Owner Operator CDL-A Port & Inland Intermodal Driver – San Bernardino, CA

Port drayage here centers on short-cycle container moves that keep operators inside the Inland Empire network. Success depends on managing terminal appointments, chassis condition, and warehouse windows rather than long highway miles.

• Verifies container numbers, seals, and paperwork before leaving any terminal.
• Inspects chassis tires, lights, brakes, and locking mechanisms on every pickup.
• Completes electronic check-in and TWIC verification at marine terminals.
• Coordinates empty returns and next assignments through mobile dispatch.
• Maintains accurate ELD records and reports equipment defects immediately.

Revenue is generated per completed container move rather than by mileage. Gross figures reflect actual turns completed under current Southern California port conditions.

Operators supply their own day-cab or sleeper tractor with Detroit DD15 or Cummins X15. Air suspension is preferred; PTO is not required. Chassis are accessed through carrier programs—no ownership needed.

Most containers follow the classic Southern California import corridor from marine terminals straight into Inland Empire distribution parks.

• Port of Long Beach → San Bernardino via I-710 / I-10 East
• TraPac Terminal, Los Angeles → Fontana DCs via I-110 / I-10 East / CA-60
• ITS Terminal, Long Beach → Rialto warehouses via I-710 / I-10 East
• Port of Los Angeles → Ontario logistics parks via I-110 / I-10 East

• Valid CDL Class A, minimum age 21, current DOT medical card
• 2+ years CDL-A experience preferred; prior port/intermodal or chassis experience strongly preferred
• Clean MVR – no major moving violations or serious preventable accidents
• Valid TWIC card required for terminal access

• Terminal gate congestion and vessel arrival surges
• Chassis shortages or equipment defects at the terminal
• Warehouse appointment delays during peak import seasons
• I-710 / I-10 East / CA-60 traffic and construction zones
• Empty container return limitations at certain facilities

The Inland Empire remains one of the strongest local CDL-A markets in the United States. Port drayage, intermodal, warehouse distribution, and short-haul dedicated accounts dominate hiring. Demand stays elevated year-round because the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach continuously feed containers into San Bernardino, Fontana, Ontario, and Rialto logistics parks. Local and regional positions outnumber pure OTR roles; companies actively recruit experienced operators who already hold TWIC cards and understand terminal procedures. Seasonal import surges and e-commerce peaks create additional short-term openings, keeping overall driver demand stable even when national freight volumes fluctuate.

San Bernardino sits at the inland end of the busiest container corridor in North America. Import retail merchandise, electronics, household goods, automotive parts, and industrial materials leave the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach daily and flow east on the I-710 and I-10 corridors into the Inland Empire’s dense network of distribution centers and cross-docks. E-commerce fulfillment, automotive suppliers, and large-scale warehousing create continuous outbound and empty-return volume. Geography concentrates freight inside a relatively tight radius, making short-cycle intermodal moves the dominant traffic pattern. Seasonal retail build-ups and vessel arrival peaks further amplify the steady base of container activity that defines the region’s freight economy.