Regional CDL-A Foodservice Delivery
CDL-A Regional Foodservice Delivery Driver – Memphis, TN
Hiring Area: Memphis Metro • Regional Tennessee and Mid-South Routes
Memphis, TN Hourly + Overtime Multi-Stop Reefer
Deliver refrigerated, frozen and dry food products to restaurants and institutional customers on regional routes from Memphis. Earn $1,450–$1,850 per week in gross pay, with overtime after 40 hours, a practical equipment package and several nights at home most weeks. Expect early starts and hands-on unloading.
Weekly Gross Pay
$1,450–$1,850
Estimated Annual: $75,400–$96,200
Hourly Rate $27–$32
Overtime 1.5× after 40 hours
Sign-On Bonus Up to $1,500
Home Time Several nights weekly
Weekly Hours 48–55 typical
Freight Frozen, chilled and dry
Job Status: Currently Hiring
• Last Verified: October 10, 2026
Regional food distribution combines highway driving with scheduled customer deliveries. Drivers handle both transportation and the physical delivery process.
- Inspect the tractor, trailer, refrigeration unit and load before departure.
- Deliver 6–10 restaurant or institutional orders on a typical multi-stop route.
- Move pallets and cases using pallet jacks and hand trucks.
- Verify product counts, temperature requirements, seals and delivery paperwork.
- Document shortages, damaged goods, customer refusals and return freight.
- Coordinate appointment changes, delays and available hours with dispatch.
- Follow food-safety procedures and applicable DOT hours-of-service rules.
Pay is hourly, with overtime at 1.5 times the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek. Actual earnings depend on the assigned route, hours worked and eligible additional pay.
Hourly Rate $27–$32
Overtime Rate $40.50–$48.00
Weekly Gross $1,450–$1,850
Annualized Gross $75,400–$96,200
Sign-On Bonus Up to $1,500
Bonus Schedule $500 after 30, 90 and 180 days
Annual figures assume 52 paid weeks at the stated weekly range. The bonus is separate from regular earnings and subject to eligibility and continued-employment terms. Weekly pay is gross, before taxes and deductions.
Dispatch Approximately 3:00–6:00 AM
Workweek Usually 5 days, 48–55 hours
Weekly Mileage 1,500–2,100 miles
Operating Radius Approximately 200–300 road miles
Home Time Several nights most weeks
Overnights Typically 1–2 nights when assigned
Delivery windows and customer volume affect finish times. Not every route returns to Memphis daily; overnight assignments depend on dispatch and the delivery schedule.
Tractors Freightliner Cascadia and Volvo VNL
Model Years Primarily 2021–2025, with older units in rotation
Cab Configuration Regional sleepers and selected day cabs
Transmission Automatic
Trailers 53-foot refrigerated trailers
Refrigeration Thermo King or comparable units
Safety Systems ELD, electronic inspections, collision mitigation on equipped units
Assignments Assigned truck when available; occasional slip-seating
Delivery equipment includes pallet jacks, hand trucks and liftgates where fitted. Tractor and trailer assignments depend on route requirements and maintenance availability.
Routes originate at Memphis-area food distribution facilities and serve restaurant, hospitality and institutional accounts across the Mid-South.
- Memphis, TN – Jackson, TN via I-40 and US-45
- Memphis, TN – Nashville, TN via I-40
- Memphis, TN – Little Rock, AR via I-40
- Memphis, TN – Jackson, MS via I-55
- Memphis, TN – Tupelo, MS via US-78 and I-22 connections
- Memphis, TN – Jonesboro, AR via I-40 and US-63 connections
- Memphis, TN – Birmingham, AL via I-22, subject to assigned customer stops
These are representative service corridors, not guaranteed daily runs. Actual stops, reloads and return times depend on customer orders and dispatch planning.
- Check in at dispatch and complete the pre-trip inspection.
- Verify trailer temperature, load condition, seal and delivery documents.
- Follow the assigned route and customer appointment sequence.
- Unload cases or pallets and confirm quantities with receiving staff.
- Submit electronic proof of delivery and report exceptions promptly.
- Contact dispatch about traffic, dock delays, returns or reload instructions.
- Complete post-trip checks and park at the terminal or approved overnight location.
About the Carrier
A mid-sized regional food distributor moves refrigerated, frozen and shelf-stable products from warehouse facilities to restaurants, hotels, schools and healthcare customers. Operations combine scheduled deliveries with changing customer requirements, so drivers work closely with dispatch, warehouse staff and receiving teams. The fleet uses practical regional tractors and refrigerated trailers maintained through a regular service program. Work is hands-on, with early departures, delivery documentation and occasional overnight routes. Consistent attendance, safe driving, accurate order handling and professional customer service are important to keeping deliveries on schedule.
