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Local CDL-A Position Home Daily

CDL-A Foodservice Delivery Driver

Hiring Area: King, Snohomish, Pierce, Kitsap, Thurston Counties • Terminal: Seattle-area distribution center

Seattle, WA Local Multi-Stop 2–5 Year Tractors

Multi-stop refrigerated foodservice routes from the Seattle-area DC deliver restaurant and institutional freight across the central Puget Sound, earning $1,750–$2,250 weekly with home-daily returns after early-morning starts.

Weekly Gross
$1,750–$2,250
Estimated Annual Gross: $91,000–$117,000
Typical Annualized Pay: ≈ $96,200–$106,600
Sign-On Bonus Up to $2,000
Home Time Home Daily
Driver Type Company Driver
Weekly Hours 45–55
Freight Type Refrigerated + Dry Foodservice

Position Overview

Physical multi-stop foodservice work combines tractor-trailer operation with customer-site unloading for restaurants, hotels, hospitals, universities and casinos throughout the Puget Sound.

  • Verify trailer temperature, route sequence and product condition before departure.
  • Unload mixed cases using liftgate, hand truck or electric pallet jack.
  • Obtain electronic signatures and document shortages or damage.
  • Protect cold-chain integrity during repeated door openings.
  • Communicate traffic or customer delays to dispatch for resequencing.
  • Return empty pallets, rejected product and equipment to the yard.

Pay & Compensation Breakdown

Compensation is structured as hourly pay with overtime and modest route/activity pay. The advertised weekly range reflects typical combinations of regular hours, overtime and activity pay. Sign-on bonus is paid separately and is excluded from weekly or annual figures.

Weekly Gross Range $1,750–$2,250
Hourly Rate $34.00–$38.50
Typical Weekly Gross ≈ $1,950–$2,050
Estimated Annual Gross $91,000–$117,000
Typical Annualized Pay ≈ $96,200–$106,600
Sign-On Bonus Up to $2,000
Safety Bonus Up to $1,000 annual
Referral Bonus $750

Example Pay Calculation

Weekly gross is produced primarily from hourly wages plus overtime. Illustrative example (actual results vary by exact hours, rate within the range, and any route activity pay):

  • 40 regular hours at $34.00–$38.50 = $1,360–$1,540
  • 5–15 overtime hours (typically time-and-a-half) = approximately $255–$866
  • Modest route/activity pay where applicable
  • Resulting weekly gross typically falls in the $1,750–$2,250 advertised range

Overtime rules follow applicable state and federal requirements. Higher weeks usually combine more overtime hours with fuller routes.

Schedule, Home Time & Routes

Home Time Home Daily
Operating Area King, Snohomish, Pierce, Kitsap, Thurston Counties
Terminal Seattle-area distribution center
Typical Hours 45–55 per week
Start Window 2:00–5:00 AM
Stops per Day 10–18
Typical Weekly Mileage Approximately 800–1,600 miles
Primary Schedule Monday–Friday; weekend rotation as needed

Local foodservice drivers generally accumulate fewer highway miles than regional or OTR drivers because compensation is driven primarily by hourly work, overtime and route activity rather than cents-per-mile.

Equipment & Cabin Specs

Tractors Freightliner Cascadia / Kenworth T680
Age Majority 2–5 years
Transmission Automatic
Configuration Day-cab, air-ride
Trailers 48–53 ft multi-temp reefer
Delivery Equipment Liftgate, electric pallet jack, hand truck
Technology ELD, tablet POD, GPS, dash camera

Assigned tractor when available; shared equipment used for maintenance coverage. Carrier or Thermo King units with active temperature monitoring.

Real Routes

Mixed temperature-zone loads of produce, dairy, meat, frozen, dry grocery and beverages leave the Kent–Auburn corridor for sequenced restaurant and institutional stops.

  • Kent → Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, Lynnwood or Renton sequences
  • Auburn → Tacoma, Puyallup, Federal Way loops
  • Kent → Olympia or Bremerton via SR-16 / WA-3
  • Primary corridors: I-5, I-405, SR-167, SR-18, SR-520, I-90
  • Dispatcher resequences for traffic, appointments or urgent orders
  • Possible midday reloads, pallet returns or emergency pickups

Typical Week & Daily Workflow

  • Arrive 2:00–5:00 AM, complete pre-trip and verify loaded trailer sequence.
  • First deliveries support early restaurant and institutional receiving windows.
  • Continue multi-stop sequence, adjusting for congestion or customer availability.
  • Later stops often face tighter windows during lunch service or closing periods.
  • Return to yard for post-trip, equipment report and electronic close-out.
  • Monday and Friday typically heavier; Tuesday–Thursday more predictable.
  • Holiday weeks increase case counts and shift receiving hours.

About the Operating Model

Restaurant, hotel, hospital, university and casino kitchens across the central and southern Puget Sound require daily replenishment of temperature-controlled and dry foodservice products. The operating model described for this position is typical of a mid-sized regional foodservice carrier that runs multi-stop delivery routes out of the Seattle-area distribution belt, sequencing mixed loads so product reaches commercial kitchens within tight receiving windows. The work links food-grade warehouses in the Kent–Auburn corridor with the dense hospitality and institutional customer base that defines Western Washington food distribution.

