Dedicated CDL-A Position Regional Reefer
CDL-A Regional Poultry Reefer Driver – Dedicated Routes
Hiring Area: Birmingham, AL • Terminal: Birmingham, AL
Birmingham, AL Dedicated Regional 2022–2025 Tractors
Dedicated Southeast poultry reefer runs from Birmingham with weekly pay $1,600–$2,150, regular home returns during the week, and sealed temperature-controlled freight moving to grocery distribution centers across the region.
Weekly Gross
$1,600–$2,150
Estimated Annual: $100,350
Sign-On Bonus $1,000 after 90 days
Home Time Several times weekly
Driver Type Dedicated Regional
Weekly Miles ~2,650 paid miles
Freight Type Fresh & Frozen Poultry
This dedicated account supports recurring poultry processing contracts with appointment-driven deliveries rather than open-board spot freight.
- Verify Bills of Lading, seal numbers, and USDA paperwork before departure.
- Monitor Thermo King operation and respond immediately to temperature alarms.
- Complete accurate temperature logs and electronic food-safety documentation.
- Confirm trailer pre-cooling and food-grade cleanliness prior to loading.
- Report refrigeration issues, equipment defects, or sanitation concerns at once.
- Maintain professional contact with warehouse and gate personnel during stops.
Mileage is paid on every loaded and empty dispatched mile. Typical weeks combine base CPM with stop and detention earnings.
Weekly Gross $1,600–$2,150
Mileage Rate $0.66–$0.72 CPM
Typical Week Example 2,650 mi × $0.69 = $1,830 + stops/detention ≈ $1,930
Sign-On Bonus $1,000 after 90 days (safety performance required)
Stop Pay $20–$30 per customer delivery
Detention / Layover Paid after company policy waiting period / authorized overnight delays
Safety & On-Time Incentive Up to $1,800 annually
Payroll Weekly direct deposit
Home Time Several returns through Birmingham terminal each week
Operating Corridor Southeast – AL, GA, TN, MS, FL Panhandle, NC, SC
Terminal Birmingham, AL
Typical Weekly Miles Approximately 2,650 paid miles
Dispatch Windows Commonly 3:30 AM–7:00 AM; afternoon/evening pickups also scheduled
Tractors 2022–2025 Kenworth T680 / Freightliner Cascadia
Transmission Majority automatic
Trailers 53-ft refrigerated, primarily Thermo King, 2021–2025 models
Safety Systems Collision mitigation, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control
In-Cab Inverter, refrigerator, Bluetooth, Qualcomm/Samsara ELD, dash cameras
Assignment Assigned tractor when operationally practical
Dedicated refrigerated fleet of roughly 70–90 power units maintained at the Birmingham facility. Company pays all reefer fuel, refrigeration maintenance, and roadside assistance. Trailers feature electronic temperature monitoring, interior air chutes, and food-grade interiors under sanitation standards.
Outbound poultry moves from central and northern Alabama processing plants to grocery distribution centers, cold storage, and retail supply networks. Approximately 65% of shipments run drop-and-hook.
- Primary origins are poultry plants in central and northern Alabama.
- Frequent destinations include Atlanta, Nashville, Memphis, Jackson, Mobile, Montgomery, Tallahassee, Charlotte, and Greenville.
- Key corridors: I-65, I-20, I-59, US-78, I-75, and I-85.
- Multi-stop loads common when serving grocery networks across Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas.
- Reloads typically occur near Atlanta, Nashville, Jackson, Greenville, or Charlotte to limit empty miles.
- Seasonal volume rises before Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and summer grilling season.
- Load information arrives the evening before; final pickup confirmation follows plant production availability.
- Most days start at the Birmingham terminal or directly at the assigned processing plant.
- Pre-trip inspection covers tractor, Thermo King unit, trailer cleanliness, and set-point temperature.
- After loading, seals, paperwork, and temperature settings are verified before departure.
- Dispatch may adjust delivery sequences during the day for weather, traffic, or receiver availability.
- Live unload appointments usually take 45 minutes to 2 hours; larger centers can run longer in peak periods.
- Drivers return through Birmingham several times weekly to exchange trailers and complete inspections.
