🗺 Location & Routes
- Base city: Columbus, Ohio
- Route type: Local intermodal drayage (rail + port)
- Freight: Ocean containers, domestic rail boxes, retail import loads
- Schedule: Day and night dispatch cycles with rail appointment windows
📋 Job Description
- Pickup and delivery of intermodal containers between rail ramps and DC yards
- DOT inspections before and after container moves
- Accurate ELD logging during yard and terminal cycles
- Load securement checks on chassis and container locks
- Loading/unloading coordination at shipper and receiver gates
- Compliance handling at rail gates and appointment checkpoints
✅ Requirements
CDL Class A
Valid CDL-A license required
Experience
6+ months tractor-trailer experience preferred
Age
Minimum 21 years old
MVR
Clean driving record, no major violations
Physical
Frequent chassis checks and yard inspections
Endorsements
TWIC preferred, not required
🚛 Equipment & Fleet
- Truck assignment: Day cab rotation pool (Kenworth T680 / Freightliner Cascadia mix)
- Fleet average age: 3–6 years across active yard units
- Features: GPS dispatch tablets, chassis tracking, geofenced rail yard access, automatic transmission
🏠 Home Time
- Home daily with return-to-yard cycles after final container drop
- Some weeks include extended yard waits that shift end times later than planned dispatch windows
📍 Real Routes Our Drivers Take
- Columbus Rickenbacker Inland Port → Dayton CSX ramp container transfers
- Columbus NS intermodal yard → Cincinnati Queensgate rail terminal turns
- Rickenbacker → Groveport distribution centers via Alum Creek industrial corridor
🎁 Benefits & Bonus Structure
📝 Hiring Process
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Do drivers wait at rail yards often?
Yes, rail gate congestion can create variable dwell times depending on container arrival waves.
Is freight touch required?
No, most loads are no-touch container moves between chassis and yard drop points.
Are schedules fixed?
Dispatch windows are set, but completion time depends on terminal flow and gate throughput.
Do I need TWIC?
Preferred for faster rail access, but onboarding can start without it.
What kind of freight is moved?
Import retail containers, domestic rail freight, and regional manufacturing shipments.
Is this home daily?
Yes, most drivers return to Columbus yard daily after final container drop.
💼 Career Opportunities
Dispatch in the Columbus intermodal network runs through a high-volume rail corridor tied to Rickenbacker and surrounding warehouse clusters. Container flow is driven by import cycles and domestic rail handoffs, which creates steady but uneven yard activity across the week. Drivers often move between rail ramps, staging yards, and distribution centers with repeated short-cycle assignments rather than long-haul mileage. Over time, experienced drivers move into trainer roles, dedicated rail accounts, or regional planning support where container allocation and yard sequencing become part of their responsibilities. Safety-focused positions and compliance review roles are available for drivers who demonstrate consistent terminal performance and documentation accuracy. The network continues to expand as additional warehouse capacity is added along the southeastern logistics belt, increasing overall freight stability.
🔗 CDL-A Intermodal Container Driver – Columbus, Ohio
Intermodal container movement in the Columbus region is structured around rail ramp throughput at Rickenbacker Inland Port and surrounding Norfolk Southern yards. Drivers operate in short-cycle loops between rail gates, warehouse staging points, and chassis exchange areas. Weekly pay reflects variable container availability, rail congestion levels, and detention accumulation during peak import windows. Yard delays are most common during morning inbound rail surges and late-day outbound consolidations. Scheduling is based on appointment windows rather than continuous mileage, making consistency dependent on terminal flow rather than distance traveled. This role fits drivers who can manage frequent gate interactions, container checks, and time-sensitive pickup sequences within a controlled local radius.
🚀 Apply for This CDL-A Position
Complete the form below to apply for CDL-A Intermodal Container Driver in Columbus, Ohio.
