OTR CDL-A Position Dry Van

OTR CDL-A Dry Van Driver — Little Rock, AR | Weekly Home Time

Hiring Radius: Little Rock metro & surrounding • Terminal: Little Rock, AR

Little Rock, AR OTR 2021–2025 Tractors

OTR dry van freight across Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Tennessee and Mississippi, with selected South and Midwest lanes, delivers $1,500–$1,750 weekly and roughly $85,800 annually, with weekly home time built around a 34-hour reset.

Typical Weekly Gross
$1,650
Estimated Annual: $85,800
Weekly Range $1,500–$1,750
CPM $0.64–$0.67
Weekly Miles 2,300–2,600
Home Time Weekly / 34-hour reset
Sign-On Bonus $1,000
Freight No-touch dry van
Driver Type Company Driver

Position Overview

Palletized freight moves between distribution centers, manufacturing sites, retail supply points and cross-docks. Dispatch builds outbound and return loads from a mixed customer network rather than a single fixed route.

  • Verify trailer number, seal and shipping papers before departure.
  • Communicate delays, detention and HOS limits to dispatch promptly.
  • Perform pre-trip and post-trip inspections on tractor and trailer.
  • Follow customer yard, dock and gate procedures at every facility.
  • Coordinate reloads, appointment changes and changing priorities with dispatch while on the road.
  • Maintain accurate ELD records and federal hours-of-service compliance.

Pay & Compensation Breakdown

CPM is calculated on paid miles only. Peak seasonal mileage is excluded from the advertised range. Detention and layover pay are handled separately when qualifying delays occur.

CPM Range $0.64–$0.67 per paid mile
Typical Weekly Gross $1,650 (2,500 mi × $0.66)
Normal Weekly Range $1,500–$1,750
Estimated Annual $85,800
Sign-On Bonus $1,000 ($500 at 30 days / $500 at 90 days)
Detention $30/hour after qualifying threshold
Payroll Weekly

Schedule, Home Time & Routes

Home Time Generally weekly for 34-hour reset
Operating Area AR, TX, OK, MO, TN, MS + selected South and Midwest lanes
Terminal Little Rock, AR
Typical Paid Miles 2,300–2,600 per week
Dispatch Window Evening prior or early morning (approx. 4–8 AM start)

Equipment & Cabin Specs

Tractor Years Primarily 2021–2025
Tractor Makes Freightliner Cascadia / Kenworth T680 sleepers
Transmission Primarily automatic; manual experience may be required on specifically assigned equipment
Safety Systems Forward-facing dash camera, collision mitigation, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise (equipped units)
Assignment Assigned when available; temporary slip-seat possible

53-foot dry vans (generally 2019–2025) come with load bars, air-ride suspension, sliding fifth-wheel and standard tandem axles. ELD handles electronic HOS. Maintenance is coordinated through the terminal network and approved shops; roadside issues are handled by operations rather than left solely to the driver.

Real Routes

Dry, non-temperature-controlled palletized freight—packaged consumer products, paper and packaging, retail merchandise, light industrial components and building-related products—moves primarily no-touch.

  • Common outbounds: Little Rock to Memphis, Dallas, Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, St. Louis, Nashville, Texarkana or Jackson.
  • Return loads frequently originate in the same markets back toward Little Rock.
  • Multi-leg sequences such as Little Rock–Memphis–Jackson–Little Rock occur when freight allows.
  • Strongest density follows the I-40 and I-30 corridors.
  • Selected OTR assignments may extend beyond the core I-30/I-40 network into longer Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Midwest lanes when freight balance supports the move.
  • Dispatch resequences based on appointments, trailer availability and HOS rather than fixed dedicated lanes.
  • Empty repositioning of 50–100 miles is possible when a strong reload is not immediate.

Typical Week & Daily Workflow

The following is a representative week; actual OTR sequencing changes with available freight, delivery appointments and HOS.

  • First load is usually known the evening before or several hours prior to start.
  • Monday often begins with Little Rock pickup, Memphis delivery and a Memphis-area reload.
  • Mid-week can shift to Tennessee, Mississippi or Texas depending on freight volume.
  • Thursday–Friday frequently includes a Dallas/Fort Worth leg with overnight in the DFW market.
  • Saturday return to the Little Rock area starts the weekly home-time window.
  • Drop-and-hook accounts for roughly 45–55 % of stops; live load 25–35 %; live unload 15–25 %.
  • Live-load or unload waits commonly run 45–120 minutes; longer delays possible at peak periods.

