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Verified Actively Hiring

Port Drayage CDL-A Driver Container Operations

Hiring Radius: Southern California • Terminal: San Bernardino, CA

San Bernardino, CA Local Port Drayage 2021–2024 Day Cabs

Local container moves between the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and Inland Empire warehouses, cross-docks, and distribution centers. Home daily with early-morning starts and multiple turns per shift.

Average Weekly Earnings
$1,500–$1,950
Estimated Annual: $78,000–$101,400
Sign-On Bonus Up to $1,250
Home Time Home Daily
Driver Type Company Driver
Weekly Miles Local Turns
Freight Type ISO Containers

Position Overview

Mid-sized Southern California carrier supports daily container transportation from LA/Long Beach marine terminals into the Inland Empire warehouse network. Operations adjust constantly to vessel arrivals, appointment windows, chassis availability, and terminal conditions.

  • Verify container numbers, seals, chassis IDs, and EIRs before leaving terminals.
  • Perform pre-trip, post-trip, and chassis inspections on every move.
  • Coordinate with dispatch on appointment changes, delays, and equipment issues.
  • Follow TWIC security protocols and marine terminal gate procedures.
  • Report defects, damage, or operational problems immediately.

Pay & Compensation Breakdown

Earnings combine hourly pay with overtime after 40 hours and productive container turns. Extended gate or customer delays generate additional compensation when they qualify under company policy.

Weekly Pay $1,500–$1,950
Estimated Annual $78,000–$101,400
Sign-On Bonus Up to $1,250 ($500/30 days, $350/90 days, $400/180 days)
Hourly Rate $25–$32
Detention Qualifying terminal & customer delays
Pay Frequency Weekly direct deposit

Schedule, Home Time & Routes

Home Time Home daily
Operating Area San Bernardino, Fontana, Ontario, Rialto, Bloomington, Colton + Ports of LA & Long Beach
Terminal San Bernardino, CA
Shift Length 10–14 hours
Dispatch Window 2:00 AM – 6:00 AM, 5–6 days/week

Equipment & Cabin Specs

Tractor Age 2021–2024 (plus older reserve units)
Tractor Makes Kenworth T680 day cabs
Transmission Automatic
In-Cab Amenities Air-ride, ELD, GPS tracking, in-cab comms, dash cam, collision mitigation, lane departure warning, A/C, Bluetooth, power inverter
Tractor Assignment Same tractor when operationally possible

Rotating pool of 20-ft, 40-ft, and 45-ft ISO container chassis from regional pools and customer programs. Drivers complete required inspections before every move. Maintenance handled through the San Bernardino shop and approved vendors near the ports and Inland Empire corridor, with roadside support available throughout Southern California.

Real Routes

Dispatch adjusts assignments daily according to vessel arrivals, customer appointments, container availability, and terminal congestion. Export reloads are assigned whenever available to cut empty return miles.

  • Port of Long Beach → Ontario via I-710 and I-10
  • Port of Los Angeles → San Bernardino via I-110, CA-60, and I-215
  • Port of Long Beach → Fontana via I-710 and I-10; Ontario/Rialto/Bloomington export returns to LA/Long Beach terminals

Typical Week & Daily Workflow

First assignment arrives the evening before or early morning. Drivers complete pre-trip inspection at the San Bernardino yard, confirm instructions, then head to the assigned port gate for the opening container move.

Most shifts produce three to six container turns. After each delivery, dispatch evaluates export freight, empty returns, or chassis repositioning and assigns the next move while the current one is still in progress. Operations mix live terminal pickups, drop-and-hook exchanges, and live warehouse unloading.

Drivers return to the terminal at shift end for post-trip inspection, equipment reports, and preparation for the next day. Friday freight stays strong; Monday mornings often see heavier gate activity after weekend vessel arrivals.

About the Carrier

Mid-sized Southern California trucking company focused on local port drayage. Operations center on moving international shipping containers between the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and Inland Empire customers, including warehouses, cross-dock facilities, import distribution centers, and export staging yards. The fleet is configured specifically for short-haul container work in congested metropolitan areas, using day-cab tractors and a rotating pool of ISO chassis. Dispatch operates from the San Bernardino terminal and coordinates continuously with vessel schedules, terminal conditions, and customer appointments.

