🗺 Location & Routes
- Terminal base: Kent area, serving Seattle metro and Western Washington
- Primary territory: Western Washington farms to Puget Sound plants, occasional Oregon and Idaho
- Route style: Regional farm-to-plant milk haul
- Typical cycle: 2–4 days out with planned resets
🛢️ Tanker Sanitation & Farm Pickup Operations
- Multiple farm stops per load (4–8 typical) with hose connections and sampling
- Strict temperature control and food-grade protocols required at every point
- Washouts paid when needed at approved facilities with in-house bay support
- Weight distribution and hose securement critical on rural roads and grades
- Early starts common (1–6 AM) due to 24/7 dairy milking schedules
📍 Pacific Northwest Dairy Lane Patterns
- North runs into Whatcom/Skagit counties for farm pickups
- South toward Portland metro plants and occasional eastern Washington
- Longer legs can reach western Idaho processors during peak periods
- I-5 corridor mixed with two-lane rural farm roads and some mountain grades
- Seasonal volume spikes in spring flush, slower winter pace
💰 Actual Earnings Flow on Milk Hauls
- Base mileage covers loaded and empty miles
- Stop pay $25 per farm pickup on top of mileage
- Detention after 2 hours at $30/hr
- Quarterly safety and performance bonuses available
- Average 2,200–2,800 miles per week depending on dispatch mix
📋 What the Runs Actually Look Like
Drivers start from the Kent terminal and head out for raw milk pickups from dairies across Western Washington. Loads often involve several farm stops before delivery to processing plants in the Puget Sound area. Backhauls are typically empty or light equipment moves. Dispatch balances regular and spot loads. Expect traffic around Seattle-Tacoma on returns and possible delays at busy farms during flush. Full compliance with temperature logs, sanitation, and HOS is non-negotiable. This is hands-on tanker work with physical elements at the farms but no-touch once loaded at plants.
✅ Driver Qualification Snapshot
CDL & Endorsements
Valid Class A CDL with Tanker endorsement required
Experience
Minimum 2 years CDL-A, 1+ year tanker or food-grade preferred
Record
Clean MVR, PSP, and Clearinghouse. Able to pass food-grade background
Physical
Willing to handle hoses, climb tanks occasionally, and perform washouts
Other
Current DOT physical and drug screen. Strong food safety mindset
🚛 Tractors & Tankers You’ll Run
- Late model 2021–2025 Peterbilt and Kenworth tractors (mix of automatic and manual)
- 5,500–6,000 gallon insulated food-grade stainless steel tankers with pumps and hoses
- Fleet average age 2–4 years, maintained in-house with dedicated tanker wash bay
- ELDs, cameras, and idle reduction tech standard
🏠 Schedule & Reset Reality
- Most drivers home 2–3 nights per week with weekly reset when routes allow
- Weekend home time prioritized but subject to dairy production needs
- Rotating early starts and occasional paid hotel stays on longer cycles
- Average 50–65 hours per week with full HOS compliance
🎁 What Supports the Position
❓ Questions Drivers Usually Have
How consistent is the home time?
2–4 day cycles are standard. Most weeks include 2-3 nights at home, though spring flush can push some runs longer. Dispatch works to protect weekends when possible.
Is tanker experience mandatory?
Minimum 2 years CDL-A required. At least 1 year tanker or food-grade strongly preferred due to sanitation and temperature requirements.
What does a typical day involve?
Early farm pickups with hose work, sampling, and checks. Multiple stops per load then delivery to plants. Empty or light backhauls common.
How is pay calculated?
Mileage on all miles plus per-stop and detention pay. Averages shown reflect consistent performance in the current market.
🔗 CDL-A Regional Dairy Bulk Tanker Driver (Farm-to-Plant Milk Haul) – Seattle, WA
Drivers based out of the Kent terminal near Seattle handle raw milk transport from Western Washington dairies to Puget Sound processing facilities with occasional longer runs into Oregon and Idaho. The work centers on bulk food-grade tankers requiring careful temperature management, thorough sanitation between loads, and attention to weight on rural farm roads. Expect 2–4 day regional cycles that usually get drivers home 2-3 nights weekly, though dairy flush seasons increase volume and can extend some turns. Pay runs $0.68–$0.74 per mile plus stop and detention compensation, leading to weekly averages of $1,650–$2,100 for drivers averaging 2,200–2,800 miles. Traffic on I-5, early morning starts, and plant/farm timing are regular parts of the operation. Late-model Peterbilt and Kenworth tractors pull well-maintained stainless tankers. This role suits experienced tanker drivers comfortable with hose connections, sampling, washouts, and strict FDA/USDA compliance in variable Pacific Northwest conditions.
🚀 Apply for This CDL-A Position
Complete the form below to apply for CDL-A Regional Dairy Bulk Tanker Driver (Farm-to-Plant Milk Haul) in Seattle / Kent, WA.