OTR CDL-A Position Solo Company Driver

CDL-A OTR Dry Van Driver – San Diego, CA

Hiring Area: San Diego, CA • Terminal: San Diego-based

San Diego, CA OTR Dry Van 2020–2024 Sleepers

Solo company drivers pull 53' dry vans loaded with palletized consumer goods, retail merchandise and industrial components from the San Diego and Inland Empire network out to Phoenix, Las Vegas, Dallas and Houston. Expect 2–3 weeks on the road, then 2–3 full days home.

Typical Weekly Gross
$1,650–$1,950
Estimated Annual: $96,200
Pay Basis $0.60 CPM
Weekly Miles 2,750–3,200
Home Time 2–3 weeks out / 2–3 days home
Sign-On $1,000
Freight No-touch dry van

What This Job Actually Involves

This is true over-the-road dry van work based in San Diego. Most freight is palletized and no-touch. Drivers start cycles in the San Diego/Otay Mesa or Inland Empire network and run longer hauls into Arizona, Nevada and Texas.

  • Inspect preloaded trailers for damage, seals and load condition before departure.
  • Handle both drop-and-hook (majority) and live load/unload appointments.
  • Verify BOL, trailer number, seal and pallet count at every facility.
  • Communicate delays, detention and HOS status with dispatch in real time.
  • Keep accurate ELD records and manage fuel stops on long interstate lanes.
  • Report mechanical issues promptly and coordinate maintenance around home time when possible.

How Pay Is Calculated

Compensation is pure mileage. Both loaded and dispatched empty miles are paid at the same rate under company policy.

Base Rate $0.60 per paid mile
Typical Week Math 3,000 miles × $0.60 = $1,800 + ≈$50 detention = $1,850
Normal Weekly Range $1,650–$1,950
Detention $25/hour after qualifying wait period
Sign-On Bonus $1,000 paid in installments after milestones
Pay Schedule Weekly direct deposit

Schedule & Home Time

Home Time Pattern Approximately 2–3 weeks out, then 2–3 full days home
Weekly Miles 2,750–3,200 paid miles
Driving Days Typically 5–6 days per week while out
Dispatch 7-day dispatch; next load often given before current delivery finishes
Base San Diego, CA – drivers finish weeks in Arizona, Nevada, Texas or California

Trucks & Trailers

Tractors Freightliner Cascadia 2021–2024 and Kenworth T680 2020–2024
Cab Type Full sleeper, automatic transmission
Safety Features Forward-facing cameras, collision mitigation, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise on selected units
Amenities APUs on a portion of the fleet; inverters on assigned long-haul tractors
Trailers 53' dry vans (4–9 years old), swing doors, logistic load bars, electronic tracking on selected units

Assigned tractor when available. Temporary equipment used during maintenance or fleet balancing. Full ELD compliance.

Freight & Typical Lanes

Primary freight is palletized consumer goods, retail merchandise, electronics, industrial components, packaging materials and non-temperature-controlled food products. Most loads are no-touch.

  • San Diego / Otay Mesa → Phoenix on I-8 / I-10
  • San Diego → Las Vegas via I-15
  • Southern California (often after Inland Empire reload) → Dallas / Fort Worth on I-10 / I-20
  • Southern California → Houston via I-8 / I-10
  • Ontario, Fontana, Riverside or San Bernardino reloads into longer eastbound cycles
  • Return movements from Dallas, Phoenix or Las Vegas back into the San Diego network

How a Normal Week Runs

  • Next load is usually assigned before the current delivery is finished.
  • Many cycles begin in Otay Mesa, Miramar, Kearny Mesa or North County; some start with a short reposition to Ontario/Fontana for better eastbound freight.
  • Roughly 60–70% of stops are drop-and-hook; 30–40% are live load or unload.
  • Overnight parking is planned at truck stops or approved yards along the I-10, I-15 and I-8 corridors (Barstow, Phoenix, Las Vegas, El Paso, Dallas area).
  • Traffic on I-5, I-15 and I-10 plus warehouse appointment windows regularly affect the day; HOS is protected rather than forced.
  • 34-hour resets normally occur during scheduled home time; occasional resets happen on the road when freight requires it.

