Dedicated Regional Dry Van Linehaul

CDL-A Dedicated Regional Dry Van Driver – Tacoma, WA

Hiring Area: Tacoma / South Sound • Terminal: Tacoma, WA

Tacoma, WA No-Touch Retail 2020–2025 Fleet

Dedicated regional dry-van linehaul from Tacoma/Fife/Sumner facilities. Run scheduled Pacific Northwest lanes with weekly home time, typically 2–3 nights out, earning $1,700–$1,900 gross.

Weekly Gross Range
$1,700–$1,900
Typical Week: ≈ $1,800 · Annualized ≈ $93,600
Home Time Weekly · 2–3 Nights Out
Paid Miles 2,400–2,650
Sign-On Bonus $1,500
Base Rate $0.70 CPM

Position Overview

This is dedicated retail linehaul, not store delivery or open-market OTR. Most freight is preloaded and no-touch.

  • Pick up preloaded 53-ft dry vans from Tacoma/Fife/Sumner-area facilities.
  • Run scheduled regional linehaul to DCs, relay yards, and retail distribution points.
  • Verify trailer number, seal, BOL/POD, and load information before departure.
  • Complete drop-and-hook moves plus limited live appointments.
  • Manage HOS, appointment windows, winter conditions, and traffic delays.
  • Report detention, equipment issues, and service delays to dedicated dispatch.

Pay & Compensation Breakdown

Base rate is $0.70 CPM. The upper end of the weekly range can include detention and other documented supplemental pay; it is not guaranteed every week.

Weekly Gross Range $1,700–$1,900
Typical Weekly Gross ≈ $1,800
Estimated Annual ≈ $93,600
Sign-On Bonus $1,500 ($500 after 30 / 90 / 180 days)
Detention $25/hour after qualifying waiting period
Pay Frequency Weekly direct deposit

Schedule, Home Time & Routes

Home Time Weekly · typically 2–3 nights out
Primary Operating Area Western Washington, Oregon, Eastern Washington
Secondary / Overflow Selected Idaho freight when scheduled
Base Tacoma / South Sound
Planned Paid Miles 2,400–2,650 per week

Equipment & Cabin Specs

Tractor Years 2020–2025 mixed late-model fleet
Tractor Makes Freightliner Cascadia and Volvo VNL sleepers
Transmission Automatic
In-Cab Systems ELD, electronic DVIR, GPS/telematics, forward-facing dash camera, collision mitigation, lane-departure warning
Assignment Assigned when fleet availability allows; temporary changes or limited slip-seating during maintenance

Trailers are primarily 53-ft dry vans (mixed 2019–2025) equipped with logistics bars, load locks, and electronic tracking. Adaptive cruise is available on many newer units. Roadside breakdowns are handled through dispatch and approved vendors.

Real Routes

Freight is palletized retail and general merchandise staged through South Sound distribution centers and warehouses. Loads are normally sealed and preloaded.

  • Tacoma, WA → Portland, OR
  • Tacoma, WA → Salem, OR
  • Tacoma, WA → Eugene, OR
  • Tacoma, WA → Spokane, WA
  • Tacoma, WA → Pasco, WA
  • Return lanes: Portland → Tacoma and Spokane → Tacoma
  • Secondary/overflow: selected Idaho freight when scheduled
  • Primary highways: I-5, I-90, I-82, I-84, US-97

Typical Week & Daily Workflow

  • First load is usually assigned several hours before report time from a Tacoma, Fife, or Sumner location.
  • Complete pre-trip inspection and seal verification, then depart on the primary leg.
  • Arrive at the destination DC or relay yard and perform drop-and-hook or live appointment procedures.
  • Accept the next planned reload or backhaul before the current delivery is fully released.
  • Monitor HOS, traffic, and weather; contact dedicated dispatch immediately if the plan is affected.
  • End the week with repositioning freight that sets up the following cycle and weekly home time.