About the Carrier
Poultry processing plants across Alabama generate continuous outbound volume that must reach grocery distribution centers and cold-storage facilities under strict temperature control. A mid-sized regional refrigerated carrier with a Birmingham terminal concentrates on dedicated food-grade contracts rather than open-board freight. The operation matches plant production schedules with recurring customer appointments across the Southeast, keeping equipment utilization high and empty miles low through coordinated backhauls of inbound food products and packaging. Specialized reefer maintenance and account-specific dispatch support the unbroken cold chain required for USDA-inspected poultry.
Health Coverage Medical, dental, and vision after 30 days
Retirement 401(k) with company matching
Paid Time Off Vacation based on years of service; paid holidays for eligible employees
Rider Program Available after 6 months of safe employment
Additional Paid orientation, company uniforms after intro period, paid DOT physical renewals, employee referral bonus, driver lounge and parking at Birmingham terminal
- Valid Class A CDL and current DOT Medical Certificate
- Minimum 2 years verifiable CDL-A experience in refrigerated or temperature-controlled freight
- Clean MVR, acceptable PSP, and ability to meet company insurance standards
- Successful DOT pre-employment drug screen and FMCSA Clearinghouse query
- Familiarity with temperature logs, seal procedures, and appointment-based deliveries
- Plant pickup times shift with daily production output, USDA inspections, or packaging-line availability.
- Holiday and peak grilling seasons increase dock activity and trailer staging times.
- Morning and afternoon congestion around Birmingham, Atlanta, Nashville, and Charlotte affects appointments.
- Interstate construction on I-20, I-65, I-75, and I-85 periodically slows travel.
- Some grocery distribution centers experience moderate dock congestion during high-volume windows.
1
Recruiter Call
Initial contact within one business day
2
Credential Review
MVR, PSP, Clearinghouse, background
3
DOT Testing
Pre-employment drug screen
4
Orientation
1–2 days paid at Birmingham terminal
Q: How is overnight parking handled on the road? ▼
Dispatch plans overnight locations using appointment times, HOS, and traffic conditions. Common stops include Love’s, Pilot, Flying J, and TA along major corridors. The Birmingham terminal offers secured parking when schedules allow.
Q: Are trailers pre-cooled before loading? ▼
Yes. Drivers confirm the trailer has been washed, inspected, and pre-cooled to the required set-point before accepting it for loading.
Q: What percentage of loads are drop-and-hook? ▼
Approximately 65% of shipments are drop-and-hook; the rest involve live loading or unloading depending on the customer.
Q: Can I take the tractor home between trips? ▼
Equipment is normally left at the Birmingham terminal unless specific operational approval is granted for take-home arrangements.
Q: How long does the full hiring process usually take? ▼
Most qualified applicants complete the process in 5–10 business days, depending on verification and testing timelines.
Q: Is reefer fuel and maintenance paid by the company? ▼
Yes. All reefer fuel, refrigeration maintenance, and emergency service calls are company-paid.
Birmingham ranks among Alabama’s strongest CDL-A employment centers because of its position at the crossroads of I-20, I-59, I-22, and I-65. Demand spans manufacturing, steel, food processing, retail distribution, healthcare logistics, and grocery supply chains. Refrigerated drivers remain in shorter supply than dry-van operators because of the added temperature-control and appointment discipline required. Dedicated food-grade accounts generally show lower turnover than open-board freight. Regional carriers compete with national fleets, private grocery carriers, and refrigerated specialists for experienced temperature-controlled drivers, keeping consistent demand for candidates with two or more years of reefer experience.
Poultry ranks among Alabama’s largest agricultural industries, with processing plants concentrated in the central and northern parts of the state. These facilities supply fresh and frozen product to supermarkets, wholesalers, restaurants, and institutional customers throughout the Southeast. Birmingham functions as a primary freight gateway linking agricultural production, food manufacturing, and retail distribution. Major corridors—I-65, I-20, I-59, and connecting routes—provide efficient access to distribution centers in Atlanta, Nashville, Memphis, Jackson, Mobile, Montgomery, Tallahassee, Charlotte, and Greenville. Outbound poultry shipments are frequently balanced with inbound food products, packaging, and refrigerated grocery freight, supporting steady year-round volume that rises before major holidays and during the summer grilling season. The region’s location within a day’s drive of multiple population centers sustains continuous refrigerated freight movement.
