Local CDL-A Position Dedicated Dry Van
Local CDL-A Truck Driver – Dry Van, Home Daily in Madison, WI
Hiring Area: Greater Madison • Terminal: Madison-area terminal or assigned customer yard
Madison, WI Home Daily Day Cab Fleet
Local dedicated dry van work hauling palletized retail freight around Madison and southern Wisconsin. Drivers return home every shift. Typical weekly gross $1,450–$1,850 based on 45–50 hours at $30–$34 per hour plus overtime.
Typical Weekly Gross
$1,450–$1,850
Estimated Annual: $75,400–$96,200
Hourly Rate $30–$34
Typical Hours 45–50 / week
Home Time Home Daily
Sign-On Up to $750 (installments)
Weekly Miles 900–1,300
Dedicated local dry van account moving non-hazardous palletized retail inventory between distribution centers, regional warehouses, and receiving points in the Madison area.
- Inspect tractor and trailer, verify trailer number, seals, and shipping documents before departure.
- Operate day-cab equipment safely through yards, docks, and congested Madison corridors.
- Follow gate, dock, and customer safety instructions at each facility.
- Obtain signed or electronic proof of delivery and report any shortage or damage before leaving.
- Communicate appointment changes, trailer issues, and HOS status promptly with dispatch.
- Maintain accurate ELD records and stay within legal hours of service.
Pay is hourly. Routine on-duty waiting is already covered by the hourly rate. Actual weekly and annual earnings depend on hours worked.
Hourly Rate $30–$34
Typical Weekly Hours 45–50 (40 regular + 5–10 OT)
Overtime 1.5× after 40 hours
Typical Weekly Gross $1,450–$1,850
Estimated Annual $75,400–$96,200
Sign-On Bonus Up to $750 paid in installments after start and tenure milestones
Home Time Home every shift
Work Week Five scheduled shifts; occasional Saturday coverage
Start Window Approximately 4:00–8:00 a.m. (varies by appointment)
Typical Hours 45–50 per week
Operating Area Madison–Milwaukee–Janesville–Rockford corridor
Weekly Miles 900–1,300
Reporting Location Madison-area terminal or approved customer yard
Tractors Freightliner Cascadia and Kenworth T680 day cabs
Model Years Primarily 2020–2024 (some newer and older well-maintained units)
Transmission Automatic on most units
Trailers 53-ft dry vans (mixed 2018–2025)
Safety Features Collision mitigation and lane-departure on many units; adaptive cruise on some
ELDs, electronic dispatch and POD apps, GPS tracking, load bars, and logistics straps are standard. Forward-facing cameras may be installed under company policy. Assigned tractors provided when practical; otherwise shared or spare day cabs. Preventive maintenance coordinated through company shop or contractors.
Palletized packaged household products, paper goods, boxed merchandise, and non-temperature-controlled consumer goods move between regional distribution centers, 3PL warehouses, and retail receiving points.
- Madison to Milwaukee via I-94 — primary retail replenishment and warehouse transfers
- Madison to Janesville and Beloit via I-90 / I-39 — regional distribution runs
- Madison to Rockford, IL via I-90 — cross-dock and inventory transfers
- Local shuttles within Madison, Sun Prairie, DeForest, and Middleton
- Northern corridor to Portage and Wisconsin Dells via I-39/90/94 as needed
- Occasional longer local assignment toward Dubuque, IA via US-151
- Check the dispatch app, complete pre-trip inspection, and pick up the assigned or preloaded trailer.
- Arrive at the shipper within the appointment window, check in, and wait for dock or staging assignment.
- Confirm paperwork and seal after loading, then depart for the delivery location.
- Check in with receiving, complete unloading or drop, and secure the POD.
- Receive the next assignment if legal hours remain — another transfer, local shuttle, or empty return.
- Return equipment to the terminal or approved yard, report any defects, and end the shift.
About the Carrier
Retail distribution in southern Wisconsin depends on consistent dry van capacity that moves palletized consumer goods between warehouses and store-level receiving points on tight appointment schedules. Mid-sized regional carriers handle this work by focusing on recurring local and short-haul lanes rather than long-haul or specialized freight. The operation centers on the Madison–Milwaukee–Rockford corridor, supporting weekday volume driven by retail inventory cycles and connections to the broader Upper Midwest network. Emphasis is placed on practical dispatch support, serviceable day-cab equipment, and assignments that keep drivers within a defined daily operating radius.