About the Carrier

This Tacoma-based regional operation supports dedicated retail distribution across Washington and Oregon, with scheduled linehaul connecting South Sound facilities to established distribution points in Portland, Salem, Eugene, Spokane, and the Inland Northwest. Freight is primarily palletized dry-van merchandise moved on recurring customer lanes rather than open-market spot freight. The focus stays on trailer turns, appointment protection, and consistent equipment availability inside a structured retail account.

Benefits & Healthcare Coverage

Health Coverage Medical, dental, and vision with employee contribution options
Retirement 401(k) with company match subject to plan rules
Time Off Paid time off accrued under carrier policy; holiday scheduling per written policy
Rider Policy Available after probation, subject to company approval and insurance
Additional Support Paid orientation, company-paid ELD, roadside coordination, DOT physical renewal, Pacific Northwest winter and mountain-route training, trailer inspection and distribution-center orientation

Driver Qualification Requirements

  • Valid Class A CDL
  • Approximately 6 months of recent tractor-trailer experience preferred; strong recent graduates may be considered with additional onboarding
  • Clean or acceptable MVR under company insurance standards
  • Current DOT medical certification; must pass pre-employment drug screen and Clearinghouse query
  • Ability to operate a 53-ft dry van in urban, interstate, and mountain-road conditions and manage appointments and electronic logs

Operational Delays

  • I-5 congestion, construction, and incidents through the Tacoma–Seattle corridor
  • Winter weather on Snoqualmie Pass and other higher-elevation routes
  • Gate queues, full yards, or delayed trailer releases at distribution centers
  • Live appointment waits of 30–90 minutes (occasionally longer during peak periods)
  • Tighter trailer pools and reduced yard flexibility before major holidays

Hiring Process

1
Recruiter Call
Usually within one business day
2
MVR & Verifications
CDL, employment history, safety review
3
Screening
Drug test and Clearinghouse query
4
Orientation
Paid onboarding; road test may be required

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is this driver-unload or no-touch freight? ▼
No-touch freight. Drivers handle trailer inspection, seal verification, documentation, and yard procedures. Facility personnel perform loading and unloading.
Q: How much of the work is local versus overnight regional? ▼
This is regional linehaul, not home-daily local work. Most weeks involve 2–3 nights out on scheduled lanes, with weekly return to the Tacoma area.
Q: What is the mix of drop-and-hook versus live work? ▼
Approximately 65–75% drop-and-hook and 25–35% live customer activity, depending on the facility and weekly freight plan.
Q: Can I take the truck home? ▼
Possible when the account and parking arrangement allow it. It is not guaranteed for every residence. Customer yards are not personal overnight parking locations.
Q: How are breakdowns handled? ▼
Roadside issues are coordinated through dispatch and maintenance using the carrier’s approved vendor network.
Q: Are recent CDL graduates considered? ▼
Strong recent graduates with solid training records may be considered for additional onboarding rather than automatic rejection for lack of six months’ experience.

CDL Job Market

Tacoma’s CDL-A market is supported by several competing freight segments: port and intermodal operations, warehouse shuttle work, regional dry van, dedicated retail, grocery distribution, and LTL. The strongest concentration sits around Tacoma, Fife, Sumner, Puyallup, Auburn, and the Kent Valley. Dedicated regional drivers compete with port-oriented fleets for the same experienced Class A labor pool, so predictable home time and consistent miles matter almost as much as headline CPM. A Tacoma dedicated linehaul position needs to show actual mileage, nights out, freight handling, and route structure rather than relying only on a weekly pay number.

Location & Freight Market

The primary freight engine for this type of work is the South Sound warehouse and distribution network centered on Fife, Sumner, Auburn, Kent, and Puyallup. These facilities stage palletized retail and consumer goods that move north, south, and east on I-5, SR-167, I-90, I-82, and I-84. The Port of Tacoma forms part of the broader regional logistics ecosystem, but dedicated retail linehaul is driven mainly by distribution-center volume rather than direct port drayage. Geographic position between Seattle and Portland, combined with efficient access to eastern Washington and selected Idaho points, keeps trailer demand steady and supports recurring regional schedules throughout the year.

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