Regional CDL-A Position Dry Van

Regional CDL-A Dry Van Driver — Fort Worth, TX

Hiring Area: Fort Worth / DFW Metroplex • Terminal: Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth, TX Regional 2021–2025 Tractors

Regional dry-van freight across North and Central Texas with regular runs into Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. Weekly home time, 2,200–2,500 paid miles and $1,500–$1,750 weekly gross.

Typical Weekly Gross
$1,500–$1,750
Estimated Annual: $78,000–$91,000
Sign-On Bonus $1,000
Home Time Weekly (usually 1–2 nights out)
Driver Type Company Driver
Weekly Miles 2,200–2,500
Freight Type Dry Van / Palletized

Position Overview

This is a company-driver regional dry-van seat based in Fort Worth. Freight sequences change with customer demand rather than repeating the same lane every day.

  • Runs regional dry-van freight from Fort Worth and surrounding DFW distribution facilities on changing loads rather than a fixed daily lane.
  • Handles primarily palletized consumer, retail, industrial and packaged-goods freight between distribution centers and customer warehouses.
  • Completes a mix of drop-and-hook and live-load assignments, with trailer and load changes depending on customer schedules.
  • Works scheduled appointments while managing remaining drive time, available hours and weekly home-time requirements.
  • Checks trailer condition, seal information, load documentation and delivery instructions before leaving customer facilities.
  • Communicates gate delays, dock waits, traffic disruptions and equipment issues to dispatch before they affect the next appointment.
  • Returns to the Fort Worth area on the assigned weekly schedule rather than remaining out for extended OTR rotations.

Pay & Compensation Breakdown

Base mileage pay is approximately $0.68 CPM. Weekly gross varies with paid miles, qualifying detention and other earnings. Typical weeks land near $1,650. Stronger weeks can reach about $1,750 when mileage and detention are higher.

Weekly Gross Range $1,500–$1,750
Typical Weekly $1,650
Typical Annualized $85,800
Mileage Rate Approximately $0.68 CPM
Typical Paid Miles 2,200–2,500 per week
Detention $30/hr after 2 qualifying hours
Sign-On Bonus $1,000 paid in stages (30 / 90 / 180 days)
Payroll Weekly direct deposit

Schedule, Home Time & Routes

Home Time Weekly return is the normal schedule; usually 1–2 nights out
Operating Pattern Variable dispatch sequence, not a fixed daily lane
Terminal Fort Worth, TX
Paid Miles 2,200–2,500 in a normal week
Start Times Vary by customer appointment; early-morning departures common on longer runs

Equipment & Cabin Specs

Tractor Model Years 2021–2025
Tractor Makes Freightliner Cascadia and Kenworth T680 sleepers
Transmission Primarily automatic
Safety Features Collision mitigation, lane-departure warning and adaptive cruise on selected units
Assignment Assigned tractor when available; temporary units used during maintenance
Trailers 53-ft dry vans equipped for standard palletized freight, with load bars and logistics posts on applicable equipment
ELD & Cameras ELD-equipped; dash cameras on newer units

Fleet includes a mix of late-model and proven 4–5-year-old tractors under regular preventive maintenance. Roadside support is coordinated through operations.

Real Routes

Palletized consumer products, retail replenishment, paper, household goods, industrial components, building products, non-perishable food and e-commerce freight make up the bulk of the network. Loads typically originate from Alliance-area, North and South Fort Worth, Arlington, Haslet, Roanoke, Keller and Dallas warehouses.

  • Fort Worth to Oklahoma City, often with manufactured or consumer backhaul options.
  • Fort Worth to Tulsa, frequently followed by a different Texas-bound reload.
  • Fort Worth to Little Rock or Shreveport, generating return freight into Texas.
  • Fort Worth to Houston, San Antonio, Austin or Waco with local reloads available.
  • Primary highways include I-35W, I-35, I-20, I-30, I-45, I-40 and US-287.
  • A substantial share of the work is drop-and-hook; live loading or unloading remains part of the weekly schedule.
  • Dispatch adjusts the sequence daily according to appointments, remaining HOS and trailer availability.

Typical Week & Daily Workflow

  • Next assignment usually appears on the ELD before the current delivery is finished.
  • Day often starts at the Fort Worth terminal or a nearby customer yard after the pre-trip.
  • Primary delivery is completed, then a reload is accepted based on remaining hours and the next appointment.
  • A normal week may include two or three longer legs plus shorter repositioning moves.
  • Gate check-in requires appointment number, tractor, trailer and seal information when applicable.
  • Trailers are staged or backed into assigned doors; live work commonly takes one to two hours.
  • Overnight parking is planned at the terminal, approved customer yards or interstate truck stops.
  • Final leg of the week is planned to return the driver toward the Fort Worth area for home time.

