Regional CDL-A Position Food Distribution Position
CDL-A Foodservice Delivery Driver — Lexington, KY
Hiring Area: Lexington, KY • Terminal: Lexington warehouse
Lexington, KY Multi-Stop Regional 2020–2024 Tractors
Multi-stop refrigerated foodservice delivery from Lexington with early starts, 8–14 customer stops, pallet-jack unloading, and home daily. Weekly gross $1,350–$1,750 before taxes on the modeled hourly schedule.
Estimated Weekly Gross
$1,350–$1,750
Before taxes · confirm actual hours
Hourly Rate $34 regular / $51 OT
Home Time Daily
Schedule Early starts, 4–5 days
Freight Refrigerated foodservice
Sign-On None listed
Physically demanding multi-stop foodservice delivery from a Lexington distribution warehouse. Drivers move refrigerated, frozen, and dry product into restaurants, hotels, and institutional kitchens using pallet jacks and hand trucks.
- Complete pre-trip inspection and reefer temperature check before departure.
- Unload cases with pallet jack or hand truck at each customer location.
- Verify delivered quantities and record shortages or damaged product.
- Obtain proof of delivery and document pallet exchanges or returns.
- Protect product integrity through restricted access points and service entrances.
- Report temperature concerns, delays, and equipment defects to dispatch.
Compensation is hourly with overtime after 40 hours in a workweek. The figures below reflect a modeled schedule, not a guaranteed weekly total. Actual earnings depend on hours worked and the employer’s payroll policy.
Regular Rate $34.00 per hour
Overtime Rate $51.00 after 40 hours
Modeled Weekly Range $1,350–$1,750 before taxes
Example Calculation 40 hrs × $34 + 6.67 OT hrs × $51 ≈ $1,700
Annualized at $1,700/wk $88,400 before taxes (52 weeks)
Stop Pay / Detention Not assumed in the model
Home Time Home daily on standard routes
Overnight Exception only when account volume requires it
Start Window 3:00 AM – 6:00 AM
Shift Length Approximately 10–12 hours
Workdays 4–5 scheduled days per week
Operating Focus Central Kentucky with selected nearby markets
Primary Tractors 2020–2024 Freightliner Cascadia & International LT day cabs
Newer Units Assigned when fleet availability allows
Transmission Automated manual or automatic
Trailers 48–53-ft refrigerated foodservice
Refrigeration Diesel-powered reefer units; multi-temp only where equipped
Delivery Equipment Manual and electric pallet jacks, hand trucks, load straps
Safety Systems ELD, forward-facing cameras, collision mitigation where equipped
Drivers operate reefer controls, follow door and seal procedures, and use pallet jacks in confined customer spaces.
Warehouse-built orders of frozen proteins, refrigerated dairy, prepared foods, produce, and shelf-stable ingredients move on multi-stop routes. Live unloading occurs at nearly every stop.
- Regular corridors: Georgetown (US-25/I-75), Frankfort (US-60), Richmond (I-75)
- Louisville and northern Kentucky (Florence) runs on I-64 and I-75
- Winchester and nearby commercial accounts on I-64 / US-60
- Selected Cincinnati, OH coverage when account volume requires it
- Occasional longer extensions toward Somerset, Ashland, or Bowling Green
- 8–14 deliveries per shift; stop count varies with order size and access
- Warehouse check-in, route manifest review, and tractor-trailer inspection.
- Confirm reefer settings and load condition before release.
- Depart according to customer receiving windows and stop sequence.
- Unload product, verify counts, obtain POD, and handle pallet exchanges.
- Report shortages, damage, refusals, or access problems while still on site.
- Return approved returns and pallets; complete electronic or paper records.
- Report defects and park in the assigned terminal space.
Operating Model
Regional foodservice distribution relies on scheduled warehouse releases and recurring customer accounts rather than long-haul linehaul. Orders are consolidated at a local facility, sequenced for multi-stop delivery, and released to drivers who protect temperature and product condition through the full route. Capacity is constrained by warehouse picking cycles, trailer readiness, and customer receiving windows. Planning balances early-morning departures against stop density so that product reaches restaurants, hotels, and institutional kitchens within required time frames. The model favors repeatable daily cycles over extended overnight freight movement.
