Container Hauling Jobs

I have hauled containers many times.  Sometimes I picked up from drop yard and take it to the railyard or to customers.  Some times I picked up the container from the rail yard to deliver to the customer.  Lots of trucker haul containers from the port.  I never picked one up from the port.

I enjoyed the work and the pay was great.  Little waiting and each time I was home before 6.  Some times before 3.  But that was a light day.  Pay for hauling containers was from $800 - $1175 as owner operator each day but not every day.  Freight was slow at the time.  The video below is picking up at a drop yard and delivering to rail yard. 

The other one is going to a customer.

I've talked to many drivers who love it and many who hate it.  Most of the waiting at ports that they complained about has been corrected.

It's just like anything else, people have their preferences and different jobs speak to different people. Some trucking companies have good management and a smooth operation and pays their drivers fairly.

I have talked to company drivers who got paid more than average trucking jobs and drivers who got paid a less than average trucking jobs. Used to be a lot of time wasted at ports when I heard the most complaining from drivers pulling containers. That may have been just their outfits.

I do know a guy who bought 3 trucks (maybe more now) while hauling containers to put other drivers in them to also haul containers. 

This implies that there is money to be made with the right container trucking outfit.

When Hauling Containers

You have to be careful with containers because you usually don't know what's in it or how it's loaded.  Take it slow around curves it could be top heavy.

  • Make sure you lock the trailer to the chassis
  • Make sure your mud flap is going to get torn off by the chassis
  • If it's heavy you might want to get axled out on a scale.
  • Carry a clothes hanger or wire to lock the doors back

These containers can be pretty raggedy.  Look them over closely and do the pre-trip.  Also be careful if you see bee's swarming.  Could be a hive there.

Tell Us More About This Type of Trucking Job

Can you give us a better description of what it is like to have this type of trucking job?

How is it different from pulling a dry van? What extra training will you need? How long does it take get get trained?

Did you go to a school to get training or did you learn on the job? Is there a school that provides the training for this type of job?

What extra responsibilities did you have pulling this type of freight?

How long did you do this type of trucking job for?

Did you like it? Was it difficult?

Was the extra work worth the money or did you get the same pay as when you pulled dry van?

Thanks to all who make the site useful b sharing information!

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Transporting a shipping container 
I don't want a job. I am looking for someone that has a job or even just a truck n trailer. I have a container in AZ. it is My own personal shipping …

New port haulers 
My wife retired from teaching and bought two day cabs. I sold my logging co and we started pulling containers a few weeks ago. The Savannah port is …

Haulin cans is the only kind of trucking I have ever done :) 
I got into haulin containers right outta truck drivin school in 1987. That's all I've done ever since. So I really am not qualified to compare to other …

Container hauling trucking companies 
I have been off the road for 7 years. Had I known 7 years ago what I know today I would have stayed in trucking. My question is how do you find companies …

container haulling Not rated yet
Pulling kaolin an dog food drop an hook an port work have my twice in hand

Click here to write your own.



New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.






Tips For New Drivers

Types of Trucking Jobs

Popular Pages