Local CDL-A Position LTL P&D
Local CDL-A LTL Pickup & Delivery Driver – Los Angeles, CA
Hiring Area: Los Angeles Basin • Terminal: Commerce / Vernon / Santa Fe Springs District
Los Angeles, CA Local Multi-Stop Day Cab Fleet
Run local commercial LTL pickups and deliveries through Los Angeles County industrial corridors, earning an estimated $1,600–$1,900 weekly gross on a home-daily schedule that returns to the terminal each shift.
Typical Weekly Gross
$1,600–$1,900
Estimated range before taxes; actual pay depends on hours worked and applicable overtime rules
Base Pay $32/hr
Schedule 47–52 hrs typical
Home Time Daily
Work Type Local LTL P&D
Sign-On None advertised
This is city multi-stop work focused on commercial docks rather than highway linehaul or port containers.
- Complete scheduled LTL deliveries and pickups at commercial docks and warehouses.
- Verify PRO numbers, pallet counts, shipping documents, and visible freight condition.
- Record shortages, damage, refusals, and delivery exceptions before signing receipts.
- Operate 48- or 53-foot trailers through congested industrial streets and customer yards.
- Contact dispatch when appointments slip, freight is not ready, or access is restricted.
- Return collected shipments to the terminal for scanning, consolidation, and outbound linehaul.
- Complete pre-trip and post-trip inspections and close out electronic paperwork.
Compensation is hourly with overtime after 40 hours in the workweek under the assumed structure. California overtime rules can vary by classification; confirm the actual policy with the employer. Detention is paid separately only when documented and approved.
Base Hourly $32.00
Overtime $48.00 after 40 hours
Typical Range $1,600–$1,900 weekly gross
Example 50-hr Week 40 × $32 + 10 × $48 = $1,760
Detention $25/hr after 60 minutes qualifying time
Payroll Weekly; no sign-on bonus advertised
Home Time Home daily after terminal closeout
Days Monday–Friday; occasional Saturday coverage
Start Window Typically 6:00–8:00 AM
Duty Length 9–11 hours; finish depends on stops and return freight
Weekly Hours Approximately 47–52 in a full week
Primary Tractors Freightliner Cascadia day cabs, model years 2019–2024
Secondary Units Kenworth T680 day cabs, model years 2019–2023
Transmission Automated manual common; some automatic or manual
Trailers 48- and 53-ft dry vans, primarily 2017–2024
Assignment Regular tractor when available; temporary swaps for maintenance or coverage
ELD, GPS dispatch, electronic bills of lading and proof-of-delivery tools. Collision mitigation and lane-departure on equipped units. Liftgate or pallet jack supplied when the route requires it. Drivers report defects before dispatch; the maintenance coordinator arranges shop work and roadside support.
General dry LTL freight—palletized apparel, textiles, industrial parts, furniture, paper products, and packaged commercial goods—moves between warehouses, wholesalers, and manufacturing sites. The pairs below are representative industrial corridors, not fixed daily assignments.
- Commerce → Vernon: short urban moves for wholesale and industrial supplies
- Santa Fe Springs → City of Industry: distribution and manufacturing pallets via I-605 / SR-60
- Carson → Torrance: industrial parts and business deliveries in denser South Bay streets
- Long Beach → Commerce: warehouse and commercial freight, often involving I-710 access
- Vernon → Ontario or Pasadena: selected distribution-center and B2B transfers
- Core freeways: I-5, I-10, I-710, I-605, SR-60, I-405, SR-91 depending on the day’s stops
- Arrive at the terminal, finish pre-trip, and receive the initial stop list.
- Deliver preloaded or staged freight, then work pickups as customers become ready.
- Adjust sequence with dispatch when a dock is delayed or freight is not staged.
- Log arrival, check-in, and release times for any qualifying detention claim.
- Bring collected shipments back for scanning and the evening sort.
- Finish post-trip inspection and exception paperwork before ending the shift.
About the Carrier
Less-than-truckload freight originating in the dense industrial zones of Commerce, Vernon, and Santa Fe Springs must reach a local terminal the same day so it can be sorted and handed off to outbound linehaul. A mid-sized regional LTL operation supplies that city P&D capacity, collecting mixed commercial pallets from wholesalers, manufacturers, and distribution centers and feeding the evening terminal network. The work stays inside the Los Angeles basin, emphasizing appointment windows and multi-stop efficiency rather than full-trailer or container drayage.