Route Onboarding Familiarization with stop sequence and customer procedures
Product Handling Reefer settings, temperature checks, damage response
Delivery Workflow Pallet exchange, POD, shortage and rejection reporting
Maintenance Process Defined reporting for tractor, trailer, and reefer defects
Medical / Dental / Vision Subject to plan eligibility and contributions
401(k) & PTO Per written plan and tenure policy
- Valid Class A CDL
- 6–12 months CDL-A preferred; multi-stop or foodservice experience valued
- Driving record meeting carrier insurance and safety standards
- Current DOT medical certification and required drug testing
- Ability to operate pallet jacks and perform repeated physical unloading
- Compliance with FMCSA hours-of-service and ELD rules
- Late warehouse picking or missing cases
- Extended wait at customer receiving areas
- Restricted service alleys or no dedicated dock
- Product shortages, refusals, or return handling
- Reefer alarms or trailer defects
- Weather and congestion on I-75 / I-64
1
Application
Submit CDL and work history
2
Screening Call
Review hours, unloading, and physical demands
3
Qualification
MVR, DOT medical, Clearinghouse, drug test
4
Evaluation & Start
Road test, orientation, first route assignment
Q: How physical is the unloading work? ▼
Most stops require live unloading with a pallet jack or hand truck. Drivers move product into coolers, receiving rooms, or service entrances and handle pallet exchanges.
Q: How long does a typical stop last? ▼
Straightforward stops often take 15–45 minutes. Larger institutional orders or limited-access locations can run longer.
Q: Are overnight trips part of the normal week? ▼
Standard routes are designed to return daily. Overnight work occurs only when longer coverage or exceptional customer needs require it.
Q: Who handles a receiving-window change during the route? ▼
Dispatch can reorder stops when notified. Drivers should not rearrange time-sensitive deliveries independently.
Q: Are HazMat or Tanker endorsements required? ▼
A standard CDL-A is generally sufficient for ordinary foodservice distribution.
Q: How are rejected product and empty pallets handled? ▼
Counts are recorded at the stop. Approved returns and reusable pallets go back to the warehouse with documentation.
Q: Is tractor take-home available? ▼
Primary parking is at the terminal. Take-home depends on yard capacity, insurance, and assignment policy—confirm during recruiting.
Lexington offers CDL-A drivers a mix of local distribution, LTL, dedicated delivery, and regional truck-driving opportunities. Foodservice delivery is a distinct option for drivers who prefer returning to a home terminal instead of spending several nights on the road. The trade-off is a more physical workday, with repeated stops, customer receiving procedures, pallet-jack handling, and delivery documentation. Employers serving central Kentucky may value experience with commercial deliveries and time-sensitive appointments as much as highway driving experience. The I-75 corridor supports north–south freight movement, while I-64 connects the area with Louisville and eastern Kentucky markets. Candidates comparing offers should review hourly pay, overtime eligibility, expected weekly hours, route density, unloading duties, and the actual home-daily policy. A realistic comparison should account for workload and schedule stability, not just advertised weekly earnings.
Lexington sits near the junction of I-75 and I-64, providing access to Georgetown, Richmond, Frankfort, and freight connections toward Louisville and northern Kentucky. US-60 also serves important east–west movement around the capital region. For foodservice distribution, this geography supports warehouse-based routes supplying restaurants, hotels, institutional kitchens, and other commercial accounts. Shorter runs toward Georgetown and Frankfort can fit naturally into multi-stop delivery schedules, while Cincinnati-area coverage generally requires more driving time and careful appointment planning. Farther destinations such as Somerset, Ashland, or Bowling Green should be treated as separate route patterns rather than assumed parts of every shift. Winter conditions, interstate congestion, construction, warehouse loading delays, and restricted customer access can affect daily completion times. Actual route assignments depend on order density, customer locations, delivery windows, and the distributor’s operating schedule.