OTR CDL-A Full-Time
CDL-A OTR Dry Van Truck Driver – Memphis, TN
Hiring Area: Memphis, Tennessee • Home Terminal: Memphis, TN
48-State Freight No-Touch Loads Solo Company Driver
Run national dry van freight from Memphis with $0.62–$0.68 per mile, typically 2,500–3,000 paid miles weekly, and a $2,500 sign-on bonus for eligible drivers. Plan on 2–3 weeks on the road followed by 3–5 days at home.
Estimated Weekly Gross
$1,550–$2,050
Estimated Annual Gross:
$80,600–$106,600
Mileage Pay $0.62–$0.68 per mile
Sign-On Bonus Up to $2,500
Home Time 2–3 weeks out / 3–5 days home
Weekly Miles 2,500–3,000 typical
Freight Dry van, primarily no-touch
Job Status: Currently Hiring
• Last Verified: October 10, 2026
Drive solo OTR dry van loads between distribution centers, manufacturers, and retail supply facilities. Freight is primarily no-touch, with both drop-and-hook and scheduled live appointments.
- Pick up, secure, and deliver general dry van freight.
- Verify trailer condition, seal numbers, and shipping paperwork.
- Complete pre-trip and post-trip inspections and report defects.
- Maintain accurate ELD records and hours-of-service compliance.
- Coordinate appointments, reloads, and route changes with dispatch.
- Plan fuel stops and legal parking around available drive time.
- Submit bills of lading, proof of delivery, and required trip documents.
Company drivers earn $0.62–$0.68 per paid mile, depending on experience and qualification. Weekly gross depends on dispatched miles, completed loads, and eligible accessorial pay.
Mileage Rate $0.62–$0.68 CPM
Weekly Gross $1,550–$2,050 estimated
Annualized Gross $80,600–$106,600
Sign-On Bonus Up to $2,500, eligibility terms apply
Detention $25/hour after 2 qualifying hours
Pay Schedule Weekly
Weekly and annual figures are gross estimates before taxes and deductions. Annual estimates assume 52 paid weeks at the stated weekly range; actual earnings vary with miles, time off, and freight availability.
Home Time 2–3 weeks out, then 3–5 days home
Service Area Lower 48 states
Weekly Miles Typically 2,500–3,000 paid miles
Dispatch Loads assigned around appointments and HOS
Reset Taken on the road when required
Home-time dates are coordinated with dispatch. Freight, weather, and positioning requirements can affect the exact return date.
Tractors Freightliner Cascadia and Volvo VNL sleepers
Model Years Primarily 2021–2025, with older units where serviceable
Transmission Automatic
Trailers 53-foot dry vans, generally 3–8 years old
Safety Systems ELD, electronic inspections, collision mitigation, lane-departure alerts
Truck Assignment Assigned when practical; temporary swaps for maintenance
Trucks are maintained through scheduled terminal service and approved roadside repair. APU or equivalent idle-reduction equipment is available on selected tractors, not guaranteed on every unit.
Loads vary with customer demand. Examples of practical lanes from the Memphis freight market include:
- Memphis, TN – Dallas–Fort Worth, TX via I-40 and I-30.
- Memphis, TN – Atlanta, GA via I-22 and I-20.
- Memphis, TN – Chicago, IL via I-55.
- Memphis, TN – Nashville, TN via I-40.
- Memphis, TN – Little Rock, AR via I-40.
- Memphis, TN – St. Louis, MO via I-55.
- Memphis, TN – Indianapolis, IN via I-40 and I-65.
- Dallas–Fort Worth, TX – Memphis, TN on an available return or reload.
These are representative market lanes, not guaranteed dedicated routes. Actual dispatches may connect multiple customer markets before the truck returns to Memphis.
- Review the dispatch plan, appointment windows, and available drive time.
- Inspect the tractor and trailer before leaving the yard or shipper.
- Confirm trailer number, seal, load paperwork, and delivery instructions.
- Deliver, submit POD, and collect the next load or reload instructions.
- Allow for gate queues, live-load delays, fuel stops, and parking.
- Report service failures or appointment changes promptly to dispatch.
This mid-sized truckload operation serves retail distribution, consumer goods, and general industrial freight. Dispatch combines recurring customer lanes with reloads from established freight markets to reduce unnecessary empty miles. Drivers work with a central operations team for appointment updates, maintenance coordination, and route planning. The fleet includes dependable late-model sleepers alongside older, serviceable tractors. As with most national dry van operations, freight volume and customer schedules vary by week, and drivers should expect a mix of drop-and-hook yards and live facilities.