About the Carrier

The operation handles regional dry-van freight for distribution, manufacturing and retail customers throughout North Texas and neighboring states. Most loads are palletized and move through established customer facilities rather than long-haul OTR lanes. Dispatch works from customer appointments, available trailers and driver hours, so daily sequences can change from one day to the next. The focus stays on productive regional utilization instead of maximum miles or fixed dedicated loops. Equipment is maintained through the carrier’s terminal network and approved outside shops, with roadside support coordinated by operations.

Benefits & Healthcare Coverage

Medical / Dental / Vision Plans available
Retirement 401(k) eligibility after qualifying period
Time Off Vacation / PTO according to company policy; paid holidays per policy
Rider Program Subject to company approval
Operational Support Paid orientation, 24/7 roadside coordination, fuel card, terminal parking

Driver Qualification Requirements

  • Valid Class A CDL
  • Approximately 6 months of recent CDL-A experience preferred
  • Qualified recent graduates of accredited CDL programs may be considered depending on safety history and training background
  • Acceptable MVR and driving history
  • Current DOT medical card
  • Pass required DOT drug screen and Clearinghouse query
  • Ability to enter commercial distribution yards and comply with HOS regulations

Operational Delays

  • I-35W, I-20 and major DFW interchanges frequently slow during peak periods.
  • Gate queues and door waits are common at larger distribution centers.
  • Live loads can run longer than two hours during heavy shipping periods.
  • North Texas thunderstorms and extreme heat affect highway speeds and equipment.
  • Retail peaks and end-of-quarter activity increase dock congestion and trailer demand.

Hiring Process

1
Online Application
Submit completed application
2
Phone Screen
Recruiter reviews and contacts qualified candidates
3
Qualification Checks
MVR, Clearinghouse, drug screen, employment verification
4
Orientation & First Dispatch
Paid orientation at the Fort Worth terminal; start timing depends on completed checks

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the pay based entirely on mileage? ▼
The position is primarily mileage-based at approximately $0.68 CPM. Weekly gross is also affected by qualifying detention and the amount of paid freight assigned during the week.
Q: How often do drivers return to Fort Worth? ▼
Weekly home time is the normal schedule. Most drivers return to the Fort Worth area after their assigned regional rotation.
Q: Is every week the same set of cities? ▼
No. Destinations and reloads change according to customer freight, appointment windows and trailer availability.
Q: How much of the work is drop-and-hook versus live? ▼
A substantial share of the network is drop-and-hook. Live loading or unloading still occurs regularly depending on the customer.
Q: Do drivers unload freight themselves? ▼
Most freight is no-touch. Lumper service is used at facilities where the warehouse controls unloading labor.
Q: What happens if the assigned tractor goes into the shop? ▼
A temporary tractor is provided while the regular unit is in scheduled maintenance.
Q: Are specialized endorsements required? ▼
No tanker, HazMat or other specialized endorsements are required for this dry-van position.

CDL Job Market

Fort Worth and the wider DFW area support a large regional trucking market built around distribution centers, manufacturing, retail replenishment and intermodal freight. Drivers looking for weekly home time can find a mix of local, dedicated and regional opportunities, with schedules varying significantly by freight type. Regional dry-van work remains particularly relevant around the Alliance, Haslet, Arlington and southern DFW logistics corridors because drivers can cover multiple customer markets without moving into a full OTR schedule. National fleets, regional carriers, dedicated operators and private fleets all recruit in the metroplex, so competition for experienced drivers who want predictable home time stays consistent.

Location & Freight Market

Northern Fort Worth is anchored by AllianceTexas, where industrial parks, distribution centers and manufacturing facilities cluster around Alliance Airport and the I-35W / SH-170 / SH-114 corridor. BNSF operates a major intermodal complex that feeds both inbound and outbound volume. The broader DFW network connects directly to I-20, I-30, I-35W, I-45 and I-40. Retail distribution, consumer products, building materials, industrial components, packaged goods and e-commerce replenishment generate steady dry-van demand. South Fort Worth and Arlington add further warehouse and manufacturing freight. Seasonal retail peaks and end-of-quarter shipping push volumes higher. The result is a freight environment where regional drivers can move between distribution centers, manufacturing facilities and customer warehouses while remaining based in the Fort Worth market.

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