Dedicated CDL-A Position Regional Dry Van

CDL-A Dedicated Regional Dry Van Truck Driver – Birmingham, AL

Hiring Area: Birmingham Metro • Terminal: Birmingham, AL

Birmingham, AL Dedicated Regional 2021–2025 Tractors

Dedicated dry-van freight leaves Birmingham for Southeast distribution and manufacturing points on weekly cycles. Drivers see $1,600–$1,850 gross most weeks and annualized pay near $83,200–$96,200.

Typical Weekly Gross
$1,600–$1,850
Typical Annualized Pay: $83,200–$96,200
Sign-On Bonus $1,500
Home Time Weekly — typically 34–48 hrs
Driver Type Dedicated Regional
Weekly Miles 2,100–2,500
Freight Type No-Touch Dry Van

How the Account Works

A mid-sized carrier keeps a recurring dry-van network centered on Birmingham and Bessemer facilities that feed the Southeast and Mid-South.

  • Dedicated dry-van freight from Birmingham-area customers
  • Primarily Southeast regional operation with weekly home time
  • 2,100–2,500 paid miles on typical weeks
  • Mix of drop-and-hook, preloaded and live appointments
  • Customer appointments, trailer/seal checks and electronic paperwork
  • Dispatch support for delays, detention, breakdowns and reloads

Pay Structure

Mileage sits at $0.72 CPM. Qualifying stops add $25 each, so a normal week with 2,100–2,500 miles and a handful of stops lands near $1,725.

Weekly Gross Range $1,600–$1,850
Typical Annualized $83,200–$96,200
Sign-On Bonus $1,500 paid in installments during first 180 days
Bonus Schedule $500 after 30 days / $500 after 90 days / $500 after 180 days
Detention $25/hour after qualifying wait
Payroll Weekly direct deposit

Weekly Cycle & Home Time

Home Time Weekly — typically 34–48 hours
Operating Area Alabama and surrounding Southeast/Mid-South states
Terminal Birmingham-area
Typical Paid Miles 2,100–2,500 per week
Dispatch Dedicated-account planning with ELD updates

Drivers generally return to the Birmingham area at the end of the weekly cycle. Exact timing shifts with dispatch needs, traffic, HOS limits and customer appointments.

Tractors & Trailers

Tractor Years 2021–2025 model-year units, some older depending on availability
Makes Freightliner Cascadia and International LT sleepers
Transmission Automatic
Safety Systems ELD, electronic DVIR, forward-facing dash camera; collision mitigation and lane-departure on equipped tractors; adaptive cruise on selected units
Assignment Assigned when fleet allows; temporary changes or slip-seating possible during maintenance

53-foot dry vans carry standard load-locks and trailer tracking where installed. Air-ride suspension is standard. Birmingham-area shops handle preventive work; approved outside vendors cover units away from the terminal. Roadside issues are coordinated through dispatch and maintenance.

Freight Lanes & Reload Points

Palletized retail merchandise, packaged consumer goods, industrial supplies and dry food-and-beverage freight move on a mix of drop-and-hook and live appointments. About 55–70 percent of activity is drop-and-hook or preloaded.

  • Birmingham, AL → Atlanta, GA
  • Birmingham, AL → Memphis, TN
  • Birmingham, AL → Nashville, TN
  • Birmingham, AL → Chattanooga, TN
  • Birmingham, AL → Montgomery, AL
  • Birmingham, AL → Jackson, MS
  • Birmingham, AL → Greenville, SC
  • Birmingham, AL → Louisville, KY
  • Reloads may originate around Bessemer, McCalla, Tuscaloosa, Huntsville and Atlanta depending on customer demand

How a Week Actually Runs

  • Initial load assignment appears on the ELD before or at departure from the Birmingham terminal or a nearby customer yard.
  • Pre-trip completed, trailer number and seal verified, then head to the first appointment.
  • After delivery the next reload is often already planned; exact trailer availability can still change.
  • Drop-and-hook stops usually finish in 30–60 minutes; live appointments commonly take 1–2 hours.
  • Any late facility, missing trailer or traffic problem is reported to dispatch right away so the sequence can be adjusted.
  • Ten-hour breaks are planned near the following appointment using terminal space, approved customer yards or established truck stops.
  • After five to six days the cycle returns toward Birmingham for home time and any required 34-hour reset.

