Regional CDL-A Position Dry Van

CDL-A Regional Mid-South Dry Van Driver

Hiring Area: Little Rock, AR • Terminal: Little Rock Area

Little Rock, AR Regional 2021–2024

No-touch 53-foot dry-van freight out of Little Rock pays $1,500–$1,750 most weeks and averages about $85,800 a year with a weekly 34-hour home reset.

Typical Weekly Gross
$1,500–$1,750
Estimated Annual: $85,800
Sign-On Bonus $1,000
Home Time Weekly (34-hr reset)
Weekly Miles 2,200–2,500
Freight Type No-Touch Dry Van
Driver Type Company Driver

Position Overview

Drivers work regional truckload turns that start and end in the Little Rock area rather than multi-stop local delivery.

  • Pick up preloaded 53-foot trailers from Central Arkansas distribution yards.
  • Check seals, load condition and trailer paperwork before leaving the facility.
  • Work scheduled deliveries into Memphis, Dallas-Fort Worth and Shreveport.
  • Communicate appointment delays and remaining HOS with dispatch.
  • Handle drop-and-hook and occasional live-load appointments.
  • Complete electronic DVIRs and report equipment issues before dispatching.
  • Document arrival and release times when detention may apply.

Pay & Compensation Breakdown

Pay is calculated strictly by paid miles at a single rate. Detention is added only after the customer delay qualifies and the driver has proper timestamps.

Base Rate $0.68 per paid mile
Weekly Range $1,500–$1,750
Typical Weekly Gross $1,650
Estimated Annual $85,800
Detention $35/hour after 2 hours
Sign-On Bonus $1,000 ($500 after 30 days / $500 after 180 days)
Pay Frequency Weekly electronic settlement

Schedule, Home Time & Routes

Home Time Weekly around 34-hour reset
Operating Corridor AR, TN, TX, OK, LA, MS, MO
Home Base Little Rock, AR
Weekly Miles 2,200–2,500 paid
Typical Cycle 5–5.5 days out
Dispatch Window Generally 4:00 AM–8:00 AM

Equipment & Cabin Specs

Tractor Years 2021–2024
Tractor Makes Freightliner Cascadia & Kenworth T680 sleepers
Transmission Automatic
Trailer 53-foot dry van
Safety Systems Forward-facing camera, collision mitigation, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise on equipped units
Other Equipment ELD, electronic DVIR, load bars, air-ride suspension, sliding fifth wheel, ABS & stability control
Assignment Assigned tractor when available; temporary slip-seat during maintenance

Maintenance runs through the company network and approved outside shops. Roadside problems are coordinated by dispatch and maintenance, not left solely to the driver.

Real Routes

Most freight is palletized consumer products, retail replenishment, paper, packaging, household goods, warehouse supplies, non-perishable food and light industrial loads.

  • Little Rock → Memphis on I-40 moves retail and distribution freight both directions.
  • Little Rock → Dallas/Fort Worth on I-30 carries consumer goods and manufactured products.
  • Little Rock → Shreveport via I-30/I-20 handles regional distribution and manufactured goods.
  • Fort Smith and Tulsa reloads on I-40 support Arkansas and Oklahoma industrial freight.
  • Occasional St. Louis or Jackson positioning uses I-40/I-55 or I-20 when needed for balance.
  • Dispatch often builds turns such as Little Rock → Dallas → Shreveport → Little Rock based on available reloads.

Typical Week & Daily Workflow

  • Begin at the Little Rock terminal or drop yard and pull the first assigned trailer.
  • Perform pre-trip, verify seal and paperwork, then depart for the first delivery.
  • At drop-and-hook locations check in, find the outbound trailer and leave once inspection is complete.
  • Live-load facilities usually require arrival 30–60 minutes early and waiting for a dock door.
  • Complete two to four meaningful load cycles each week depending on length and appointments.
  • Next load is normally planned while the current delivery is still in progress.
  • Return to the Central Arkansas area for the scheduled 34-hour reset.

