🗺 Location & Routes
- Base city: Nashville, TN
- Route type: Local Intermodal / Drayage
- Freight: Import/export containers (20’, 40’, 53’) – retail, electronics, consumer goods
- Schedule: Early rail appointments, rotating dispatch windows tied to CSX Bellevue yard release cycles
📋 Job Description
- Pre-trip and post-trip inspections per DOT Part 396 before yard entry and after drop completion
- CSX Bellevue rail yard container pickup and chassis verification under live dispatch windows
- ELD compliance using Samsara/Geotab with strict on-duty logging during yard moves
- Secure container locking, chassis checks, and weight distribution management before departure
- Local drayage runs across Nashville DC corridors with appointment-based warehouse deliveries
- Traffic-aware routing on I-24/I-40 affecting HOS planning during peak inbound rail cycles
✅ Requirements
CDL Class A
Valid CDL-A license required
Experience
1 year verifiable tractor-trailer experience preferred
Age
Minimum 21 years old
MVR
No major violations, clean PSP preferred
Physical
Chassis handling, container securement, occasional heavy coupling tasks
Endorsements
TWIC preferred for rail access, not mandatory
🚛 Equipment & Fleet
- Truck assignment: Day cabs and regional sleeper units based on rail yard rotation and dispatch load
- Fleet average age: 2021–2024 mixed terminal-controlled fleet
- Features: Freightliner Cascadia, Kenworth T680 units with automatic transmissions and safety monitoring systems
- Fleet systems: collision mitigation, lane assist alerts, forward-facing dash cams active on all units
- Operational note: slip-seat usage common during peak rail cycles, unit assignment changes based on yard demand
🏠 Home Time
- Home daily based on completion of rail yard cycles and final warehouse delivery dispatch
- Return timing can shift during CSX Bellevue congestion windows or delayed container releases
📍 Real Routes Our Drivers Take
- Nashville, TN → Memphis, TN via I-40 (intermodal rail relay freight, high container turnover between rail ramps)
- Nashville, TN → Atlanta, GA via I-24 / I-75 (port-linked container distribution, tight metro delivery windows and congestion delays)
- Nashville, TN → Louisville, KY via I-65 (regional DC replenishment flow, short-haul chassis rotation between Midwest distribution hubs)
🎁 Benefits & Bonus Structure
📝 Hiring Process
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is the truck governed?
Units are typically governed between 65–68 mph depending on terminal policy. Drayage work is mostly low-speed yard movement and short interstate runs, so speed limiting is enforced more for safety and fuel control than route efficiency.
Are driver-facing cameras used?
Most units use forward-facing dash cams for incident review. Some accounts may add inward-facing monitoring depending on customer requirements and safety scoring, especially in intermodal contracts tied to rail partners.
Is dispatch forced or assigned?
Dispatch is pre-planned around rail release windows. Drivers are assigned container pulls based on yard availability and chassis readiness. Refusals can affect load priority, especially during peak rail congestion cycles.
What is the detention pay structure?
Detention begins after 2 hours at receiver locations when verified through ELD logs and dispatch approval. Payment is processed in the next payroll cycle and depends on documented wait time and customer confirmation.
Are pets allowed?
Pet allowance depends on terminal assignment and yard policy. Slip-seat operations in drayage fleets often restrict pets due to shared equipment usage and rapid truck turnover between drivers.
Is home time reliable under real traffic conditions?
Home time depends on rail cycle completion and outbound container flow. Delays can occur due to late inbound trains, dock congestion, or chassis shortages, especially during peak import periods through CSX Bellevue.
💼 Career Opportunities
CDL-A drayage demand in Nashville continues to track with CSX Bellevue rail activity and regional distribution expansion toward Memphis and Atlanta corridors. Drivers entering intermodal work typically stay within yard-based freight cycles, where consistency depends on container volume, rail arrival timing, and chassis availability. Advancement paths include rail yard lead driver roles, safety compliance mentorship, and dispatcher transition for experienced operators familiar with container flow management. Some drivers move into dedicated regional lanes after gaining intermodal experience. Seniority influences dispatch priority during high-volume import weeks, especially in Q4 retail cycles. While freight remains steady, schedule predictability is shaped by rail delays, dock congestion, and appointment windows rather than fixed route patterns.
🔗 MidState RailDrayage Partners – Nashville, TN
Nashville’s intermodal freight network is driven by CSX Bellevue rail yard activity feeding regional DCs across Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia. Container flows move through I-40, I-24, and I-65 corridors with constant pressure from retail import cycles and chassis turnaround timing. Drivers operate in short-haul loops where dispatch windows depend on rail release schedules and warehouse dock availability. Traffic congestion near downtown Nashville and interstate merge points directly impacts ELD planning and delivery sequencing. This local drayage role stays inside a 100–250 mile operational radius, focused on container movement between rail ramps and distribution centers.
🚀 Apply for This CDL-A Position
Complete the form below to apply for MidState RailDrayage Partners in Nashville, TN.
