Regional Reefer Position Full-Time
CDL-A Local / Regional Reefer Driver – San Antonio, TX
Hiring Area: San Antonio Metro & Surrounding • Terminal: San Antonio, TX
San Antonio, TX Local / Regional 2021–2025 Mixed Fleet
Mixed local and regional reefer runs support grocery and food-distribution freight across South and Central Texas. Earn $1,200–$1,750 weekly ($62,400–$91,000 annually) with home daily or every-other-day resets on I-35 and I-10 corridors.
Weekly Gross
$1,200–$1,750
Estimated Annual: $62,400–$91,000
Sign-On Bonus Up to $1,500–$3,000
Home Time Home Daily / Every Other Day
Driver Type Company Driver
Weekly Miles Varies by Assignment
Freight Type Refrigerated Grocery & Food
Temperature-controlled grocery and foodservice freight moves between San Antonio distribution centers and retail locations throughout South and Central Texas. The operation mixes preloaded trailers with live loading and multi-stop deliveries.
- Verify reefer set points and seal numbers before departure.
- Complete gate check-in and present appointment documentation.
- Back into assigned docks and monitor live unload activity.
- Report temperature alarms or seal discrepancies immediately.
- Obtain signed POD and confirm pallet counts or exceptions.
- Coordinate with dispatch when warehouse delays affect routes.
Gross weekly earnings fall in the $1,200–$1,750 range depending on assignment length, hours, and freight volume. Stronger weeks usually include longer regional runs or higher-volume grocery work.
Weekly Gross $1,200–$1,750
Estimated Annual $62,400–$91,000
Hourly Equivalent $23–$32/hr
Sign-On Bonus Up to $1,500–$3,000 (30/60/90)
Detention Pay $25–$40/hour after grace period
Safety Bonus Up to $750 quarterly
Referral Bonus Up to $1,000
Pay Frequency Weekly
Home Time Home Daily / Every Other Day
Operating Corridor South & Central Texas (I-35 / I-10 / I-37)
Terminal San Antonio, TX
Dispatch Window Early-morning starts common
Shift Pattern Rotating day/night; weekend rotation possible
Model Years 2021–2025 mix
Tractor Makes Freightliner Cascadia, Kenworth T680, Volvo VNL
Transmission Automatic
Cab Configurations Sleeper and day-cab
Trailers 53-ft refrigerated (Thermo King / Carrier)
ELD Systems Samsara / Omnitracs
Safety Systems Forward dash cams, collision mitigation, lane departure, adaptive cruise
Multi-temperature equipment is used on selected grocery accounts. Fleet has normal operating wear; tractors may rotate for maintenance or refrigeration work.
Refrigerated grocery, dairy, frozen foods, chilled packaged products, and produce move from San Antonio-area distribution centers and food-processing facilities. Routes are not fixed and adjust daily based on appointments and trailer availability.
- San Antonio → Austin via I-35 grocery and retail distribution
- San Antonio → New Braunfels → Austin multi-stop corridor
- San Antonio → Laredo on I-35 South Texas refrigerated freight
- San Antonio → Houston food distribution on I-10
- San Antonio → Corpus Christi via I-37 replenishment
- Austin / Laredo / Houston backhauls into San Antonio
- Early dispatch begins with pre-trip and reefer temperature verification.
- Pickup of preloaded trailer or live-load assignment at distribution center.
- Gate check-in, seal confirmation, and dock assignment at first stop.
- Live unload or drop-and-hook followed by temperature and seal documentation.
- Additional stops or reload coordinated through ELD and phone updates.
- Return to San Antonio terminal same day or approved overnight location.
- HOS and parking planned before final available rest areas on regional runs.
About the Carrier
Grocery and foodservice replenishment across South and Central Texas depends on reliable temperature-controlled capacity that can adjust to appointment windows and seasonal volume swings. A mid-sized regional carrier fills this role by linking San Antonio distribution centers and cold-storage facilities with retail and warehouse destinations along the I-35 and I-10 corridors. The operation focuses on mixed local and short regional movements rather than long-haul OTR, emphasizing equipment readiness, seal integrity, and prompt communication when warehouse delays or reefer issues arise. This structure keeps freight moving while allowing drivers consistent access to home time.
