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Regional CDL-A Position Linehaul

CDL-A Dry Van Linehaul Driver — Chattanooga, TN

Hiring Area: Chattanooga, TN • Terminal: Chattanooga, TN

Chattanooga, TN Regional Linehaul 3–5 Year Fleet

Southeast regional dry-van linehaul based in Chattanooga delivers $1,350–$1,850 weekly with home every 2–3 days. Drivers move no-touch palletized freight on night-oriented relays across the Atlanta–Nashville–Birmingham network.

Weekly Gross
$1,350–$1,850
Estimated Annual: $70,200–$96,200
Sign-On Bonus Up to $2,500
Home Time Every 2–3 Days
Driver Type Regional Linehaul
Weekly Miles 2,200–2,600
Freight Type No-Touch Dry Van

Position Overview

Scheduled dry-van linehaul operates through Chattanooga-area relay yards, distribution centers and manufacturing sites, exchanging preloaded equipment rather than performing multi-stop delivery.

  • Complete DOT-required pre-trip and post-trip inspections on every unit.
  • Confirm trailer seals, numbers and destination codes before departure.
  • Handle electronic BOL and POD documentation for each movement.
  • Update regional dispatch on traffic, HOS limits and appointment risks.
  • Couple and uncouple trailers during yard exchanges and customer drops.
  • Protect appointment windows by reporting delays as soon as they appear.

Pay & Compensation Breakdown

Mileage-based CPM structure pays for actual regional linehaul miles. Detention is calculated separately once the company waiting threshold is exceeded.

Weekly Gross Range $1,350–$1,850
Typical Weekly / Annual $1,650 / $85,800
CPM Rate $0.58–$0.67
Detention $25 per hour after threshold
Sign-On Bonus Up to $2,500 ($500 / $750 / $1,250 at 30 / 90 / 180 days)
Pay Frequency Weekly direct deposit

Schedule, Home Time & Routes

Home Time Every 2–3 days
Operating Corridor Southeast (Tennessee / Georgia / Alabama)
Base Terminal Chattanooga, TN
Paid Miles 2,200–2,600 per week
Dispatch Window Primary window approximately 4:00 PM–10:00 PM, start times varying by lane and relay schedule

Equipment & Cabin Specs

Fleet Age Approximately 3–5 years average
Tractor Makes Freightliner Cascadia and Volvo VNL sleeper cabs
Transmission Predominantly automatic
In-Cab Features APU on most sleepers, electronic logging system (ELD platform such as Samsara or comparable), forward-facing dash camera, collision mitigation, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise on newer units
Trailer / Assignment 53-ft dry van with logistics posts, load bars, swing doors, company seals and tandem axles; assigned tractor when fleet allows

No-touch freight; drivers generally do not load or unload pallets. Pre-departure trailer checks remain the driver’s responsibility.

Real Routes

Palletized retail, consumer goods, industrial products, automotive components and manufacturing-support freight circulate on a flexible Southeast relay pattern instead of fixed daily loops.

  • Chattanooga–Atlanta corridor on I-75 with frequent distribution-center exchanges.
  • Chattanooga–Nashville movements primarily via I-24 for retail and industrial volume.
  • Chattanooga–Birmingham runs using I-59 for two-way industrial freight.
  • Chattanooga–Knoxville segments on I-75 linking manufacturing and distribution.
  • Shorter northwest Georgia legs to Dalton and Middle Tennessee runs to Murfreesboro.
  • Occasional longer Southeast assignments to Huntsville or Macon when reloads balance equipment.

Typical Week & Daily Workflow

  • Next load assignment arrives several hours ahead or while the current trip is finishing.
  • Hook a preloaded sealed trailer at the Chattanooga terminal or relay yard after inspection.
  • Depart on the night or early-morning linehaul, commonly toward Atlanta or Nashville first.
  • Exchange equipment at the destination yard and accept the next compatible outbound trailer.
  • Continue on a balanced leg or return toward Chattanooga according to HOS and freight availability.
  • Home time begins once the current sequence returns the driver to the base market.