Benefits & Healthcare Coverage

Health Coverage Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Retirement 401(k) with company match
Paid Time Off Paid holidays and earned PTO
Additional Benefits Paid orientation, TWIC renewal reimbursement, annual DOT physical reimbursement, company PPE, referral bonus up to $750, safety recognition program
Facilities Secure terminal parking, driver lounge with rest area and vending

Driver Qualification Requirements

  • Valid Class A CDL and current TWIC card
  • Minimum 1 year CDL-A experience; previous container/intermodal/port experience required
  • Acceptable MVR with no serious moving violations or disqualifying DOT offenses
  • Current DOT Medical Certificate and ability to meet FMCSA Clearinghouse requirements

Operational Delays

  • Gate congestion after major vessel arrivals
  • Temporary chassis shortages from shared pools
  • Customs inspections or damaged-container documentation
  • Construction and peak traffic on I-710, I-10, CA-60, and I-215
  • Terminal maintenance restrictions or stack location changes

Fast-Trak Hiring Process

1
Recruiter Call
Within one business day
2
Background & Compliance
MVR, employment, Clearinghouse, drug screen
3
Orientation
One paid day at San Bernardino terminal
4
First Dispatch
Ready in 3–7 business days

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many container turns are typical in a shift? ▼
Most days produce three to six completed turns depending on terminal efficiency, unloading speed, and distance between stops.
Q: What is the mix of live unload versus drop-and-hook? ▼
Roughly 60% live unload and 40% drop-and-hook or grounded exchanges at customer facilities. Terminal operations include a mix of live pickups and exchanges.
Q: Are chassis always available at the ports? ▼
Chassis come from regional pools and customer programs. Availability fluctuates with port demand; drivers inspect each unit and report defects so dispatch can arrange replacements.
Q: Do drivers ever leave equipment overnight away from the terminal? ▼
Tractors normally return to the San Bernardino terminal. During peak periods dispatch may authorize leaving equipment at an approved drop yard closer to the next morning’s first appointment.
Q: How are export reloads handled? ▼
Dispatch assigns export freight back toward the ports whenever available to reduce empty miles. Booking references and container condition receive extra attention before terminal return.
Q: What physical demands should a driver expect? ▼
Frequent cab entry/exit, chassis coupling and uncoupling, tire/brake/air-line inspections, occasional climbing onto chassis, outdoor work in Southern California weather, and repeated low-speed yard maneuvering.
Q: Is weekend work required? ▼
Weekend coverage is shared across the driver group to support customers that run seven-day warehouse schedules. Drivers typically know their scheduled workdays in advance.

CDL Job Market

San Bernardino and the broader Inland Empire form one of the most active CDL-A hiring markets in the United States. The region’s direct highway links to the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach generate continuous demand for local port drayage, intermodal, dedicated warehouse distribution, LTL, and private-fleet drivers. Employers place particular value on operators who hold an active TWIC card and understand appointment-based terminal procedures and chassis handling. Mid-sized carriers, national fleets, third-party logistics providers, and dedicated intermodal contractors all compete for the same qualified pool. Hourly pay with overtime remains the dominant model for local work, while home-daily schedules continue to attract experienced drivers who prefer to stay within Southern California. Demand stays relatively steady year-round because international import volumes and domestic distribution never fully pause.

Location & Freight Market

The Inland Empire sits at the center of Southern California’s largest inland logistics cluster. Import containers arriving from Asia move first through the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, then travel inland along I-10, I-15, I-215, CA-60, and I-710 to warehouses, cross-docks, transload facilities, and fulfillment centers in Ontario, Fontana, Rialto, Bloomington, Colton, and neighboring industrial cities. Many shipments are transloaded into domestic trailers for nationwide distribution; others remain in international containers until they reach regional customers or export staging yards. The freight mix mirrors the region’s diverse economy—retail merchandise, consumer electronics, furniture, apparel, industrial components, food products, packaging materials, and e-commerce inventory. Seasonal peaks align with major retail import cycles and holiday inventory builds. Traffic congestion, vessel schedules, and equipment availability influence daily volumes more than weather. Efficient chassis utilization and tight appointment coordination keep freight moving through one of North America’s busiest intermodal corridors.

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