Health Insurance Medical, dental, and vision plan options
Retirement 401(k) with company contribution, subject to plan terms
Time Off PTO accrual and eligible paid holidays
Orientation Paid onboarding
Roadside Support Maintenance coordination and company fuel card
Benefit eligibility, employee contributions, waiting periods, and paid-time-off rules are determined by the applicable plan documents.
- Valid Class A commercial driver's license.
- At least 6 months of verifiable tractor-trailer experience preferred.
- Acceptable motor vehicle record and safety history.
- Must meet DOT physical, drug-testing, and Clearinghouse requirements.
- Minimum age 21 for interstate commercial driving.
- Must be able to work independently and comply with federal HOS rules.
- Live-load appointments may involve extended gate or dock waits.
- Congestion can affect travel around Memphis, Atlanta, Dallas, and Chicago.
- Reload availability may change after a delivery is completed.
- Rain, severe storms, winter weather, and road construction can reduce mileage.
- Trailer defects or customer staging issues may require dispatch intervention.
1
Apply
Submit CDL details and recent work history.
2
Recruiter Review
Discuss experience, pay, and home-time expectations.
3
Qualification
Complete required record checks and DOT screening.
4
Orientation
Complete onboarding before the first dispatch.
Q: How much can an OTR dry van driver earn weekly? ▼
The estimated range is $1,550–$2,050 gross per week at $0.62–$0.68 per paid mile. Actual earnings depend on dispatched miles, experience-based rate, and eligible additional pay.
Q: How often do drivers get home? ▼
The planned schedule is typically 2–3 weeks on the road followed by 3–5 days at home. Return timing is coordinated with dispatch and may depend on freight positioning.
Q: Is the freight no-touch? ▼
Freight is primarily no-touch. Most loads involve general palletized goods, but drivers still handle trailer checks, load documentation, seals, and delivery procedures.
Q: How does the sign-on bonus work? ▼
Eligible drivers may receive up to $2,500 under the applicable bonus agreement. Ask recruiting to confirm installment dates, qualification requirements, and any repayment conditions before accepting.
Q: Are all weekly miles guaranteed? ▼
No fixed weekly mileage guarantee is stated. The 2,500–3,000-mile range is a typical planning estimate, and actual miles can change with freight volume, customer delays, maintenance, and weather.
Q: What equipment will I drive? ▼
The fleet primarily uses Freightliner Cascadia and Volvo VNL sleeper tractors, mainly from model years 2021–2025, with older serviceable units also possible. Equipment assignment depends on availability and maintenance.
Q: Is previous OTR experience required? ▼
At least 6 months of verifiable tractor-trailer experience is preferred. All applicants must satisfy the carrier's current safety, driving-record, and insurance qualification standards.
Q: What happens if a delivery or pickup is delayed? ▼
Notify dispatch, record the arrival and release times as required, and follow updated instructions. Qualifying detention may be paid at $25 per hour after two hours, subject to the applicable policy and documentation.
Memphis is an established market for CDL-A truck driving jobs, with opportunities in over-the-road dry van, regional truckload, dedicated delivery, LTL, intermodal, and local distribution. Drivers comparing Memphis OTR positions should evaluate the mileage rate alongside realistic weekly miles, paid accessorials, equipment condition, and the length of each trip away from home. Published pay varies by carrier, experience requirements, freight network, and compensation structure. A mileage-based position can produce stronger gross pay when dispatch remains productive, but delays and unpaid time can reduce weekly totals. Applicants should confirm whether advertised earnings are averages, guarantees, or top-performer figures before accepting an offer.
Memphis connects major freight corridors through I-40, I-55, I-22, and the I-240 loop, supporting truckload movements toward Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, the Midwest, and the Southeast. Distribution centers, consumer-goods warehouses, manufacturing suppliers, food and beverage shippers, parcel facilities, and intermodal yards create a varied freight base. Common long-haul markets include Dallas–Fort Worth, Atlanta, Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Nashville, and Little Rock, although actual loads depend on customer demand and available reloads. Drivers should account for Memphis-area traffic, terminal queues, appointment windows, seasonal retail volume, severe weather, and construction. Route flexibility is important when balancing mileage, legal parking, delivery commitments, and planned home time.