Local CDL-A Position Industrial Manufacturing

CDL-A Local Manufacturing Supply Driver – Cleveland, OH

Hiring Radius: 60–90 miles • Terminal: Cleveland Industrial Corridor

Cleveland, OH Home Daily Day Cab

Move palletized automotive components, returnable racks, production packaging and industrial supplies between Northeast Ohio suppliers, plants and staging yards. This is a local dedicated manufacturing account with scheduled plant appointments, mostly drop-and-hook work and a predictable Monday–Friday operating pattern. Drivers typically gross about $1,600 per week with overtime.

Typical Weekly Gross
$1,600
Estimated Annual: $83,200
Base Pay $31/hr
OT Rate $46.50/hr
Home Time Daily
Typical Hours 48 hrs/week
Bonus $1,000

Position Overview

This position supports a dedicated manufacturing account operating from the Cleveland industrial corridor. Freight is primarily production material that must arrive at supplier and plant locations according to scheduled production windows.

  • Pull loaded 53-ft dry vans from Cleveland-area supplier yards.
  • Move palletized automotive components and industrial production supplies.
  • Return empty racks, pallets and reusable packaging to suppliers.
  • Make 2–4 scheduled plant or supplier movements during a normal shift.
  • Check in at receiving docks and follow plant trailer procedures.
  • Record seals, trailer numbers, BOLs and delivery exceptions.
  • Coordinate late production loads and reloads with Cleveland dispatch.

Pay & Compensation Breakdown

Pay is hourly because plant appointments, trailer staging and loading time can affect the workday more than mileage. Overtime provides the main weekly earning upside when production volume keeps the driver on duty beyond 40 hours.

Base Rate $31/hour
Overtime $46.50/hour after 40 hours
Typical Week $1,612 at 48 hours
Advertised Range $1,500–$1,750/week
Typical Annual $83,200
Detention $30/hour after 2 hours when approved
Sign-On Bonus $1,000 paid after eligibility milestones
Pay Frequency Weekly direct deposit

Schedule, Home Time & Operating Area

Home Time Home every day
Schedule Monday–Friday
Start Time 5:00–6:30 AM depending on assigned route
Typical Shift 9–10 hours
Weekly Hours 45–50 hours
Weekly Miles 850–1,300 miles
Operating Area Cleveland, Akron, Twinsburg, Lorain and surrounding industrial corridors

Equipment & Cab Specs

Tractors 2021–2025 Freightliner Cascadia / Kenworth T680
Cab Day cab
Transmission Automatic
Trailers 53-ft dry vans with air-ride and sliding tandems
Freight Handling Mostly no-touch; dock personnel handle production freight
Technology ELD, electronic DVIR, forward camera and collision mitigation

Trucks are maintained through the Cleveland-area shop network. Drivers report defects through the ELD and are not expected to perform mechanical repairs beyond basic roadside procedures.

Real Routes

  • Cleveland ↔ Twinsburg / Macedonia industrial corridor
  • Cleveland ↔ Brook Park / airport-area manufacturing
  • Cleveland ↔ Akron / Cuyahoga Falls supplier facilities
  • Cleveland ↔ Lorain / Elyria industrial accounts
  • Occasional Cleveland ↔ Youngstown supplier movement
  • Primary corridors: I-480, I-271, I-77, I-90, I-71 and Ohio Turnpike/I-80

Loads are scheduled around plant production rather than retail delivery windows. Most routes return to the Cleveland area the same day.

Typical Week & Daily Workflow

  • Report to the Cleveland terminal or assigned yard around 5:00–6:30 AM.
  • Complete pre-trip and review the day's plant appointment sequence.
  • Pick up a staged trailer containing palletized production material.
  • Make the first supplier or plant delivery during the morning production window.
  • Return empty racks or packaging when the account requires a backhaul.
  • Take a second or third plant movement based on production demand.
  • Finish with a Cleveland-area reload, trailer drop or empty return.
  • Complete post-trip inspection and ELD paperwork before clocking out.