Home Daily Return to Madison-area terminal or yard after every shift
Paid Onboarding Orientation compensation provided per company policy
Predictable Radius Work stays within southern Wisconsin / northern Illinois local area
Medical / Dental / Vision Company-sponsored options available subject to plan terms
Retirement 401(k) option may be offered; match governed by plan
Paid Time Off Vacation and personal time accrue per company policy
Additional Support Terminal parking, safety recognition program, uniform or apparel assistance
- Valid Class A CDL and eligibility to operate in interstate or intrastate commerce
- Minimum 3–6 months of tractor-trailer experience preferred; recent CDL graduates considered after safety review
- Acceptable Motor Vehicle Record and safe driving history
- Current DOT medical qualification and ability to pass required drug screening
- Ability to back a 53-ft trailer into docks, maneuver in distribution yards, and operate in urban traffic
- Ability to perform pre- and post-trip inspections, couple trailers, open and close doors, and operate landing gear
- Comfortable using ELD, electronic dispatch, and proof-of-delivery applications
- Availability for five scheduled shifts plus occasional weekend or seasonal coverage
- Warehouse door queues and live-load waits that can run 30–90 minutes or longer at peak times
- Madison Beltline congestion and intermittent interstate construction
- Winter snow, ice, and reduced visibility that slow travel and increase inspection time
- Empty trailer shortages or equipment defects requiring repositioning or a spare tractor
- Seasonal retail volume spikes (holiday and promotional builds) that extend daily hours
1
Application
Submit CDL details and recent driving history
2
Phone Screen
Recruiter reviews experience and schedule fit
3
Verification & Assessment
MVR, Clearinghouse, DOT test, and backing/maneuvering evaluation as needed
4
Orientation & First Load
Paid onboarding, equipment familiarization, then first dispatch
Q: How much can I earn per week? ▼
Typical weekly gross is $1,450–$1,850 based on 45–50 hours at $30–$34 per hour plus overtime after 40 hours. Actual pay depends on hours worked.
Q: Is this position home daily? ▼
Yes. Shifts are planned to begin and end at the Madison-area terminal or an approved customer yard. Clock-out times can vary with dock delays.
Q: How often are loads drop-and-hook versus live? ▼
The account mixes drop-and-hook and live loading/unloading. Exact proportions depend on the customer mix and daily trailer availability.
Q: Is weekend work required? ▼
Most weeks are five scheduled shifts. Some accounts require occasional Saturday coverage or holiday-season overtime.
Q: What happens if a trailer is unavailable or defective? ▼
Contact dispatch immediately. Do not substitute equipment without authorization. Dispatch coordinates a replacement or revised assignment.
Q: Do I need HazMat or tanker endorsements? ▼
Not normally required for standard 53-ft dry van retail freight on this account.
Madison maintains a steady local CDL-A market supported by retail distribution, food and consumer-goods supply chains, manufacturing, and healthcare-related freight. Drivers compete for home-daily roles that include warehouse shuttle, grocery distribution, LTL city delivery, and dedicated dry van accounts. National carriers, regional fleets, and private fleets all recruit in the area. Most openings favor candidates with at least several months of safe tractor-trailer experience, though some carriers evaluate recent graduates after a safety review. An hourly-plus-overtime structure is common for local work where dock time and traffic influence daily hours. Hiring volume shifts with season, competing vacancies, and the quality of the offered schedule.
Madison sits at the intersection of I-39, I-90, and I-94, giving it direct links to Milwaukee, Rockford, Chicago, and central Wisconsin. Dry van freight here is driven by retail replenishment, consumer-product distribution, local manufacturing, and warehouse transfers rather than port or intermodal activity. Distribution centers and third-party warehouses in and around Madison, Sun Prairie, DeForest, and Middleton generate regular short-haul and regional movements. The Beltline handles much of the cross-town traffic but can slow peak-period transit. Winter weather and seasonal retail inventory builds (holiday and promotional periods) create the main volume fluctuations. These patterns sustain ongoing demand for local and short-haul dry van capacity serving the southern Wisconsin corridor.