Regional CDL-A Position Dedicated Import Account

CDL-A Regional Dedicated Import Freight Driver – Distribution Account

Hiring Area: Savannah, GA • Terminal: Savannah-area

Savannah, GA Regional Dedicated 2021–2025 Equipment

Move dedicated import dry-van freight from Savannah port warehouses to Southeast distribution centers on a home-weekly schedule with 1–2 nights out, earning $1,600–$1,900 most weeks.

Weekly Gross Range
$1,600–$1,900
Estimated Annual: $91,000
Sign-On If offered during hiring
Home Time Home weekly
Driver Type Regional Dedicated
Weekly Miles 2,200–2,500
Freight Type Import dry van

Position Overview

Import freight leaves Savannah-area transload and distribution facilities on scheduled appointments bound for inland centers across the Southeast.

  • Picks up preloaded trailers at port-connected warehouses and verifies seal, BOL, and appointment data.
  • Delivers to regional distribution centers under customer appointment windows.
  • Reports arrival, unloading status, and detention times to dedicated dispatch.
  • Accepts reload instructions after delivery when outbound freight is available.
  • Manages remaining HOS around appointments and overnight positioning needs.
  • Completes inspections and reports tractor or trailer issues through the company system.
  • Follows gate and dock procedures at import warehouses and customer facilities.

Pay & Compensation Breakdown

Paid miles form the core of weekly earnings. Qualifying detention and account activity pay typically add enough to bring normal weeks into the stated range.

Mileage Rate $0.70 per paid mile
Weekly Range $1,600–$1,900
Typical Week Approximately $1,750
Detention $25 per hour after company threshold
Detention Impact Usually $50–$100 in weeks with delays
Payroll Weekly

Schedule, Home Time & Routes

Home Time Home weekly, normally 1–2 nights away
Operating Radius Georgia, South Carolina, North Florida and selected Southeast lanes
Base Terminal Savannah-area terminal parking available
Weekly Miles 2,200–2,500 paid
Typical Start Dispatch activity between 4:00 AM and 8:00 AM

Equipment & Cabin Specs

Model Years 2021–2025
Tractor Makes Freightliner Cascadia and Kenworth T680
Transmission Automated manual
Safety & Cabin Forward-facing dash cameras, collision mitigation, lane-departure warning where equipped, adaptive cruise on selected units
Assignment Style Consistent tractor preferred; temporary change possible during maintenance

Sleeper configurations run 48"–72". Trailers are mainly 53-foot dry vans (2019–2025) with swing doors, logistics posts, pallet-compatible floors and load-lock capability. ELD and electronic inspection reporting are standard. Maintenance runs through the Savannah-area operation and approved outside shops when needed.

Real Routes

Palletized and boxed import consumer goods, retail merchandise, packaged products and household goods leave Savannah, Pooler and Garden City facilities bound for inland distribution centers.

  • Savannah or Pooler to Atlanta forms one of the most common primary movements.
  • Central Georgia destinations include Macon and Augusta.
  • South Carolina work reaches Columbia and Greenville.
  • North Florida and North Carolina lanes include Jacksonville and Charlotte.
  • Reload opportunities frequently open in Atlanta, Macon, Augusta, Columbia or Jacksonville after delivery.
  • Preloaded trailers allow drop-and-hook when available; some import warehouses still require live loading.

Typical Week & Daily Workflow

  • Assignment arrives through the ELD or dedicated dispatcher before the driving window opens.
  • Preloaded import trailer is retrieved near Savannah or Pooler and driven to the first customer appointment.
  • After unloading, dispatch looks for a reload in the same area rather than sending the tractor empty.
  • Subsequent days shift among available lanes according to inventory and appointment openings.
  • Positioning back toward the Savannah terminal occurs when HOS and freight allow.
  • Overnight stops use terminal parking when in the home area or planned truck-stop locations along the major interstates.
  • Communication with dispatch covers gate delays, dock status, detention and remaining drive time throughout the cycle.