Healthcare Medical, dental and vision plans
Retirement 401(k) with company contribution, subject to plan terms
Paid Leave Vacation and eligible paid holidays
Insurance Basic life coverage and optional supplemental plans
Training Paid orientation and route familiarization
Additional Safety training and driver referral opportunities
Benefit availability, waiting periods and employee contributions depend on the applicable plan and eligibility requirements.
- Valid Class A CDL and minimum age of 21.
- At least 6 months of qualifying commercial driving experience preferred.
- Foodservice, grocery delivery or other multi-stop experience is an advantage.
- Acceptable motor vehicle record and DOT qualification status.
- Ability to lift, carry and maneuver food cases, including heavier items, with proper equipment and safe handling techniques.
- Ability to use pallet jacks, hand trucks, electronic logs and delivery scanning systems.
- Successful completion of applicable background, drug-screening and road-test requirements.
No HazMat or tanker endorsement is normally required for this refrigerated foodservice assignment.
- Warehouse loading queues and incomplete orders before departure.
- Customer receiving windows, dock congestion and manual unloading.
- Traffic around I-240, I-40, I-55 and Memphis distribution corridors.
- Product shortages, damaged cases, returns and order-count discrepancies.
- Severe thunderstorms, winter weather and holiday delivery volume.
Drivers must document arrival and departure times, notify dispatch of significant delays and follow legal hours-of-service limits rather than rushing to recover a schedule.
1
Application Review
CDL, experience and employment history
2
Recruiter Call
Pay structure, schedule and route expectations
3
Driver Qualification
MVR, background, Clearinghouse and drug screening
4
Road Test & Orientation
Driving evaluation and route training
Q: How much can a regional foodservice driver earn in Memphis? ▼
The advertised target range is $1,450–$1,850 gross per week, equivalent to $75,400–$96,200 over 52 paid weeks. Actual pay depends on the hourly rate, overtime and eligible additional compensation.
Q: Is overtime included in the weekly pay estimate? ▼
Yes. The estimate assumes a mix of regular hours and overtime. The stated overtime rate is 1.5 times the regular hourly rate after 40 hours in a workweek, subject to applicable law and payroll rules.
Q: Is this a home-daily driving job? ▼
Not consistently. Drivers can expect several nights at home most weeks, but some longer routes require one or two overnight stays depending on customer appointments and dispatch needs.
Q: Does the job involve unloading food products? ▼
Yes. Drivers handle palletized freight and individual cases using pallet jacks, hand trucks and liftgates where available. The position is more physical than a drop-and-hook linehaul job.
Q: How many customer stops are typical? ▼
A typical route may include 6–10 stops, although the number varies with order size, delivery windows, customer locations and the amount of freight handled at each stop.
Q: What experience and endorsements are required? ▼
A valid Class A CDL, age 21 or older and acceptable DOT qualifications are required. Six months of commercial driving experience is preferred. HazMat and tanker endorsements are not normally required.
Q: How is the sign-on bonus paid? ▼
The advertised maximum is $1,500, structured as three $500 installments after 30, 90 and 180 days. Each payment is subject to the applicable bonus eligibility and continued-employment terms.
Q: What happens when a customer or warehouse causes a delay? ▼
Record the relevant times, notify dispatch and document missing products, refused freight or other exceptions. Dispatch may adjust later stops, but drivers must observe HOS requirements and approved routing instructions.
Memphis offers a broad CDL-A employment market spanning food distribution, parcel operations, intermodal freight, LTL terminals and regional truckload carriers. Foodservice delivery occupies a distinct segment because drivers combine commercial driving with customer-facing unloading and early appointment schedules. Local competitors advertise hourly compensation, overtime opportunities and benefits, making the full workweek more important than the headline hourly rate alone. Drivers comparing Memphis foodservice jobs should evaluate realistic weekly hours, physical workload, stop counts, overnight frequency and bonus conditions. Experienced multi-stop drivers may be especially competitive for routes requiring accurate deliveries and dependable customer service.
Memphis connects Mid-South distribution facilities with customers across western Tennessee, eastern Arkansas, northern Mississippi and neighboring regional markets. I-40 and I-55 provide major east-west and north-south freight corridors, while I-240 connects industrial districts and warehouse areas around the city. Restaurant suppliers move frozen foods, meat, dairy, produce, beverages and shelf-stable goods on recurring replenishment schedules. Delivery conditions vary between large receiving docks, smaller restaurants and institutional kitchens, so route productivity depends on both highway mileage and unloading time. Holiday demand, weather and customer appointment windows can affect daily completion times.
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