Health Coverage Medical, Dental, Vision
Retirement 401(k) with company match
Time Off Paid time off and paid holidays
Life Insurance Basic life insurance options
Additional Support Paid orientation, terminal parking, reefer training, safety equipment
- Valid CDL-A, minimum age 21, interstate eligible
- 3–6 months CDL-A experience preferred; reefer helpful but not required
- Acceptable MVR with no serious recent safety violations
- DOT physical, drug screen, and Clearinghouse query
- Ability to operate ELDs and maintain temperature-control procedures
- Willingness to work early mornings, rotating schedules, and occasional weekends
- Morning congestion on Loop 410, I-35, and the New Braunfels/Austin corridor
- Warehouse queues during holiday periods and retail promotions
- I-10 traffic impacts on Houston-bound freight
- Reefer temperature alarms or low reefer fuel requiring immediate notification
- Construction and peak-hour congestion reducing available driving buffer
1
Application
Submit CDL and employment history
2
Recruiter Screen
Phone call within one business day
3
MVR & DOT Checks
CDL, MVR, physical, drug screen, Clearinghouse
4
Offer & Orientation
Written offer and paid orientation at San Antonio terminal
Q: How often do routes change during the day? ▼
Dispatch can resequence stops when a warehouse runs behind or a better reload becomes available. Drivers are expected to contact operations before leaving a facility if the next appointment is at risk.
Q: Are multi-temperature trailers used? ▼
Yes. Multi-temperature equipment appears on selected grocery accounts. Drivers verify set points for each zone before departure.
Q: What happens if a seal does not match paperwork? ▼
Contact dispatch immediately and do not open the trailer until instructed. Seal discrepancies are treated as a service issue that must be documented.
Q: Can drivers take the tractor home? ▼
Taking the tractor home depends on the assigned account, available parking, and company policy. Most local drivers park company equipment at the San Antonio terminal or approved yard.
Q: How is detention documented? ▼
Qualifying customer detention is tracked through the ELD and required paperwork using arrival, appointment, and release times. Dispatch and payroll review the documentation.
Q: Is weekend work required? ▼
Weekend rotation may be required because grocery distribution continues through weekends. Peak periods increase both freight volume and dock activity.
San Antonio maintains a broad CDL-A labor market driven by distribution, food processing, retail replenishment, manufacturing, and cross-border freight moving through Laredo. The city’s position on the I-35 corridor linking South Texas with Austin and Dallas–Fort Worth, combined with I-10 access toward Houston, creates steady demand for company drivers across local, regional, dedicated, and specialized roles. Refrigerated positions remain competitive because temperature-controlled freight requires appointment discipline and equipment monitoring. Medium-sized regional carriers compete with national fleets, private fleets, and food distributors for experienced applicants. Local and short-regional home-time options are common, while OTR and tanker work also appear regularly. Overall demand stays consistent year-round, with seasonal spikes tied to grocery volume, produce seasons, and retail promotions.
San Antonio’s refrigerated freight network is anchored by population-driven grocery distribution, food manufacturing, and retail replenishment. The I-35 corridor carries the heaviest volume, connecting the city with New Braunfels, Austin, and points farther north, while I-10 links it to Houston and western Texas distribution centers. I-37 supports movement toward Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend, and I-35 South provides access to Laredo’s international logistics gateway. Cold-storage facilities, grocery warehouses, and food-processing plants generate recurring outbound and inbound loads that require temperature control. Holiday periods, summer consumption peaks, and produce seasons increase trailer demand and dock congestion. Construction and daily traffic around Loop 410, I-35, and I-10 regularly affect transit times, making appointment-based planning essential. These geographic and economic factors sustain continuous demand for mixed local and regional reefer capacity throughout the year.