Rail Shuttle Driver - Boise, ID

This inland rail-support role moves containers between the Nampa interchange and local industrial receivers. It is not marine-port drayage.

• Inspect chassis tires, lights, locks and air/electrical connections before departure.
• Confirm container numbers and seal data at every rail and customer gate.
• Back and position equipment inside congested rail and warehouse yards.
• Document electronic POD and qualifying detention times accurately.
• Notify dispatch of defects, holds, missed appointments or traffic delays.
• Follow rail-terminal gate rules and customer-specific check-in steps.

Base rate is $29.75–$33.50 per hour with overtime after 40 hours. A standard 45-hour week yields about $1,413–$1,591. Higher-volume days that trigger activity pay ($35 per qualifying container after 12 completed moves) plus extra overtime push stronger weeks toward the $1,700 upper end of the advertised range.

Chassis are compatible with 20-ft, 40-ft and 53-ft domestic containers. Drivers complete basic pre-move chassis condition checks.

Predominantly dry containerized freight—consumer goods, industrial materials, packaged products and agricultural commodities—moves between rail-served locations and local warehouses. A smaller share of refrigerated containers appears as demand requires.

• Core lanes run between Boise, Nampa, Caldwell and Meridian.
• I-84 is the primary east-west corridor through the valley.
• Common sequence: rail pickup → customer delivery → empty return or next load.
• Multi-stop patterns such as Nampa–Meridian–Nampa occur regularly.
• Empty repositioning is treated as productive work, not deadhead.
• City arterials and state routes reach industrial parks off the interstate.

• Valid Class A CDL and current DOT Medical Examiner’s Certificate
• At least 1 year of intermodal, drayage or local container experience required
• Acceptable MVR and safe driving history
• Must satisfy FMCSA/DOT physical, drug/alcohol and Clearinghouse requirements
• No TWIC or HazMat endorsement required for this inland rail position

• Late trains or container holds cut the number of moves completed.
• Rail-yard congestion builds when several drivers cycle the same facility.
• Overlapping customer appointments can produce 60–120 minute waits.
• Weekday traffic and construction around Boise and Meridian extend turn times.
• Winter snow, ice and muddy industrial lots slow chassis work and backing.

The Treasure Valley supports a consistent but moderate market for Class A drivers. Most openings are local or short regional runs serving food distribution, construction materials, LTL, building products, fuel, manufacturing support and dedicated accounts. Intermodal and container experience is less common than dry-van or flatbed backgrounds, giving drivers with chassis and rail-yard knowledge a clearer advantage. Local pay averages near the mid-$20s per hour; specialized or higher-volume accounts reach the upper $20s and low $30s. Year-round industrial and distribution activity keeps demand stable without heavy reliance on a single seasonal sector. Experienced home-daily drivers typically choose among mid-sized carriers and private fleets rather than large OTR recruiters.

Boise, Meridian, Nampa and Caldwell form one continuous commercial corridor. Interstate 84 carries the majority of east-west freight, linking the valley to Eastern Oregon and the Salt Lake City market. Rail activity centers on the Boise Valley Railroad interchange with Union Pacific at Nampa; that connection, rather than a marine terminal, generates the local container volume. Consumer products, agricultural inputs, packaged goods and industrial materials move steadily between rail-served facilities and the warehouses and manufacturing sites that line the valley floor. Short distances combined with rail release timing and customer appointment windows create ongoing demand for drivers who can cycle equipment efficiently inside a compact daily radius.