Regional CDL-A Position Dry Van
CDL-A Regional Consumer Goods Driver
Hiring Area: Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN • Terminal: Minneapolis-area
Minneapolis, MN Regional 2021–2025
Regional dry-van runs move palletized consumer products across Minnesota and the Upper Midwest with 1–3 nights out, weekly pay $1,450–$1,750 and estimated annual gross $85,800.
Typical Weekly Gross
$1,450–$1,750
Estimated Annual: $85,800
Sign-On Bonus $1,500
Home Time Weekly (1–3 nights out)
Driver Type Solo Company
Weekly Miles 2,200–2,600
Freight Type Consumer Goods / Dry Van
Twin Cities distribution centers and manufacturing sites feed a steady flow of non-temperature-controlled consumer products into Upper Midwest customer locations.
- Completes pre-trip and post-trip inspections and documents defects.
- Verifies trailer numbers, seals and shipping documents before departure.
- Manages appointment windows and reports delays promptly to dispatch.
- Performs safe backing and yard movements at DCs and plants.
- Maintains accurate ELD records and complies with HOS rules.
- Communicates trailer status, weather and reload needs with dispatch.
$0.62 per paid mile forms the base of a regional CPM structure that also includes limited activity and detention pay. Sign-on is paid separately on a staged schedule.
Weekly Gross Range $1,450–$1,750
Typical Weekly Gross $1,650
Estimated Annual Gross $85,800
Sign-On Bonus $1,500 ($500/30, $500/90, $500/180 days)
Detention $25/hour after free time
Stop Pay $25 per qualifying additional stop
Pay Frequency Weekly direct deposit
Home Time Weekly; normally 1–3 nights out
Operating Corridor MN, WI, IA, SD, eastern ND
Terminal Minneapolis-area
Weekly Miles 2,200–2,600 paid
Dispatch Window Approx. 4:00–8:00 AM
Tractor Years Primarily 2021–2025
Tractor Makes Freightliner Cascadia / Kenworth T680
Transmission Automatic
Trailers 53' dry van (2019–2025)
Assignment Consistent preferred; slip seating possible
Most units are sleeper-equipped for occasional overnights. Features include air-ride, ELD, GPS/telematics, collision mitigation on most late-model tractors, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise on newer units, dash cameras where installed, load bars, electric/manual doors, company fuel card and PrePass/E-ZPass-type technology.
Palletized household products, packaged retail merchandise, paper and packaging, shelf-stable food and beverage, home and personal-care items, general merchandise and light manufactured goods move between Twin Cities warehouses and regional customers.
- Shakopee, MN → Eau Claire, WI
- Eagan, MN → Madison, WI or Cedar Rapids, IA
- Rogers, MN → Fargo, ND
- Maple Grove, MN → Sioux Falls, SD
- St. Paul, MN → Des Moines, IA
- Shakopee, MN → Milwaukee, WI
- Brooklyn Park, MN → Omaha, NE
- Multi-city turns such as Minneapolis → Eau Claire → Madison or Rogers → Fargo → St. Cloud
- Dispatch information arrives previous afternoon/evening or early morning.
- Pre-trip inspection followed by preloaded trailer pickup or live load.
- Regional linehaul to first customer, then drop-and-hook or live unload.
- Reload at nearby warehouse often changes direction of travel.
- Next assignment usually issued before current load is completed.
- Return to Minneapolis-area terminal or approved parking for weekly home time.
About the Carrier
Consumer-goods distribution in the Upper Midwest depends on reliable regional capacity that links Twin Cities warehouses and manufacturing plants with retail and customer locations across neighboring states. Mid-sized carriers fill this need by concentrating on dry-van movements of palletized household products, packaging materials and general merchandise rather than long-haul OTR freight. The operation focuses on scheduled appointments, a mix of drop-and-hook and live freight, and planned backhauls that keep equipment productive while returning drivers home weekly. This structure supports inventory replenishment cycles for retail and manufacturing customers without requiring specialized endorsements or temperature-controlled equipment.
Medical / Dental / Vision Options after eligibility period
Retirement 401(k) with company match
Paid Time Off According to tenure and policy
Orientation Paid orientation and onboarding
Rider Policy May be available after probation
Additional Company-paid DOT physical, fuel card, toll support, terminal parking when available
- Valid Class A CDL
- 6 months recent CDL-A experience preferred; 3–6 months considered with strong record
- Safe driving history and acceptable MVR
- Pass DOT physical and drug/alcohol testing; FMCSA Clearinghouse query
- Ability to perform inspections, safe backing and professional customer communication
- Congestion on I-35W, I-94, I-494 and I-694 during peak periods
- Live load/unload waits typically 30–120 minutes; longer during peaks
- Winter weather reducing available driving time and speeds
- Yard congestion or limited dock availability at morning windows
- Trailer not ready or customer missing appointment window
1
Recruiter Call
Within one business day
2
Verification
CDL, MVR, employment, drug screen, Clearinghouse
3
Conditional Offer
After background and safety review
4
Orientation
One day paid; first load after completion
Q: How much of the work is drop-and-hook versus live? ▼
Approximately 50–60% of movements involve drop-and-hook or preloaded trailers. The rest require live loading or unloading. Percentages shift by customer and week.
Q: Are fixed routes used? ▼
No. Dispatch priorities change with inventory, outbound volume, trailer availability and appointments. Multi-city sequences are common.
Q: Where do drivers park overnight? ▼
Terminal parking when available, customer yards where permitted, or approved truck stops. Early parking is encouraged on longer turns and during winter or holiday periods.
Q: Is lumper service common? ▼
Lumper services may be used at selected third-party warehouses but are not expected on every load. Dispatch or billing assists with documentation when applicable.
Q: How are mechanical issues handled? ▼
Drivers report problems through dispatch or maintenance support. Roadside breakdowns are coordinated by the carrier’s maintenance department and contracted providers.
Q: Does seasonal volume change the work? ▼
Retail replenishment increases before major holidays and appointment windows tighten. Winter weather can reduce available driving hours even when freight schedules stay the same.
The Minneapolis–St. Paul metro supports a dense concentration of CDL-A openings driven by distribution, manufacturing and retail logistics. Regional dry-van and dedicated positions form a large share of local hiring, alongside local P&D, intermodal and some specialized freight. Employers compete for experienced drivers who can handle metro traffic and Upper Midwest weather, while also considering candidates with solid shorter experience records. Steady warehouse and industrial activity around the Twin Cities keeps demand relatively consistent year-round, with additional seasonal hiring before holiday retail peaks. Drivers seeking weekly home time find more options here than in pure OTR markets, and the mix of mid-sized and larger carriers creates varied pay and schedule structures across the region.
Minneapolis–St. Paul sits at the crossroads of major interstate corridors that move consumer products, packaging and general merchandise throughout the Upper Midwest. Industrial clusters in Eagan, Shakopee, Rogers, Maple Grove, Brooklyn Park and the St. Paul area concentrate warehouses and manufacturing facilities that generate outbound regional freight. I-35, I-94, I-494 and I-694 carry high truck volumes, linking the Twin Cities to Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota and North Dakota markets. Retail distribution and household goods replenishment create recurring demand that intensifies before holidays, while manufacturing plants add steady finished-goods movements. Geography favors regional rather than long-haul patterns, so carriers focus capacity on multi-state turns that support inventory cycles and return equipment efficiently. Winter conditions and construction on key corridors remain normal variables that shape planning across the network.