Local LTL P&D Position Chicago Terminal-Based

CDL-A LTL Pickup & Delivery Driver — Chicago, IL | Regional Midwest Routes

Hiring Area: Chicago Metro • Terminal: Chicago-Area Terminal

Chicago, IL Local LTL P&D 2021–2025 Day Cabs

Chicago local LTL pickup-and-delivery from a terminal base, primarily home daily with occasional one-night Midwest network runs when balancing requires it. Weekly gross $1,600–$1,900 at $33/hour plus overtime, $1,500 sign-on paid in stages.

Typical Weekly Gross
$1,600–$1,900
Typical Annualized: ~$93,600
Sign-On Bonus $1,500
Home Time Mostly Home Daily
Driver Type Company Driver
Workweek 46–52 hours
Freight Type Palletized LTL Dry

What the Job Actually Looks Like

Core work is multi-stop Chicago-area LTL P&D. Occasional Midwest overnights appear only when the network needs balancing.

  • Start from the Chicago-area terminal and run the assigned P&D sequence.
  • Make scheduled pickups and deliveries at industrial, retail and commercial docks.
  • Check freight counts, BOLs and visible damage before leaving each customer.
  • Handle liftgate or dock deliveries when the account requires it.
  • Update dispatch on delays, missed appointments, traffic and freight readiness.
  • Return trailers and equipment to the terminal after the route.

Pay Structure

Hourly pay with overtime after 40 hours. Mileage is route-dependent and not the basis of compensation.

Typical Weekly Gross $1,600–$1,900
Typical Week Target ~$1,750–$1,800
Base Rate $33/hour
Overtime $49.50/hour after 40
Typical Workweek 46–52 hours
Sign-On Bonus $1,500 ($500 at 30 / 90 / 180 days)
Pay Frequency Weekly direct deposit
Typical Annualized Gross ~$93,600 ($1,800 × 52)

Schedule & Home Time

Home Time Mostly home daily; occasional 1-night Midwest when needed
Core Work Chicago local multi-stop LTL P&D
Terminal Chicago-area terminal or assigned yard
Dispatch Window Approximately 5:00–8:00 AM
Typical Workweek 46–52 hours
Mileage Route-dependent; pay is hourly + OT, not CPM

Equipment

Tractors 2021–2025 Freightliner Cascadia & International LT
Primary Configuration Day cabs for Chicago P&D
Occasional Use Sleeper tractors for Midwest network runs
Transmission Automated manual or automatic
Trailers 48- and 53-foot dry vans; selected liftgate units
Safety & Tech ELD, electronic DVIR, forward-facing cameras, collision mitigation, lane-departure, adaptive cruise where equipped
Assignment Assigned when available; limited slip-seating during maintenance

Air-ride suspension, load bars and basic cargo control are standard. Terminal maintenance and approved roadside vendors handle repairs.

Freight & Network Corridors

Most work is multi-stop Chicago-area P&D. The lanes below are network corridors, not fixed daily routes.

  • Palletized LTL dry freight: industrial components, fabricated metal, machinery parts, packaging, retail replenishment, building supplies, consumer goods, automotive components.
  • Chicago, IL → Gary / Hammond, IN
  • Chicago, IL → Joliet / Elgin, IL
  • Chicago, IL → Milwaukee / Kenosha, WI
  • Chicago, IL → Rockford, IL
  • Chicago, IL → South Bend, IN
  • Primary corridors: I-90, I-94, I-294, I-55, I-80, I-88, I-57
  • Key clusters: O'Hare, North Chicagoland, South Cook, Will County, Fox River Valley

Typical Day on the Route

  • Overnight freight is sorted and staged before the morning dispatch window.
  • Pre-trip inspection is finished before the first stop.
  • Five to nine customer stops mix pickups, deliveries and terminal returns.
  • Dispatch resequences remaining appointments as freight status and traffic change.
  • Live loading and unloading make up roughly 60–80 % of stops; drop-and-hook about 25–35 %.
  • Equipment and empty trailers return to the terminal at the end of the shift.

