Regional Flatbed Position Building Materials
CDL-A Building Materials Regional Flatbed Driver — Dallas, TX
Hiring Area: Dallas–Fort Worth Metro • Terminal: Dallas-area
Dallas, TX Regional 2021–2024 Tractors
Move lumber, roofing, steel and masonry on open-deck regional runs from the Dallas metro, with weekly gross of $1,400–$1,850, 1–2 nights out and weekend home time.
Typical Weekly Gross
$1,400–$1,850
Estimated Annual: $83,200
Sign-On Bonus $1,500
Home Time 1–2 nights out / weekends home
Driver Type Regional Flatbed
Weekly Miles 2,000–2,500
Freight Type Building Materials
Drivers stay involved after the freight lands on the trailer—positioning, securement, paperwork and live coordination with yards and dispatch.
- Inspects chains, binders, straps, winches, edge protection and tarp equipment before loading.
- Positions the flatbed at lumber yards, steel suppliers and building-material distribution yards.
- Checks load placement, axle distribution and securement before leaving the shipper.
- Completes tarp work when required and verifies the load after the first road segment.
- Handles BOL, POD, delivery receipts and customer paperwork at each stop.
- Communicates appointment changes, equipment issues, detention and reload status to dispatch.
Weekly gross is driven primarily by paid miles at $0.62 CPM, with additional earnings from qualifying tarp work and detention. Most weeks fall near the middle of the posted range; higher weeks generally require stronger miles plus multiple qualifying activity payments.
Weekly Gross Range $1,400–$1,850
Typical Weekly / Annual ~$1,600 / $83,200
Base Rate $0.62 CPM
Sign-On Bonus $1,500 ($500 at 30/90/180 days)
Tarp Pay $100 per completed tarped load
Detention $25/hour after 2 hours (customer-controlled)
Payroll Weekly direct deposit
Home Time 1–2 nights out, weekends home
Regional Coverage North & Central Texas plus selected Oklahoma lanes
Terminal / Base Dallas-area
Weekly Miles 2,000–2,500 paid
Dispatch Window 5:00–8:00 AM
Equipment Mix Primarily 2021–2024 Freightliner Cascadia & Kenworth T680
Transmission Automated manual
Safety Systems Collision mitigation, lane-departure, adaptive cruise (selected units)
Assignment Assigned when available; occasional slip-seat
Trailers 48–53 ft flatbeds (2019–2024)
Sleeper tractors run ELD and forward-facing dash cameras. Flatbeds carry chains, binders, 4-inch straps, edge protectors, winches, tarp systems and coil racks on selected units. Drivers inspect securement gear before every load; worn or damaged equipment is reported before departure. Maintenance is scheduled through the Dallas terminal or approved service points; roadside issues go through the carrier network.
Freight availability and customer appointments set the actual sequence rather than fixed daily lanes.
- Dimensional lumber, roofing materials, drywall, masonry products, structural steel, tubing, pipe and fabricated components.
- Outbound origins centered on Hutchins, Wilmer, Lancaster, Mesquite, South Dallas, Arlington, Fort Worth, Alliance and Grand Prairie.
- Common regional movements include Dallas–Waco, Dallas–Austin and Dallas–San Antonio (I-35).
- Additional lanes: Dallas–Houston (I-45), Dallas–Oklahoma City (I-35), Dallas–Tulsa (US-75/I-44).
- Shorter runs to Tyler (US-69/US-271) and Fort Worth–Wichita Falls (US-287).
- Backhauls are sought from destination markets; empty repositioning occurs only when no suitable reload is available.
- Early dispatch supplies load details; driver inspects trailer and heads to the supplier.
- Gate check-in, load confirmation and precise trailer positioning precede material placement.
- After loading, weight distribution, securement and tarp (if required) are finished before departure.
- Regional delivery is followed by unload, paperwork and either a planned reload or reposition.
- Mid-week freight may shift between Oklahoma, Houston or San Antonio according to available loads.
- Later-week freight is often planned to bring the truck back toward Dallas for weekend home time, although customer schedules and reload availability can change the sequence.
