CDL-A Regional Reefer Truck Driver – San Antonio, TX

Operate a company tractor and 53-foot refrigerated trailer serving grocery distribution centers, cold-storage facilities, and food customers around San Antonio. Work includes regional driving, dock appointments, temperature checks, and occasional multi-stop deliveries.

• Haul chilled, frozen, and temperature-sensitive food freight.
• Receive dispatch instructions and confirm pickup appointments.
• Inspect reefer operation, fuel level, temperature settings, and seals.
• Handle gate check-in, dock assignments, bills of lading, and signed PODs.
• Complete pre-trip, post-trip, ELD, and defect reports.
• Report detention, missed appointments, product concerns, and equipment faults.
• Return to the San Antonio terminal daily on most assigned routes.

Pay is hourly, with overtime for eligible hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. Actual weekly gross depends on paid hours, dispatch volume, and qualifying overtime.

Weekly and annual figures are gross estimates, not guaranteed minimums. Annualized figures multiply the stated weekly range by 52 and assume consistent work throughout the year. Bonus eligibility, detention approval, and overtime are subject to the applicable written pay policy.

Some longer regional assignments may involve an overnight stay. Dispatch schedules depend on customer appointments, freight availability, hours-of-service limits, and weather.

This is a working commercial fleet, not an all-new equipment operation. Tractor assignment depends on route and availability. Units may be reassigned during scheduled maintenance or repairs.

Loads serve grocery distribution, refrigerated warehouses, food manufacturers, and retail replenishment accounts. Actual origins, destinations, and stop counts change with customer demand.

• San Antonio, TX → Austin, TX — I-35 grocery distribution and replenishment.
• San Antonio, TX → New Braunfels, TX — short-haul warehouse transfers.
• San Antonio, TX → Laredo, TX — South Texas refrigerated freight.
• San Antonio, TX → Houston, TX — I-10 regional food distribution.
• San Antonio, TX → Corpus Christi, TX — I-37 food and retail deliveries.
• San Antonio, TX → Seguin, TX — local and regional warehouse freight.
• Austin, TX → San Antonio, TX — return freight when available.

Backhauls and reloads depend on freight availability and appointment compatibility. A listed lane is an example of the operating network, not a guaranteed daily assignment.

Benefit availability, enrollment dates, employee contributions, and waiting periods are determined by the applicable company plans.

• Valid Class A CDL and eligibility to operate in interstate commerce.
• Minimum age of 21.
• At least 6 months of recent verifiable tractor-trailer experience preferred.
• Refrigerated freight experience is helpful but not mandatory.
• Acceptable motor vehicle record and employment history.
• Required DOT medical qualification, drug screening, and Clearinghouse review.
• Ability to complete inspections, use ELDs, and follow reefer procedures.
• Availability for early starts, physical dock access, and rotating weekend work.

• Peak-hour congestion on I-35, Loop 410, and US-281 around San Antonio.
• Houston-bound traffic and construction along I-10.
• Customer appointment queues and extended live unloading.
• Seasonal grocery demand and holiday distribution surges.
• Reefer alarms, trailer defects, and temperature verification requirements.
• Weather-related slowdowns and limited safe parking on regional runs.

Drivers must report delays promptly, preserve delivery documentation, and follow hours-of-service requirements rather than attempting to recover time through unsafe driving.

San Antonio offers a broad commercial driving market supported by grocery distribution, food manufacturing, retail replenishment, construction supply, and cross-border logistics. Interstate 35 connects the city with New Braunfels and Austin before continuing toward the Dallas–Fort Worth market, while I-10 provides a major freight connection to Houston and West Texas. I-37 supports traffic toward Corpus Christi, and I-35 South links the region with Laredo's international freight network. CDL-A candidates can compare local delivery, regional dry van, refrigerated transport, tanker, and dedicated fleet opportunities. Reefer positions appeal to drivers comfortable with early dispatches, customer appointments, temperature checks, and occasional multi-stop deliveries. Competition comes from national carriers, private distribution fleets, foodservice companies, and smaller regional operators. Pay comparisons should account for overtime eligibility, actual weekly hours, route consistency, benefits, and whether home time is daily or dependent on the assigned lane. Seasonal grocery demand can increase workloads.

San Antonio's refrigerated freight activity is connected to regional grocery warehouses, food distributors, cold-storage facilities, and manufacturers serving communities throughout South and Central Texas. I-35 is the principal north–south corridor for movements toward New Braunfels and Austin, while I-10 supports eastbound shipments toward Seguin and Houston. I-37 provides access to Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend, and I-35 connects with Laredo's cross-border logistics network. Typical refrigerated commodities include dairy, frozen products, packaged foods, and produce, although the mix depends on the customer account. Warehouse appointments, trailer availability, unloading times, and the condition of refrigeration equipment all influence dispatch planning. San Antonio traffic, construction, summer heat, and holiday retail surges can complicate delivery schedules and increase the importance of reefer monitoring. Return loads may be available from regional markets, but backhauls are not guaranteed on every trip. Drivers should evaluate actual paid hours, overnight frequency, and route assignments before accepting a position.