About the Carrier

This operation is built around regional dry-van freight moving out of the Little Rock area. Most loads are tied to distribution centers, manufacturing facilities and retail replenishment rather than long-haul OTR freight. Drivers typically know their next destination before completing the current delivery, although exact city pairs change with available freight and remaining HOS. The focus stays on keeping 53-foot trailers turning between Central Arkansas and the surrounding Mid-South markets on weekly cycles.

Benefits & Healthcare Coverage

Health Coverage Medical, dental and vision options
Retirement 401(k) with company match per plan terms
Paid Time Off Vacation/PTO eligibility by tenure
Orientation Paid orientation at Little Rock terminal
Rider/Pet Subject to company policy and insurance
Other Terminal parking, roadside assistance coordination, preventive maintenance scheduling, paid DOT physical renewal, safety recognition

Driver Qualification Requirements

  • Valid Class A CDL
  • Approximately 6 months recent CDL-A tractor-trailer experience preferred
  • Safe driving history and ability to pass company MVR review
  • Meet DOT physical requirements and pass required drug screening
  • Ability to comply with FMCSA hours-of-service regulations
  • Recent CDL graduates considered case-by-case after accredited program completion

Operational Delays

  • Morning and afternoon congestion on I-30 and I-40 near Little Rock, Memphis and Dallas.
  • Construction, weather or interchange restrictions that change expected travel times.
  • Live-load facilities that create 1–2 hour waits during peak shipping periods.
  • September–November retail volume that increases dock congestion and appointment pressure.
  • Trailer shortages that force repositioning or substitution by dispatch.

Hiring Process

1
Recruiter Call
Phone screening within one business day
2
Document Review
CDL, MVR and employment verification
3
Screening
DOT drug test and Clearinghouse query
4
Orientation
Paid onboarding at Little Rock terminal

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much of the freight is drop-and-hook versus live? ▼
Roughly 55–65% drop-and-hook, 20–30% live load and 10–20% live unload. The mix changes by customer and week.
Q: What happens if the assigned trailer is not ready? ▼
Drivers inspect the trailer and seal before accepting the load. Dispatch can send the truck to another yard or swap empties if shortages appear.
Q: Are the same city pairs guaranteed every week? ▼
No. This is regional truckload work. Sequences shift with freight availability, customer delays and remaining HOS.
Q: Where do drivers usually park during the week? ▼
Customer-approved spots, commercial truck stops, company yards and allowed distribution-yard staging areas. Plan the 10-hour break early near Memphis and Dallas.
Q: Is tanker, HazMat or TWIC required? ▼
No. A standard Class A CDL is sufficient for this dry-van position.
Q: How long does the full hiring process usually take? ▼
Most candidates finish in 5–10 business days once verifications and screening are complete.

CDL Job Market

Central Arkansas regional dry-van hiring is driven mainly by distribution, retail replenishment and manufacturing freight rather than pure long-haul OTR demand. National fleets, LTL carriers and smaller asset-based companies all pull from the same pool of experienced Class A drivers around Little Rock. Weekly-home-time and no-touch truckload positions form a large share of the openings. Drivers here can usually compare several regional options instead of facing a pure shortage market. Through-freight on the I-30 and I-40 corridors keeps hiring steady for both local and Mid-South regional work throughout the year.

Location & Freight Market

North Little Rock warehouse and industrial activity feeds regular outbound freight onto I-40 toward Memphis and onto I-30 toward Dallas. Retail distribution, consumer products, packaging and light industrial goods make up most of the dry-van volume. The Port of Little Rock and local rail connections add multimodal options for shippers. Outbound loads often strengthen toward Texas or Tennessee; return freight commonly originates in Memphis, Dallas, Fort Smith or nearby distribution markets. Fall retail seasons increase appointment density, while construction and weather periodically change travel times on the main interstates.

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