Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach

I agree it is low and I'm not positive how much they make there is a point to be made here about the culturally dominated by one nationality the way the ports are and how that in turns brings down wages but I'm not going into it . I work in the Pacific northwest and I don't think logging truck drivers make enough either some company's are pretty low $14 an hour is not uncommon in parts of Oregon and Washington.

 

your problem might be that you are brand new, insurance companies are cracking down anymore and wanting at least 3 yrs exp. before they will let the company hire

 

I was approached by someone recently who spun a tale of a company that is hiring port drivers for $23 an hour 50 hours a week overtime after 40. I'll have to look into it, but you know what they say... If it sounds too good to be true...

With that being said, I would definitely be looking to get paid by the hour. Those ports are un predictable. Some days you'll be able to pick up multiple loads and be in and out of there within an hour or two. Other times it'll take a few hours just to get to the speakers. Then there are the chassis shortages that happen from time to time. You'll be competing with several other bobtails to get one chassis. Sometimes the position of your container will be in a jam packed area and you'll have to wait some more. The guys that are paid by the load will be driving through the ports like maniacs to make up a few extra seconds. In conclusion I advise not taking any job at the ports that pays by the load. You'll feel a lot better about these issues, among others, knowing you're getting paid every hour.

 

Port and rail companies don't take rookies, I think it might have to do more with the ports and rails than insurance. Even with jb hunt they require 12 months to do intermodal, they'll let you drive otr regional with little as 3.

 

Transcorps that operate out of Harrisburg PA do take newbie hires still. They are the only one that I'm aware of that will hire a new driver to work rails. JB Hunt did lower it's standard about a year and a half ago down to 4 months experience when they were massively behind on freight. It was a dumb move because the accidents went through the roof when they did that. They raised there standard back up again I believe but for awhile they got desperate for drivers.

Granted the op is asking about LA and Long Beach specifically about ports and not rails but it might be possible for him to find a company that will hire him. Whether that company is one you would want to work for if you have experience is a whole other matter. Generally though most places do want experience and quite frankly I can't blame them. You should have a year's experience before doing intermodal regardless if it's ports, rails or both.

 

I work the ports. Depending on how you work you can make from 200 $ for 1 day to 1,500 plus for 5 days. Its all on you. Most companies pay by the load but there's plenty of companies here that pay hourly. Honestly you'll make more per trip if you know the tricks. Like double transactions, double gate pass where to get the chassis etc. The hourly rates from what I've heard are from 18$+ to over 23 an hr with union and benefits. As for if there's companies that hire newbies? Yup plenty of them you just have to be like 24 or 23. Hopefully this helps

 

You have an advantage over most of us... You're being trained specifically for the ports. When I started down there I had zero experience and zero training. Had to learn everything for myself by trial and error and asking other drivers.