Thanks for posting toolman. These are the sentiments that I've heard from the current intermodal drivers and this is exactly what I'm interested in. I like to stay preplanned, run hard all day and then go home. Sitting without a plan or waiting in dock for hours at a time is extremely frustrating. I'm a runner not a sitter. I live within 25 miles of JB's intermodal ramp in Middletown, PA. With any luck I'll get the transfer and be shuttling rail cars within a few weeks.
yes,...I worked there for 4 years...2 years doing regional with weekends off...2 years local with weekends off...2004 to 2008...I retired in April 2008 to work the family business....It was a great job....I lived 27 miles from the rail...the 2 years I worked regional out of the railyard I was able to park the truck at home....when I switched to local I had to park the truck at the rail....we did not slip seat unless our truck was in the shop and not available....then I would take a truck out of the yard of another driver who was off....we were dispatched out of the rail yard so you could communicate face to face with your fleet manager....if you find INTERMODAL is not the best job in trucking then you are not cut out to be a driver.....BE A DRIVER NOT A WHINER
Im intermodal out of the haslet, tx yard and I like it pretty well. I get home everynight and get pretty decent pay. No real complaints from me.
How set in stone is their 24 months of experience requirement? In a few months I may buy my own truck would they let me pull their intermodal trailers for a local or regional gig?
I worked out of the rail yard in Hazlet for 4 years...2 years of regional with Saturday and Sunday off each week...take home was about $800 - $850 a week...2 years of local..I was hesitant at first to go local because I thought I would make less money but I would be home every night...turns out I made more money...about $900 to $1000 per week and still home every night...the reason was I was paid Hub miles and paid for the drops...I started work at 10:00 am and was required to work 9 hours each day...If I worked the legal 14 hour day I would make $200 to $220 a day...I could if I chose, work 6 days a week if I wanted more money...most of the work was deliveries that were drops and then you either had a pre loaded pick up to take back to the rail...if not you were either told to go find an empty or just a chassis to bring back...that paid $20.00 plus mileage...You had to fill out your own pay sheet everyday...If you made a mistake you loose...If you have been and OTR driver you will truly appreciate the rail....DO NOT PASS UP A JOB AT THE RAIL....ps. if there is no frieght you go home...NOT A TRUCK STOP
Tool53 hit the nail on the head. Im a local intermodal driver for jb hunt in atlanta ga and I average around 900 to 1300 dollars a week. We have plenty of work and seems like were getting more. I am no recruiter or some jb hunt cheerleader or whatever else u can think of. I was regoinal for a while and during that time I would average 800 to 1000, if I run my tail off. Regoinal will not get home every single night but u can definitely get home atleast 2 to 3 nights In a regular work week. Where I work is pretty laid back just come and get the work don. I can't lie my intermodal time has been pretty enjoyable...... If ur in the Atlanta area our intermodal team here can keep u busy.
I have seen a few ads for the intermodal lately. I am an o/o I was curious about how well this works for an owner/operator. I am home now qiute often so I'm interested more in the income side. Also how is it pulling out of a rail yard? I have only seen some ports and man that seems to get crazy. Also I live here in Florida. Thanks for any info in advance.
I've seen long backups going into the ports also. The railyards aren't that bad. Most times I can get in and out in 20 minutes or less. The only real delay I encounter is when a train is blocking the entrance/exit. That can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour but I only run into that once every 7-10 days or so. It can be tight maneuvering depending on which ramp you're running out of and you have to be real alert cause some of the jockeys drive pretty aggressively but all in all you get used to it after a few weeks. I personally like intermodal as there seems to be a never ending supply of freight and good potential to make great money if you are efficient.
@catfishbilly..I currently drive for Jb on the atl to Indy loop..im interested in the local intermodal..been there 4 months..is it hard to get on that?
K_ivey if u have ur hazardous material endorsement ur good to go. U have to start off regoinal at first atleast 6 months then u can switch over local. Most of the guys u kno only had to run regoinal at the most 8 months. The terminal manager is Tyler Wheeler. Talk to Tyler if u want to pull intermodal cus corporate will give u the run around. Give me ur e-mail and i'll send u Tyler's number.