About the Carrier

This operation is built around dedicated industrial freight rather than general over-the-road dry van. The Cleveland terminal supports manufacturers, component suppliers and distribution yards throughout Northeast Ohio, where production schedules create repeated short-haul movements between facilities. Drivers work with a small operations team that plans trailer availability and appointment sequences around customer production. The account is large enough to provide consistent freight but still operates with the practical limitations of a medium regional carrier: equipment is assigned when available, dispatch changes occur when production changes, and drivers may occasionally handle a live appointment instead of a staged trailer. The goal is steady local work, not maximizing mileage.

Benefits & Driver Support

Health Medical, dental and vision
Retirement 401(k) with company match
Time Off PTO and paid holidays after eligibility
Orientation Paid
Safety PPE support and paid DOT physical renewal
Other Driver referral program, toll equipment and terminal parking

Driver Qualification Requirements

  • Valid Class A CDL and current DOT medical card.
  • At least 6 months recent tractor-trailer experience preferred.
  • Acceptable MVR and employment history.
  • Pass DOT drug screen and FMCSA Clearinghouse requirements.
  • Comfort with day-cab operation, trailer coupling and yard maneuvering.
  • Able to work around loading docks and outdoor Ohio weather.

Operational Delays

  • I-480 and I-271 congestion during morning and afternoon peaks.
  • Production lines releasing freight later than scheduled.
  • Trailer shortages when several suppliers ship at the same time.
  • Winter weather slowing Northeast Ohio industrial routes.
  • Plant receiving delays when dock capacity is limited.

Hiring Process

1
Recruiter Call
Review experience and schedule
2
CDL / MVR Review
License and driving history
3
DOT Screening
Drug screen and Clearinghouse
4
Orientation
Cleveland terminal and account training

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What exactly will I haul? ▼
The primary freight is palletized automotive and industrial production material, including component parts, packaging supplies, returnable racks and finished manufactured goods. The freight is generally transported in dry vans and is not hazardous-material tanker freight.
Q: How many stops are normal? ▼
Most shifts involve two to four supplier or plant movements. Some days have fewer movements when a longer Cleveland-to-Akron or Cleveland-to-Lorain run is assigned.
Q: Is the freight touch or no-touch? ▼
Most freight is no-touch. Plant and warehouse personnel normally load or unload the trailer, although drivers are responsible for trailer positioning, seals, paperwork and basic dock procedures.
Q: How does the $1,600 typical week work? ▼
The normal pay model is $31 per hour for the first 40 hours and $46.50 per hour for overtime. A 48-hour week calculates to approximately $1,612 before approved detention or other additional compensation.
Q: Do I get home every night? ▼
Yes. The account is designed as a local operation and drivers normally return to the Cleveland area after their final movement each day.
Q: Are weekends part of the regular schedule? ▼
Monday through Friday is the normal schedule. Occasional Saturday coverage may be requested when a manufacturing customer adds a production run or recovery schedule.

CDL Job Market – Cleveland, OH

Cleveland's CDL-A market is closely connected to manufacturing, industrial distribution, food and beverage, LTL, automotive supply chains and multimodal freight. Current local listings show Class A opportunities around the upper-$20s to mid-$30s per hour, while some dedicated operations advertise weekly earnings above $1,700 depending on mileage, schedule and overtime. The Cleveland market is particularly suited to drivers who prefer home-daily work because the metro's highway network supports short-haul movements between production facilities without requiring an overnight run. I-480, I-271, I-77, I-71, I-90 and I-80 connect major industrial areas around Cleveland, Akron and the surrounding suburbs. Local drivers may therefore find work ranging from plant shuttle operations and manufacturing supply to LTL, beverage, foodservice and dedicated distribution.

Location & Freight Market – Cleveland

Northeast Ohio has a broad industrial freight base built around automotive components, steel and metal products, machinery, fabricated parts, industrial supplies and distribution. Cleveland's highway system gives local carriers direct access to I-90, I-71, I-77, I-480, I-271 and the Ohio Turnpike, while the Port of Cleveland and Class I rail connections add multimodal freight activity to the region. Industrial activity also extends east and south toward Twinsburg, Macedonia, Akron and Youngstown and west toward Brook Park, Elyria and Lorain. The Port of Cleveland specifically provides truck access to I-90 and connections to CSX and Norfolk Southern, reinforcing the region's role as an industrial distribution point. For this position, that geography translates into repeated short-haul movements between suppliers, production facilities and regional staging yards rather than long-haul freight.

Start Your Application