About the Carrier

Mid-sized regional carrier running a Chicago-area LTL network built on terminal-based pickup and delivery, overnight freight sorting and limited Midwest linehaul support. Drivers work from a local terminal, receive route assignments from dispatch and handle a mix of scheduled customer stops and terminal transfers. The operation is built around consistent regional freight rather than nationwide OTR work, with day-cab P&D as the primary assignment and sleeper equipment used only when network balancing requires an overnight run.

Benefits

Medical Medical insurance options
Dental & Vision Dental and vision coverage
Retirement 401(k) with company contribution
Paid Time Off Paid vacation by tenure; paid holidays
Additional Uniforms after intro period, safety footwear assistance, paid DOT physical renewal where eligible
Training LTL city-route training plus backing, dock-safety and customer-service refreshers

Requirements

  • Valid Class A CDL
  • Approximately 6 months CDL-A experience preferred
  • LTL, P&D, regional dry van or city-delivery experience preferred
  • Safe driving history and acceptable MVR
  • Pass DOT physical and drug screen
  • Comfortable with ELD and electronic delivery documentation
  • No HazMat or Tanker required for standard dry freight

What Can Slow the Day

  • Congestion around O'Hare, I-90, I-294, I-55 and I-80, especially morning and afternoon peaks.
  • Live-dock waits typically 30–90 minutes; some manufacturing sites run longer.
  • Appointment windows tighten when several LTL carriers arrive at the same time.
  • Winter weather, construction and holiday retail volume change stop order.
  • Empty trailer supply tightens during peak retail and end-of-quarter shipping.

Hiring Steps

1
Recruiter Call
Usually within one business day
2
Verification
CDL, MVR, employment history, drug screen, Clearinghouse
3
Orientation
Paid at Chicago terminal; road test if needed
4
First Dispatch
Tractor assignment and route familiarization

Common Questions

Q: How often are the overnight Midwest runs? ▼
Only when network balancing requires it. Most shifts return to the Chicago terminal the same day.
Q: Do I get paid by the mile? ▼
No. Compensation is hourly plus overtime after 40 hours. Miles vary with the route and do not set pay.
Q: Are lumpers common? ▼
Not universal. When a third-party unloading service is used, dispatch handles authorization.
Q: Can recent graduates apply? ▼
Yes, if they finished an accredited CDL program and show a clean safety record. Experienced P&D or regional drivers are preferred.
Q: Where do overnight stops usually park? ▼
Dispatch plans around established truck stops near Gary, Merrillville, South Bend, Rockford, Kenosha and Milwaukee.
Q: Is the daily route fixed? ▼
No. Dispatch starts with a planned sequence and adjusts stops based on freight readiness, appointments and traffic.

CDL Job Market — Chicago

Chicago remains a highly competitive CDL-A hiring market. Major LTL carriers, private fleets, 3PLs, parcel operations and regional carriers all maintain terminals and actively recruit experienced P&D and local drivers. Demand stays strongest for drivers who already know multi-stop city work, dock procedures and appointment-driven schedules. O'Hare air cargo, large distribution clusters, manufacturing plants, retail replenishment and intermodal activity keep openings steady throughout the year. Because experienced drivers have multiple options, carriers that offer reliable home time, maintained equipment and practical dispatch support tend to fill seats more consistently than those relying only on sign-on incentives.

Chicago Freight Landscape

The Chicago metro generates continuous LTL volume from manufacturing, industrial distribution, retail replenishment and air-cargo operations centered on O'Hare. Drivers regularly work the industrial corridors of North Chicagoland, South Cook, Will County and the Fox River Valley. I-90, I-94, I-294, I-55 and I-80 link these clusters to nearby points in Northwest Indiana, Milwaukee, Rockford and beyond. Warehouse and logistics space along these corridors supports year-round freight movement. Seasonal manufacturing cycles, holiday retail peaks and winter weather change daily intensity, yet the underlying industrial and distribution base keeps local and short-regional P&D work available throughout the year.

Start Your Application