About the Carrier

Container volume arriving at the Port of Savannah feeds a continuous flow of freight into nearby transload warehouses and distribution centers in Garden City, Pooler and the industrial corridors along I-16 and Highway 21. This dedicated account exists to move that import cargo inland on scheduled appointments while recovering the tractor with productive reloads from Atlanta, Macon, Columbia, Jacksonville and similar points. The operation stays focused on keeping the trailer pool circulating between the port complex and Southeast customer DCs rather than chasing open-market loads. Direct dispatcher-to-driver communication, trailer-number verification and appointment discipline are the practical tools that keep the network running without forcing drivers onto the marine terminal itself on every trip.

Benefits & Healthcare Coverage

Health Options Medical, dental and vision after eligibility period
Retirement 401(k) with company match per plan terms
Paid Time Off Vacation/PTO based on tenure
Orientation & Training Paid orientation, required safety training and account familiarization
Operational Support Toll transponder, paid DOT physical renewal, safety-apparel support, terminal parking and driver lounge

Driver Qualification Requirements

  • Valid CDL Class A
  • 6 months recent verifiable CDL-A experience preferred; applicants with less experience or recent school graduates may be considered based on safety history and training
  • Safe driving record and acceptable MVR
  • Ability to pass DOT physical and drug/alcohol testing
  • Accurate ELD record-keeping and professional communication with dispatch and customers
  • Dry-van experience preferred; HazMat endorsement not required for standard freight

Operational Delays

  • I-16 and I-95 congestion, construction or weather slowdowns
  • Gate and dock queues at import warehouses during container surges
  • Appointment shifts when warehouse inventory processing runs late
  • Tighter trailer availability in peak retail shipping periods
  • Limited truck parking on Friday evenings, Sunday evenings and holiday weeks

Hiring Process

1
Application
Submit CDL-A application and history
2
Phone Screen
Recruiter review of experience and expectations
3
Verification
MVR, employment, drug screen and Clearinghouse
4
Onboarding
Paid orientation, equipment assignment, first dispatch

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will I drive into the marine terminal? ▼
Most pickups occur at port-connected warehouses or transload facilities after the cargo has already cleared the terminal. Direct marine-terminal entry is not a daily requirement.
Q: How common is live loading versus drop-and-hook? ▼
Drop-and-hook is frequent when preloaded trailers are staged. Live loading still occurs at certain import warehouses, especially when freight is being transferred from containers.
Q: What if no reload is ready after delivery? ▼
Dispatch may send the tractor back toward Savannah empty rather than hold the driver for a weak load.
Q: Are multi-stop routes the norm? ▼
One primary delivery followed by a reload is the usual pattern. Multiple stops appear occasionally but are not the main structure.
Q: How is detention time recorded? ▼
Arrival and release times are reported to dispatch so qualifying customer delays can be documented under company policy.
Q: Can I leave the tractor overnight at customer yards? ▼
Some facilities allow it; many do not. Dispatch plans overnight stops around known parking rules and legal truck-stop locations.

CDL Job Market

Savannah ranks among the stronger Southeast markets for CDL-A drivers because the port generates continuous demand for regional and dedicated capacity. Dedicated import-distribution accounts, intermodal work and short-haul warehouse runs around Pooler and Garden City dominate local openings. Drivers who prefer home-weekly schedules find more options here than in pure OTR markets. Dry-van experience is the most requested skill set, followed by drivers comfortable with appointment-based distribution and occasional port congestion. Year-round container volume, expanding industrial parks and interstate access keep hiring steady for both experienced operators and newer CDL holders willing to start on regional dedicated freight.

Location & Freight Market

The Port of Savannah functions as a major East Coast gateway for containerized consumer goods, retail merchandise and household products destined for the Southeast. After containers clear the terminal, cargo is staged at transload warehouses and distribution centers clustered around Garden City, Pooler, Jimmy DeLoach Parkway and the industrial zones along I-16 and Highway 21. From those facilities freight moves inland on I-16, I-95 and connecting routes toward Atlanta, Macon, Augusta, Columbia, Jacksonville, Charlotte and Greenville. Dual CSX and Norfolk Southern rail service reinforces the same corridor. Seasonal retail peaks and steady year-round import volume keep the demand for regional dry-van capacity consistent, especially for carriers that can cycle trailers between the port complex and inland DCs without excessive empty miles.

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