🗺 Location & Routes
- Base city: Lexington, KY
- Route type: Regional multi-state lanes
- Freight: Temperature-controlled bourbon ingredients & packaging
- Schedule: Sunday/Monday departures, weekend returns
📋 Job Description
- Execute drop-and-hook reefer operations on 350–650 mile daily legs between Lexington area plants and regional DCs.
- Perform pre-trip inspections, reefer temperature verification, and seal checks on 53' trailers.
- Coordinate dock assignments and YMS updates at bourbon and food manufacturing facilities.
- Complete 1–4 deliveries per shift while managing ELD logs and compliance paperwork.
- Handle reload opportunities in Louisville, Indianapolis, and Nashville distribution hubs.
- Conduct post-trip equipment checks and communicate status to dispatch for efficient weekly resets.
✅ Requirements
CDL Class A
Valid CDL-A license required
Experience
2+ years tractor-trailer preferred; reefer experience beneficial
Age
Minimum 21 years old
MVR
Clean driving record, no major violations in past 3 years
Physical
Trailer coupling/uncoupling, landing gear operation, and dock backing
Endorsements
None required
🚛 Equipment & Fleet
- Truck assignment: Dedicated late-model Volvo VNL 760 assigned to qualified drivers
- Fleet average age: 2 years
- Features: Samsara telematics, adaptive cruise, active braking, lane assist, APU equipped
- Transmission type: Automatic
- Maintenance program: Hybrid in-house and vendor network with rapid response for reefer units
🏠 Home Time
- Dispatch plans final reloads to position drivers for Friday/Saturday returns to Lexington terminal.
- Freight density in Midwest/Southeast corridors supports consistent 34–48 consecutive hours home weekly.
- Weekly resets completed at home after Sunday night or Monday morning departures.
- Layovers minimized through strong reload network in Louisville, Indianapolis, and Nashville.
📍 Real Routes Our Drivers Take
- Lexington bourbon plant → Indianapolis distribution center → I-74 West (packaging materials)
- Lexington ingredient supplier → Louisville bottling facility → I-64 West (temperature-controlled freight)
- Lexington DC → Nashville manufacturing corridor → I-65 South (finished consumer goods)
🎁 Benefits & Bonus Structure
📝 Hiring Process
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many nights out are typical on this regional reefer run?
Most runs involve 2–4 nights away with dispatch planning efficient reloads to support weekend returns to Lexington.
Is reefer experience required for the bourbon and food freight?
Reefer experience is beneficial for temperature compliance on ingredients and packaging; training available for qualified drivers with solid tractor-trailer background.
What are the average weekly miles?
Drivers average 2,000–2,500 miles per week on lanes connecting Central Kentucky to Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, and St. Louis.
How is overtime handled on longer runs?
Overtime paid after 40 hours with additional compensation for detention, extra stops, and peak bourbon production cycles.
Are trucks assigned or slip-seated?
Late-model Volvos are primarily assigned to regular drivers; slip-seating used only during peak maintenance or training periods.
What freight handling is involved?
Primarily drop-and-hook with occasional live loads at manufacturing plants; focus on temperature monitoring and seal integrity for bourbon-related freight.
💼 Career Opportunities
Drivers in the Lexington regional reefer fleet gain deep experience in temperature-controlled supply chains supporting Kentucky's signature bourbon industry and adjacent food manufacturing. Starting as route drivers, team members build expertise in multi-state lane management across Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, and Illinois. Internal progression often leads to dedicated account roles with preferred customers, lead driver positions with training responsibilities, or dispatch opportunities within the terminal network. The stable freight base from Central Kentucky manufacturing corridors provides predictable volume even during seasonal shifts. Many drivers advance by obtaining additional endorsements or moving into fleet trainer roles that leverage their knowledge of reefer operations and Samsara systems. Long-term opportunities include transportation supervisor paths for those interested in yard and dock coordination. The operation's focus on modern Volvo equipment and safety technology supports skill development in a professional environment.
🔗 Regional CDL-A Bourbon Industry Reefer Driver – Lexington, KY
Lexington serves as a key hub for bourbon and food manufacturing logistics in the Bluegrass region. This regional CDL-A reefer position supports ingredient inbound, packaging movements, and finished goods distribution throughout Kentucky and neighboring states. Drivers operate modern Volvo VNL 760 tractors pulling 53' reefers on established lanes such as Lexington to Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, and Columbus. The role features strong home time with most drivers returning every weekend after 2–4 nights out. Weekly earnings of $1,550–$2,000 reflect 55–70 variable hours based on freight cycles, with opportunities for safety and referral bonuses. The fleet maintains young equipment with advanced safety systems to support reliable operations in temperature-sensitive supply chains. This position offers stable regional work in one of America's most active distilling and food production corridors.
🚀 Apply for This CDL-A Position
Complete the form below to apply for Regional CDL-A Bourbon Industry Reefer Driver in Lexington, KY.