About the Carrier

Southeast retail and industrial supply chains need steady dry-van capacity that connects Birmingham-area warehouses with manufacturing plants and distribution centers in neighboring states. Rather than chasing open-market loads, this mid-sized operation stays inside a single customer network so equipment and dispatch remain predictable. Maintenance support stays local to the Birmingham market while the freight itself keeps moving across Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky and parts of the Carolinas. The result is consistent regional work without multi-week OTR cycles.

Benefits Package

Health Coverage Medical, dental and vision options
Retirement 401(k) with company match subject to plan eligibility
Time Off Paid time off according to company policy and tenure
Orientation & Training Paid orientation, account-specific onboarding, safety refresher training
Additional Support Paid DOT physical renewal, fuel card, electronic toll support, rider program subject to policy, terminal parking for qualifying drivers

Minimum Qualifications

  • Valid Class A CDL
  • Approximately 6 months recent tractor-trailer experience preferred
  • Acceptable MVR and driving history
  • Valid DOT Medical Examiner’s Certificate
  • Pass pre-employment drug screen and Clearinghouse query
  • Meet FMCSA/DOT standards; able to operate automatic transmission and 53-ft dry van

Common Delays on the Road

  • Congestion at the I-20/I-65 interchange and along I-59
  • Atlanta construction zones and limited evening parking near major freight markets
  • Live dock or gate delays when warehouse volume peaks
  • Tighter empty-trailer availability during retail shipping seasons
  • Weather or HOS limits that force the next appointment to be resequenced

Hiring Steps

1
Recruiter Contact
Usually within one business day
2
Record Check
CDL, MVR and employment history
3
Screening
Drug screen and Clearinghouse query
4
Orientation
Paid at Birmingham terminal; full process 5–10 business days

Practical Questions

Q: How much of the work is live versus drop-and-hook? ▼
Fifty-five to seventy percent runs drop-and-hook or preloaded. The balance is live, normally 1–2 hours unless the warehouse is backed up.
Q: What if the next trailer is not ready? ▼
Call dispatch at once. They track empty equipment and can rearrange the sequence or shift the appointment when the customer permits.
Q: Do any customers require lumpers? ▼
Selected receivers control their own unloading and may use lumper services. Drivers never authorize unusual charges on their own; dispatch handles the paperwork.
Q: Can the return-home day move? ▼
Yes. Weather, tight appointments, HOS limits or sudden freight volume can push the home window by a day in either direction.
Q: Is weekend work expected? ▼
Some accounts keep freight moving on weekends, especially during retail peaks when appointment windows tighten.
Q: How is detention calculated? ▼
Clock starts from the customer’s appointment or check-in time under company policy. Drivers send arrival, door and release times so operations can document the delay.

CDL-A Hiring Landscape in Birmingham

Birmingham’s position at the junction of three major interstates keeps a steady flow of CDL-A openings. National fleets, dedicated operators, LTL carriers and regional companies all recruit here, with the strongest demand falling on drivers who want weekly home time rather than extended OTR cycles. Manufacturing, retail distribution and industrial commodities generate most of the local freight volume, so regional and dedicated dry-van seats remain the most common postings. Food-and-beverage and building-products lanes add further options. Clean records and at least six months of recent experience put candidates in the best position; the metro’s freight corridors continue to create consistent hiring pressure throughout the year.

Why Freight Moves Through Birmingham

Central Alabama’s freight economy is built on inland distribution rather than ocean ports. Manufacturing plants, large retail warehouses, food-and-beverage centers and building-products facilities around Birmingham and Bessemer generate continuous outbound volume. The western industrial corridor and planned Western Corridor/Birmingport development add further logistics density. I-20, I-59 and I-65 carry the heaviest truck traffic, while I-22 and I-459 serve as key connectors and bypasses. Trailers circulate steadily between Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi and Kentucky. Retail shipping seasons tighten appointment windows, yet the underlying industrial base keeps dry-van demand stable year-round.

Start Your Application