Regional CDL-A Position Dry Van
CDL-A Regional Paper Packaging Driver - New Equipment
Hiring Area: Birmingham, AL • Terminal: Birmingham, AL
Birmingham, AL Regional Dedicated 2021–2025 Tractors
Haul palletized paper packaging on regional dry van lanes supporting Alabama manufacturing plants and neighboring-state customers. Earn $1,550–$2,100 weekly ($80,600–$109,200 annually) with home weekly and only 1–2 nights out.
Weekly Gross
$1,550–$2,100
Estimated Annual: $80,600–$109,200
Sign-On Bonus Up to $1,000
Home Time Home Weekly • 1–2 Nights Out
Driver Type Company Driver
Weekly Miles 2,400–3,000
Freight Type Paper Packaging
Regional dry van role focused on paper packaging freight that keeps Birmingham-area manufacturing and industrial customers supplied on predictable schedules.
- Checks bills of lading, seals, and delivery paperwork at every stop.
- Updates dispatch immediately on delays or equipment concerns.
- Performs thorough pre-trip and post-trip inspections each day.
- Holds appointment windows at production plants and warehouses.
- Reports trailer status and availability after every delivery.
- Follows plant and yard procedures exactly as required by customers.
All miles paid at a clear CPM rate; detention adds extra when plants or DCs run behind.
Weekly Gross $1,550–$2,100
Estimated Annual $80,600–$109,200
CPM Rate $0.65–$0.70 all miles
Detention $25/hour after 2 hours
Sign-On Bonus $500 after 30 days + $500 after 90 days
Pay Frequency Weekly direct deposit
Home Time Home Weekly • 1–2 Nights Out
Operating Area Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee + short runs into neighboring states
Terminal Birmingham, AL
Weekly Miles 2,400–3,000 paid
Dispatch Window Most assignments planned 24–48 hours ahead
Tractors Freightliner Cascadia 2022–2025 / Kenworth T680 2021–2024
Transmission Automated manual
Safety Tech Collision mitigation, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise where equipped
Trailers 53-ft dry van (2018–2025), air-ride, swing doors, logistics posts, load locks
Assignment Assigned tractor when available; rotation during maintenance cycles
Sleeper cabs standard for regional work. ELD, electronic messaging, and dash cameras installed. Scheduled preventive maintenance plus roadside assistance coordinated from the terminal.
Corrugated boxes, packaging sheets, paperboard, and industrial packaging supplies move from Birmingham production and converting plants to manufacturers, food processors, automotive suppliers, and distribution centers. Freight is palletized, dry, non-hazardous, and forklift-loaded.
- Birmingham–Atlanta on the I-20 corridor for finished packaging and industrial materials.
- Birmingham–Huntsville via I-65 / I-565 supporting aerospace and technology suppliers.
- Birmingham–Memphis through I-22 / I-40 for warehouse and distribution freight.
- Birmingham–Nashville on I-65 for industrial and regional DC deliveries.
- Birmingham–Montgomery and Columbus, GA for Alabama–Georgia manufacturing lanes.
- Rotations often combine Atlanta backhauls or Nashville–Huntsville segments.
- Operational mix runs 50–60% live load/unload and 30–40% drop-and-hook.
- Week opens with a pre-trip and pickup at a Birmingham manufacturing plant or warehouse.
- Midweek typically includes two to four regional loads tied to plant and DC appointment windows.
- Live loading commonly runs 45 minutes to two hours depending on production readiness and dock space.
- Warehouse unloading averages one to two hours; some facilities turn trailers faster.
- Next assignment usually arrives before the current delivery is complete when freight allows.
- Friday ends with a final delivery or repositioning near Birmingham for weekend home time.
- Any required 34-hour reset is completed during scheduled home time.
About the Carrier
Paper converting and packaging plants need dependable regional transportation to keep corrugated products, sheets, and industrial packaging flowing to manufacturers and warehouses. A mid-sized regional fleet of approximately 70–100 power units operates from a Birmingham terminal model, matching late-model sleeper tractors and 53-ft dry vans to production shipping windows across Alabama and neighboring states. Preventive maintenance programs and terminal-based roadside support keep equipment reliable for appointment-driven freight. The operation focuses on consistent utilization within a compact network rather than long-haul OTR, balancing trailer turns with customer production schedules in Atlanta, Memphis, Huntsville, and Nashville corridors.
Health Coverage Medical, dental, and vision options
Retirement 401(k) with company participation
Orientation Paid orientation
Safety & Compliance Safety recognition opportunities; paid DOT physical renewal after eligibility
Support Terminal parking for tractor and personal vehicle; company ELD provided
- Valid CDL Class A and current DOT medical certification
- Minimum 12 months CDL-A experience preferred; regional dry van, manufacturing, or dedicated freight experience strongly preferred
- Acceptable MVR and employment history with no serious preventable violations
- Ability to meet company safety standards and all DOT regulations
- Plant dock congestion when production schedules change
- Extended waits at distribution centers during month-end or seasonal peaks
- Traffic and construction around Birmingham, Atlanta, Huntsville, and Nashville
- Weather delays on I-20, I-65, and I-22 corridors
- Last-minute appointment shifts caused by customer production issues
1
Recruiter Call
Contact within one business day
2
Screening
CDL, MVR, employment, Clearinghouse, drug screen
3
Offer & Orientation
Offer followed by 5–10 day terminal onboarding
4
First Dispatch
Tractor assignment and start after orientation
Q: Is physical freight handling part of the job? ▼
No. All loads are palletized and moved by forklift at plants and warehouses.
Q: How are overnight parking spots arranged? ▼
Dispatch plans overnight parking at approved customer yards, secured drop yards, or established truck stops along the main corridors before evening hours.
Q: What if a plant is not ready when I arrive? ▼
You wait while production finishes the order. Detention pay starts after two hours and is documented through arrival and departure times.
Q: How critical is trailer condition for paper products? ▼
Drivers inspect floors, doors, and seals for moisture before accepting any load. Maintenance responds quickly to trailer issues.
Q: Are the lanes fixed or do they change? ▼
Lanes shift with customer production needs and trailer availability, but stay inside the Alabama–Georgia–Tennessee–Mississippi network.
Q: How often does detention happen in a normal week? ▼
Usually one or two times per week. Typical weekly detention totals $50–$100.
Birmingham maintains steady CDL-A demand driven by automotive suppliers, industrial manufacturing, food production, and distribution centers. Regional and dedicated dry van roles form the largest share of openings, followed by local positions and limited specialized work. Drivers with solid safety records and at least a year of experience find consistent opportunities across national fleets, regional carriers, and private fleets. Construction materials, consumer goods, and packaging freight keep hiring active year-round. The city’s interstate network supports both short regional runs and longer Southeast lanes, giving drivers a wide range of schedule and equipment choices without leaving the metro area.
Positioned at the junction of I-20, I-22, I-65, and I-59, Birmingham links Atlanta, Memphis, Nashville, Huntsville, and Montgomery with efficient regional capacity. Automotive suppliers, metal fabricators, food processors, and construction firms generate continuous freight in both directions. Packaging materials sit at the center of these supply chains because virtually every finished-goods producer requires corrugated boxes, paperboard, and converted packaging. Warehouses and distribution centers clustered along the interstates create reliable demand for dry van capacity. Seasonal inventory cycles raise volume at times, yet the underlying manufacturing base keeps loads moving throughout the year. The combination of production plants, interstate access, and proximity to larger Southeast markets sustains a consistent flow of industrial and packaging-related freight.