About the Carrier

OTR dry-van capacity is required wherever distribution centers, manufacturing plants and retail supply chains intersect interstate corridors. In Central Arkansas that intersection occurs at the meeting of I-30 and I-40, allowing freight to move east-west toward Texas, Oklahoma and Memphis while I-55 opens further north. A mid-sized carrier operating from this crossroads builds both outbound and return loads across a mixed customer base rather than relying on a single dedicated account. The result is consistent highway mileage with practical dispatch communication and the ability to adjust sequences when appointments, trailer availability or hours-of-service constraints change during the week.

Benefits & Healthcare Coverage

Health Coverage Medical, dental and vision options
Retirement 401(k) with company contribution per plan terms
Orientation Paid
Terminal Support Parking, lounge/rest area, scheduled maintenance access
Rider / Pet Rider program and pet policy subject to company approval and equipment restrictions
Additional Company-paid ELD, EZPass/toll transponder, paid DOT physical renewal, safety equipment replacement

Driver Qualification Requirements

  • Valid Class A CDL
  • Approximately 6 months recent tractor-trailer experience preferred
  • Clean and acceptable motor vehicle record
  • Verifiable employment history
  • Meet DOT physical and medical qualification requirements
  • Pass required drug/alcohol testing and Clearinghouse query
  • Able to operate primarily automatic equipment; manual experience may be required on specifically assigned tractors
  • Capable of safely entering/exiting trailers and performing inspections
  • Professional communication with dispatch, warehouse and customer staff
  • No tanker, HazMat or specialized endorsement required

Operational Delays

  • Morning metro traffic and I-40 / I-30 construction zones
  • Warehouse congestion and strict appointment windows
  • Gate queues and customer production schedule delays
  • Trailer shortages during busy shipping periods
  • Severe thunderstorms or occasional winter weather
  • Seasonal retail volume spikes around Memphis and Dallas/Fort Worth

Hiring Process

1
Online Application
Submit complete application
2
Recruiter Screening
Phone contact within one business day
3
Background & Testing
MVR, employment history, drug screen, Clearinghouse
4
Orientation & Dispatch
Paid orientation at Little Rock terminal; first load after compliance complete

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How are live-load waits and detention handled? ▼
Drivers document arrival, door and release times. Detention is paid at $30/hour after the company threshold. Lumper fees at selected facilities are processed through dispatch or the company’s normal payment procedure.
Q: Can the next load change after I leave a receiver? ▼
Yes. Dispatch often waits for actual delivery confirmation before finalizing the next appointment and may resequence if a receiver finishes early or runs late.
Q: Where can I park overnight on the road? ▼
Terminal parking is available in Little Rock when space allows. Approved truck stops along I-40, I-30, I-55 and the Oklahoma/Texas corridor are used for overnight stops. Customer lots are not assumed available for a 10-hour break.
Q: Are recent CDL graduates considered? ▼
Safety-qualified recent graduates from accredited programs may be considered when they meet company safety standards.
Q: What happens if my assigned tractor needs service? ▼
Dispatch may route the driver back through the Little Rock terminal for scheduled maintenance. Temporary slip-seat equipment is used during maintenance periods or shortages.
Q: How far in advance is the first load of the week known? ▼
The first load is commonly known the evening before or several hours prior to the operating window.

CDL Job Market

Transportation and material-moving occupations account for nearly 10 % of employment in the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway metro. Heavy and tractor-trailer drivers form one of the area’s established occupational groups. Competition comes from national carriers, Arkansas-based fleets, private distribution operations and regional carriers. Names such as J.B. Hunt, Maverick and ABF maintain local presence, creating a relatively dense employer market for experienced Class A drivers. OTR and longer-haul dry-van openings in the Central Arkansas market compete on CPM, weekly mileage, home-time frequency and access to major interstate freight lanes. Demand is steady rather than a severe shortage niche; experienced drivers have multiple no-touch and weekly-home-time alternatives. Mid-sized carriers compete on dependable mileage, reasonable home time and equipment that is not excessively old.

Location & Freight Market

Little Rock sits at the junction of I-40 and I-30, giving direct east-west access toward Texas, Oklahoma and Memphis while I-55 opens the central Mississippi Valley. I-430, I-440 and I-530 let dispatchers bypass metro congestion and connect industrial districts to the interstate network. Distribution activity covers retail and consumer products; manufacturing contributes machinery, industrial goods and packaged products. The Port of Little Rock adds river, rail and truck-connected industrial freight, supported by extensive warehouse capacity throughout the metro. Outbound freight naturally moves west to Fort Smith and Oklahoma City, southwest toward Texarkana and Dallas/Fort Worth, east to Memphis, northeast to St. Louis and southeast to Jackson. Backhaul planning is essential because a driver may finish in Memphis, pick up consumer or industrial freight there, and return through Arkansas rather than deadheading. Normal constraints include metro traffic, I-40 construction, distribution-center appointment windows, warehouse congestion, weekend retail volume and occasional weather disruption from severe thunderstorms or winter events.

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