About This Regional Linehaul Operation

Keeping preloaded dry-van trailers moving between Southeast distribution centers, manufacturing plants and relay yards requires continuous equipment balance. The operation concentrates on terminal-to-terminal and DC-to-DC relays so freight keeps circulating through the Atlanta–Chattanooga–Nashville–Birmingham network without generating unnecessary empty miles. Retail, consumer and industrial shippers rely on that steady capacity. Drivers participate directly in the flow by exchanging sealed units, protecting appointment windows and adjusting sequences when HOS or trailer availability changes the plan.

Benefits & Healthcare Coverage

Health Coverage Medical, Dental, Vision
Retirement 401(k) with company contribution/match
Time Off Paid holidays and PTO after eligibility
Orientation & Payroll Paid orientation, weekly direct deposit
Additional Rider program subject to policy, safety and referral incentives, terminal parking when available

Driver Qualification Requirements

  • Valid Class A CDL
  • 6 months of recent tractor-trailer experience preferred; qualified CDL-A recent graduates may be considered based on safety history and training availability
  • Clean MVR meeting company insurance standards
  • Minimum age 21 and current DOT medical certification
  • No HazMat, Tanker or Doubles endorsements required

Operational Delays

  • Atlanta-area gate traffic, yard congestion and tight appointment windows
  • Construction and mountain grades on I-24 (Monteagle) and I-75
  • Weather impacts along Appalachian corridors and Southeast interstates
  • Trailer shortages or late inbound equipment at relay yards
  • Holiday and back-to-school retail peaks that increase warehouse dwell

Hiring Process

1
Application
Submit CDL, experience and medical details
2
Screening & Review
Recruiter contact, MVR and employment verification
3
Clearinghouse & Drug Screen
DOT drug test and FMCSA query
4
Orientation & First Dispatch
Paid orientation, equipment assignment, first load

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much of the work is drop-and-hook versus live loading? ▼
Most linehaul work is drop-and-hook. Live loading or unloading occurs on some customer accounts, with the mix varying by lane and season.
Q: Will I return with the same trailer I delivered? ▼
Not usually. Linehaul frequently requires exchanging for a different sealed outbound unit to keep the network balanced.
Q: Where do drivers park on multi-day cycles? ▼
Terminal or relay-yard spaces when available; otherwise approved customer lots, truck stops or travel plazas along the main corridors. Overnight parking is not guaranteed at every customer gate.
Q: Does the night-heavy schedule eliminate daytime work? ▼
Most departures fall in the afternoon-to-evening window, yet early-morning and occasional daytime relays still appear.
Q: What happens when the expected trailer is late or missing? ▼
Dispatch reassigns another unit or adjusts the sequence instead of leaving the driver waiting indefinitely.
Q: Are temporary or slip-seat trucks common? ▼
Assigned tractors are preferred, but maintenance cycles and coverage needs can produce temporary or slip-seat assignments.

CDL Job Market

Chattanooga anchors a competitive Southeast CDL-A market shaped by its location between Atlanta, Nashville, Birmingham and Knoxville. Regional dry-van, LTL, dedicated, intermodal, foodservice and flatbed carriers all draw from the same driver pool. Automotive suppliers, manufacturing support and distribution centers create consistent demand for Class A operators who value frequent home time rather than multi-week OTR cycles. Home-weekly and regional dry-van offers typically fall in the mid-$1,300 to mid-$1,600 weekly range, while higher-mileage or specialized positions can command more depending on time away. Multi-modal infrastructure—highway, rail, river and air—keeps freight volumes steady year-round and supports ongoing openings for both experienced drivers and recent graduates who meet safety standards.

Location & Freight Market

Positioned at the junction of I-24, I-75 and I-59, Chattanooga sits inside the core Southeast freight corridor linking Atlanta, Nashville, Birmingham and Knoxville. Automotive manufacturing, industrial production, retail distribution and warehousing generate continuous two-way dry-van volume. Palletized consumer goods, packaging materials and finished products leave local plants while inbound retail and replenishment freight arrives from larger distribution hubs. The same highway network that moves vehicle components also supports warehouse-to-store and DC-to-DC traffic, allowing carriers that balance equipment to limit empty miles. Retail peaks raise both volume and congestion; winter weather on mountain grades can slow transit. Multi-modal links—highway, rail, barge and air—underpin a durable base of regional dry-van work that does not require long-haul OTR commitments.

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