Benefits & Healthcare Coverage

Health Coverage Medical, dental, vision
Retirement 401(k) with company match
Paid Time Off Vacation and designated holidays
Uniforms Provided
Boot Reimbursement Safety footwear program
DOT Medical Renewal support
Training Paid orientation and route training

Driver Qualification Requirements

  • Valid Class A CDL
  • 12 months recent tractor-trailer experience
  • Acceptable MVR meeting insurance standards
  • Current DOT medical card and ability to pass drug screen
  • Ability to lift/carry cases up to 75 lbs and operate pallet jack
  • Comfortable with ELD and tablet-based POD systems

Operational Delays

  • I-5, I-405 and SR-520 congestion during morning commute
  • Customer receiving delays of 15–60 minutes common
  • Limited alley or loading-zone space at downtown restaurants
  • Holiday and event volume increases warehouse and receiving congestion
  • Winter rain or occasional snow/ice on higher approaches

Hiring Process

1
Apply
Online or phone application
2
Screening
Recruiter call and MVR review
3
Verification
Drug screen, Clearinghouse, background
4
Onboarding
Paid orientation and route training

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is prior foodservice experience required? ▼
No. Solid tractor-trailer experience is required; foodservice or multi-stop background is preferred but not mandatory.
Q: How physical is the unloading work? ▼
Drivers repeatedly move cases up to 75 lbs with hand trucks or electric pallet jacks and work outdoors in varying weather. Most restaurant stops are driver-unloaded.
Q: Are routes fixed every day? ▼
Routes are pre-planned but can be resequenced during the day for traffic, customer windows or urgent orders.
Q: What happens with temperature alarms or product issues? ▼
Contact dispatch and maintenance immediately; do not deliver questionable product without authorization.
Q: Is overnight parking at the terminal? ▼
Yes. Tractors stay at the designated Seattle-area yard or approved satellite location; loaded trailers are not taken home.
Q: How long does the hiring process usually take? ▼
Typically 5–10 business days depending on record return and screening results.
Q: Are lumpers used at every stop? ▼
Most restaurant stops are driver-unloaded. Larger institutional accounts may require third-party lumpers under customer procedure.
Q: What endorsements are required? ▼
A valid Class A CDL is required. No specific additional endorsements (such as doubles/triples or tank) are listed as mandatory for this local foodservice role; confirm current requirements during screening.
Q: Are weekends required? ▼
The primary schedule is Monday–Friday. Weekend rotation may be needed depending on volume and coverage requirements.
Q: How many miles do local foodservice drivers typically run? ▼
Approximately 800–1,600 miles per week. Local foodservice compensation is driven mainly by hourly pay, overtime and route activity rather than cents-per-mile, so weekly mileage is lower than typical regional or OTR work.
Q: Is overtime available and how does it affect pay? ▼
Yes. Typical weeks include 45–55 total hours. Overtime (usually time-and-a-half after 40 hours) is a significant part of reaching the higher end of the $1,750–$2,250 weekly range.
Q: How much does a Seattle foodservice CDL-A driver make? ▼
For this type of local multi-stop foodservice role, weekly gross is commonly $1,750–$2,250, translating to an estimated annual gross of roughly $91,000–$117,000, with typical annualized pay often falling around $96,200–$106,600 depending on hours and overtime.

CDL Job Market

Seattle’s CDL-A market remains competitive rather than saturated. The combination of a major metro population, the Seattle–Tacoma port complex, extensive distribution warehouses and strong retail, hospitality, healthcare and institutional demand creates steady openings across foodservice, LTL, grocery, parcel, dedicated retail, intermodal and port drayage. Foodservice carriers face an extra recruiting hurdle because drivers must accept physical unloading and customer-facing work instead of pure dock-to-dock driving. Experienced Class A drivers with multi-stop or reefer backgrounds are particularly sought after, and compensation packages in the higher local range are common for those willing to perform the physical side of the job. Local and regional home-daily roles dominate the market, while OTR and specialized positions remain available for drivers seeking different schedules.

Location & Freight Market

The central Puget Sound concentrates foodservice freight around the Kent–Auburn–Tacoma distribution belt rather than the downtown core. Food-grade warehouses in this corridor feed restaurants, hotels, hospitals, universities, casinos and catering operations throughout King, Snohomish, Pierce, Kitsap and Thurston counties via I-5, I-405, SR-167, SR-18 and the Tacoma network. Recurring daily replenishment of fresh, frozen and dry products keeps multi-stop routes dense. Port activity, retail distribution and institutional demand further sustain year-round volume, while holiday and event peaks add temporary surges. Geography favors short-haul, high-stop operations that return drivers home daily, making the region a consistent source of local foodservice and grocery distribution work.

Job Verification / Listing Information

Job Category Local Foodservice
Location Seattle, WA (King, Snohomish, Pierce, Kitsap, Thurston Counties)
Employment Type Company Driver
Pay Type Hourly + overtime (+ modest route/activity pay)
Home Time Daily
Last Reviewed August 2026
Source Verified listing / recruiter-aligned data

Pay figures, schedule details and requirements are presented for transparency. Actual offers may vary based on experience, exact hours worked and final employer terms. See our Editorial Policy, How We Verify and Our Data Sources for methodology.

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