Local Home Time Return to the terminal after each scheduled shift, subject to route completion
LTL Onboarding Training on PRO numbers, freight exceptions, delivery receipts, and terminal closeout
City-Driving Support Familiarization with customer docks, tight yards, and industrial access routes
Dispatch Coordination Clear procedures for late appointments, unavailable freight, and detention claims
Employee Benefits Medical, dental, vision, paid leave, and retirement options subject to the employer’s actual plan and eligibility rules
- Valid Class A CDL
- Approximately 6 months of CDL-A experience preferred; strong safety record considered
- Acceptable motor vehicle record meeting the carrier’s insurance standards
- DOT physical qualification, drug and alcohol testing, and Clearinghouse query
- Ability to maneuver 48- or 53-foot dry vans into urban commercial docks
- Heavy traffic on I-5, I-10, I-710, I-405 and connecting surface streets
- Tight or shared loading areas at older industrial properties
- Appointment windows that slip or dock doors that remain closed
- Freight not staged when the driver arrives
- End-of-month and seasonal retail volume increases
- Rain that slows both traffic and exposed dock work
1
Application
Submit CDL and work history
2
Phone Screen
Review schedule and city experience
3
Checks
MVR, drug test, Clearinghouse
4
Offer & Start
Road test, orientation, first dispatch
Overall process typically 3–7 business days depending on document turnaround and road-test availability.
Q: How many stops are usual on a local LTL day? ▼
Stop counts vary by zone, freight mix, and appointment windows. Urban LTL P&D routes in the LA basin commonly fall in the 8–15 stop range, but dense industrial clusters can fill a full shift with fewer miles because each dock visit takes time.
Q: Is a HazMat endorsement required? ▼
Not for the general dry LTL freight described. Any regulated shipment is assigned only to a properly endorsed driver under carrier procedures.
Q: Who runs the forklift and does the driver handle freight? ▼
Warehouse staff normally operate the forklift. Drivers verify counts and condition, may position freight or use a pallet jack when assigned, and assist with dock-related checks. Heavy manual handling is not the primary expectation.
Q: Can I take the tractor home overnight? ▼
Take-home is not assumed. It depends on company policy, the driver’s residence, and legal parking. Trailers remain at the terminal under operations direction.
Q: What if freight is damaged or the count is short? ▼
Note the exception on the delivery receipt or electronic system and follow the carrier’s reporting process. Do not sign a clean POD when the freight does not match the documents.
Q: How much experience is needed? ▼
Approximately six months of CDL-A experience is preferred. Drivers with a clean safety record and solid tractor-trailer time may still be considered; additional supervised familiarization can be required before independent dispatch.
Q: How long does hiring usually take? ▼
Most candidates move through the process in 3–7 business days, depending on how quickly documents clear and when a road test or orientation slot is available.
Los Angeles supports a large and competitive pool of CDL-A openings that includes local P&D, port drayage, warehouse shuttles, regional dry-van, and national LTL terminals. Employers looking for city drivers place a premium on the ability to back into tight docks, manage multi-stop paperwork, and communicate professionally with shipping departments. Entry-level local roles attract broader applicant pools, while experienced P&D drivers who can handle dense traffic and frequent customer contact remain harder to retain. National LTL carriers maintain significant presence in the basin, creating ongoing competition for reliable talent. Turnover is more often driven by unpredictable finish times, customer delays, and physical dock demands than by a simple shortage of licensed drivers. Mid-sized carriers that offer clear detention rules, workable stop counts, and maintained day cabs improve retention without having to match the highest national contract rates.
The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach generate large volumes of import freight that is broken down at nearby warehouses and wholesalers into palletized LTL shipments. Apparel, manufacturing, industrial supply, and retail distribution clusters in Commerce, Vernon, Santa Fe Springs, City of Industry, Carson, and the San Gabriel Valley keep commercial docks active throughout the week. I-710, I-605, SR-60, I-5, and I-10 form the primary arteries, yet surface-street congestion and limited dock access frequently determine how long a short geographic move actually takes. A route covering only a few miles can still consume a full shift when each stop requires check-in, freight verification, and paperwork. Fourth-quarter retail replenishment and end-of-month cycles raise volume; rain further slows both traffic and exposed loading. These conditions sustain year-round demand for local multi-stop capacity that returns freight to terminals for same-night sorting.