About the Operation

Southern California dry-van freight depends on carriers that can pull consistent long-haul capacity out of the San Diego and Inland Empire distribution network. This mid-sized operation builds multi-week OTR cycles that start in the San Diego area, use Inland Empire reload density, and keep trucks moving on the established Southwest and Texas corridors. The focus is practical late-model sleeper equipment, primarily no-touch palletized freight, and dispatch that plans around legal HOS rather than unrealistic mileage promises.

Benefits

Health Medical, dental and vision options
Retirement 401(k) with company contribution
Time Off Paid vacation after eligibility requirements
Onboarding Paid orientation and company-paid initial DOT drug screen
Support Fuel card/network, PrePass where available, roadside assistance, driver referral program

Requirements

  • Valid Class A CDL
  • Approximately 6 months recent tractor-trailer experience preferred (strong recent training considered)
  • MVR and PSP that meet company and insurance standards
  • Pass DOT physical, drug screen and FMCSA Clearinghouse query
  • Ability to stay out 2–3 weeks and maintain accurate ELD/HOS records
  • No HazMat or tanker endorsement required

Realistic Delays You Will Encounter

  • Heavy traffic and construction on I-5, I-15 and I-10, especially through Southern California and the Inland Empire
  • Gate queues and limited empty-trailer availability at busy distribution centers
  • Strict appointment windows that can still produce dock wait time even when you arrive on schedule
  • Seasonal retail volume that increases warehouse congestion in the second half of the year
  • Summer desert heat affecting tire condition, inspections and safe parking decisions

Hiring Steps

1
Application
Submit CDL-A application with driving history
2
Recruiter Call
Usually within one business day
3
Safety Review
MVR, PSP, employment and Clearinghouse check
4
Screening & Orientation
DOT drug screen, paid orientation, truck assignment

Common Questions

Q: Do I have to cross into Mexico?▼
No. All freight is already in the U.S. domestic network. This position does not require Mexico border crossings.
Q: How much of the freight is drop-and-hook?▼
Approximately 60–70% is drop-and-hook or preload. The rest is live load or unload depending on the customer.
Q: Can I take the truck home on my days off?▼
It depends on your assigned location and company policy. Taking the tractor home in the San Diego metro area is not guaranteed for every driver.
Q: Are new CDL graduates accepted?▼
Recent graduates with strong training and a clean safety record may be considered, but this is primarily an experienced-driver position and additional orientation may be required.
Q: What should I check on a preloaded trailer?▼
Doors, floor, roof, lights, tires, landing gear and interior condition before leaving the yard. A damaged or contaminated trailer can be rejected later in the trip.
Q: Where do drivers usually park overnight?▼
Commercial truck stops and approved customer or carrier yards along the main corridors (Ontario/Riverside, Barstow, Phoenix, Las Vegas, El Paso, Dallas-Fort Worth area). Street parking in San Diego is not used.

CDL-A Market in San Diego

San Diego supports a solid pool of CDL-A drivers, but the market works differently from inland hubs. Drivers can choose true OTR, regional, dedicated, LTL, port/intermodal or smaller truckload fleets. Living costs are high and carriers based in the Inland Empire and Los Angeles basin compete for the same experienced drivers. Steady demand exists for OTR dry-van drivers willing to run multi-week cycles, while home-weekly regional and dedicated options also draw from the same workforce. Otay Mesa and the broader Southern California distribution network keep freight moving year-round.

Why Freight Moves Through San Diego

San Diego sits at the southern end of California’s main north-south freight network and ties directly into Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, Arizona and the Otay Mesa gateway. I-5, I-15, I-805 and I-8 carry the bulk of the truck traffic. Industrial and warehouse activity is concentrated in Otay Mesa, Kearny Mesa, Miramar, Poway, Rancho Bernardo and North County. Dry-van freight consists mainly of consumer goods, retail merchandise, electronics, industrial components, packaging and non-temperature-controlled food products. Many loads originate or reload through denser Inland Empire facilities before continuing east toward Phoenix, Las Vegas, Dallas and Houston. Ongoing logistics development continues to support consistent truckload volume.

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