🗺 Location & Routes
- Base city: Los Angeles, CA
- Route type: Local rail intermodal drayage
- Freight: Rail containers (import/export + domestic intermodal units)
- Schedule: Dispatch-based shifts aligned with rail arrivals, peak night cycles
📋 Job Description
- Pre-trip & post-trip inspections under FMCSA Part 396 with full DVIR documentation
- ELD compliance using Samsara / Geotab / Qualcomm systems
- Pickup sealed intermodal containers from Hobart, ICTF, LATC, Commerce rail yards
- Chassis handling with proper weight distribution across tandem axles
- Live coordination with dispatch and rail clerks for appointment timing
- Navigate tight docks, yard congestion, and staged container queues
✅ Requirements
CDL Class A
Valid CDL-A license required
Experience
6+ months CDL-A experience preferred
Age
Minimum 21 years old
MVR
Clean driving record, no major violations
Physical
Container securement + chassis handling in yard environments
Endorsements
TWIC preferred (rail terminal access)
🚛 Equipment & Fleet
- Truck assignment: Dedicated day cab rotation fleet
- Fleet average age: 2021–2024 units
- Features: Freightliner Cascadia / Kenworth T680 / Volvo VNL, forward collision mitigation, lane assist, forward-facing dash cams, automatic transmission standard
🏠 Home Time
- Home daily after dispatch completion
- Shift-based rail cycle scheduling (day/night rotations depending on volume)
📍 Real Routes Our Drivers Take
- Los Angeles, CA → Ontario, CA via I-10 (intermodal DC delivery runs)
- Los Angeles, CA → Fontana, CA via I-210 / I-10 (rail container redistribution)
- Los Angeles, CA → Long Beach, CA via I-710 (port-linked container staging)
🎁 Benefits & Bonus Structure
📝 Hiring Process
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is the truck governed?
Yes, most units are governed around 65–68 mph depending on carrier policy.
Are driver-facing cameras used?
Forward-facing dash cams are standard. Driver-facing systems are not typically used unless safety policy requires it.
Is dispatch forced?
Loads are assigned based on rail arrivals and terminal demand. Refusal options depend on availability.
What is detention pay?
$25–$35/hr after 2 hours at rail or receiver, subject to dispatch approval and ELD validation.
Is this physical work?
No unloading, but chassis handling, yard congestion, and tight dock backing are part of daily operations.
How reliable is home time?
Home daily is standard, but rail surges and port congestion can extend shifts during peak import cycles.
💼 Career Opportunities
Los Angeles intermodal freight operates on constant import-export cycles tied to the Ports of LA and Long Beach, plus inland rail yards like ICTF and Hobart. Demand stays steady because containers don’t stop moving, even during softer freight markets.
Drivers here typically start in local drayage lanes and can move into dedicated rail accounts or higher-volume terminal rotations. Advancement depends on attendance reliability, safety record, and ability to handle high-frequency dispatch cycles.
Promotion paths include Driver Trainer roles with additional weekly pay structures, safety mentor positions tied to inspection performance, and dispatch-side transitions for experienced operators. Some drivers eventually shift into owner-operator leasing for dedicated container contracts.
Operational reality matters: seniority affects lane selection, peak season pressure increases dwell time at rail yards, and tight dock assignments rotate based on terminal demand. This is consistent freight, but not low-effort work.
🔗 Rail Intermodal CDL-A Driver — Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles is one of the highest-density intermodal freight zones in the United States, driven by port activity, rail yard throughput, and Inland Empire distribution demand. Containers move continuously between ICTF, Hobart, and Commerce rail terminals into warehouse clusters across Ontario, Fontana, and Riverside.
This creates a high-frequency drayage environment where CDL-A drivers operate short-haul cycles under strict appointment windows. Major congestion corridors include I-710, I-5, I-10, and CA-60, where traffic directly impacts ELD planning and dispatch timing.
Freight velocity remains stable year-round due to import cycles and retail distribution demand, with peak pressure during holiday shipping seasons and quarterly import surges. Drivers work within tight yard operations where dwell time, chassis availability, and rail scheduling directly affect daily productivity.
🚀 Apply for This CDL-A Position
Complete the form below to apply for Rail Intermodal CDL-A Driver — Los Angeles Rail Yard Container Transfer in Los Angeles, CA.