About the Carrier
The Dallas operation handles open-deck freight for construction-material suppliers, distributors and industrial customers across North Texas and nearby regional markets. Most loads originate around South Dallas, Hutchins, Wilmer, Lancaster, Mesquite and the Fort Worth side of the metro. Drivers may load lumber, roofing products, masonry materials or steel before making one or more regional deliveries. Dispatch works around customer appointment times and available reloads rather than assigning one fixed lane every day. When a return load is not available, the truck may reposition toward the Dallas market. Securement equipment, maintenance support and driver coordination are handled through the Dallas-area operation.
Medical / Dental / Vision Medical with employee contribution; dental and vision coverage
Retirement 401(k) with company match
Paid Time Off PTO after eligibility; holiday pay per company policy
Orientation & Training Paid orientation; flatbed securement refresher
Additional Support Rider program (approval); safety apparel allowance; fuel card; toll support
- Valid Class A CDL
- 6+ months CDL-A experience preferred; prior flatbed or open-deck experience is a plus
- Drivers without extensive flatbed time may be considered if they can complete company securement training
- Acceptable MVR and safety history
- Meet DOT physical/medical requirements; pass drug screen and Clearinghouse
- Ability to perform securement, climb the trailer and handle chains, straps and tarps
- I-35, I-20 and I-45 congestion and construction zones, especially during metro rush periods.
- Yard congestion when multiple contractor trucks arrive at the same time.
- Heavy rain slowing open-yard loading; high winds complicating tarp work and high-profile loads.
- Uneven yard surfaces, tight contractor sites and limited staging space can slow trailer positioning and loading.
- Seasonal swings in construction activity that change freight volume and reload options.
- Customer readiness or appointment changes that force live dispatch adjustments.
1
Recruiter Screen
Initial call within one business day
2
Application & History Review
CDL, employment and safety history
3
MVR / Background / Clearinghouse / Drug Screen
Completed as part of onboarding
4
Orientation & Securement Training
Paid at Dallas-area terminal; timing depends on screening
Q: Is tarping required on every load? ▼
Only when the freight needs weather protection. Tarped loads earn the $100 activity pay.
Q: How long does loading usually take? ▼
Loading commonly takes about 45–120 minutes when the material and loading equipment are ready. Crane availability, staging delays, product preparation or yard congestion can make the stop longer.
Q: Does the driver load the building materials? ▼
Loading is normally handled by the shipper’s yard personnel or loading equipment. The driver is responsible for trailer positioning, load inspection and final securement, depending on the facility.
Q: Where do drivers park overnight on the road? ▼
Established truck stops along I-35, I-45 and I-20. Loaded trailers stay at authorized locations only.
Q: Can drivers with limited flatbed time still apply? ▼
Yes, if they meet the CDL-A requirement and can complete company securement training.
Q: Is a HazMat endorsement required? ▼
Not for ordinary building-material freight unless a specific commodity legally requires it.
Q: How is weight distribution handled on dense loads? ▼
Drivers verify load placement and axle weights before departure and notify the loading crew when repositioning is required.
Dallas–Fort Worth ranks among the larger and more competitive CDL-A hiring markets in Texas. Regional carriers, national fleets, private distributors, LTL operators and specialized construction-materials companies all compete for experienced drivers. Demand stays active around South Dallas, Lancaster, Hutchins, Wilmer, Mesquite, Arlington, Fort Worth and the Alliance corridor. Flatbed openings typically place more emphasis on securement experience, physical readiness and familiarity with open-deck equipment than standard dry-van positions. The mix of industrial and distribution activity continues to support openings for both local and regional CDL-A work throughout the year.
Dallas sits at the center of a major North Texas freight network that links the I-35 corridor with Central Texas, Oklahoma, the Southeast and the wider Southwest. Residential and commercial construction, distribution centers, lumber and roofing suppliers, masonry producers, steel service centers and fabricators generate steady inbound raw-material movements and outbound deliveries to contractors and yards. Key operating zones include South Dallas, Lancaster, Wilmer, Hutchins, Mesquite, Arlington, Fort Worth and Alliance. The regional network extends naturally toward Waco, Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Tyler and Shreveport along I-35, I-20, I-45, US-75 and US-287. Ongoing construction activity supports construction-related freight volumes, while weather, summer heat and metro traffic influence daily delivery windows.