Regional Reefer Position Southeast Freight

CDL-A Regional Reefer Driver – Mobile, AL

Based in Mobile, AL • Regional Southeast Reefer

Mobile, AL Regional 2020–2025 Tractors

Haul refrigerated food products on Southeast regional lanes from Mobile. Weekly gross $1,400–$1,700 (including typical accessorials), home most weekends after 4–6 nights out. Estimated annual $80,600.

Weekly Gross
$1,400–$1,700
Estimated Annual: $80,600
Sign-On Bonus None
Home Time Most Weekends
Driver Type Regional Solo
Weekly Miles 2,250–2,600
Freight Type Refrigerated Food

Position Overview

Temperature-controlled food and consumer products move between Mobile-area refrigerated warehouses, grocery distribution centers and food-production sites across the Southeast.

  • Verify reefer set point, fuel level and unit condition before departure.
  • Confirm trailer number, seal, BOL and temperature requirements at pickup.
  • Check product temperature and reefer operation during required stops or inspections.
  • Deliver refrigerated and frozen food to grocery, foodservice and distribution facilities.
  • Record detention and appointment delays according to company procedures.
  • Communicate temperature alarms, mechanical issues and appointment changes to dispatch.
  • Complete pre-trip and post-trip inspections on the tractor and refrigerated trailer.

Pay & Compensation Breakdown

Base mileage runs $0.60–$0.64 CPM. A normal 2,450-mile week at $0.62 produces about $1,520 before accessorials. The published $1,400–$1,700 weekly range includes typical detention and activity pay.

Weekly Gross Range $1,400–$1,700 (with accessorials)
Typical Weekly Gross ~$1,550
Base Mileage Range $1,350–$1,664
Estimated Annual $80,600
CPM Rate $0.60–$0.64
Detention $20/hour after 2 hours
Pay Frequency Weekly Direct Deposit

Schedule, Home Time & Routes

Home Time Most weekends, typically after 4–6 nights out; occasional extra night possible
Operating Corridor Southeast via I-10 / I-65
Base Mobile, AL
Weekly Paid Miles 2,250–2,600
Dispatch Window Primarily 4 AM–9 AM starts

Equipment & Cabin Specs

Tractor Models Freightliner Cascadia 2020–2025 / Kenworth T680 2020–2024
Trailers 53-ft refrigerated 2019–2025
Transmission Automatic
Reefer Units Thermo King or Carrier
Assignment Assigned when available; limited slip-seat

Sleeper tractors carry ELD with electronic DVIR, forward-facing dash cameras, collision mitigation, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise on equipped units, air-ride suspension, ABS and stability systems. Temperature monitoring is standard on the reefers.

Real Routes

Palletized refrigerated and frozen food, meat, poultry, seafood, produce and packaged grocery products dominate the loads. Roughly 55–65 percent of activity is drop-and-hook or preloaded.

  • Mobile to Birmingham or Montgomery on I-65 for grocery and distribution freight.
  • Eastbound runs on I-10 reach Pensacola and Jacksonville refrigerated facilities.
  • Atlanta freight commonly uses the I-65 / I-85 combination.
  • Memphis loads travel through Birmingham and northwestern Alabama.
  • New Orleans and Baton Rouge destinations follow the Gulf Coast I-10 corridor.
  • Florida Panhandle and north-central Florida loads may appear when the weekly plan supports a longer Southeast turn.
  • Backhauls are planned from Birmingham, Jacksonville or Atlanta toward Mobile rather than empty returns.

Typical Week & Daily Workflow

  • Week usually opens with a preloaded reefer leaving Mobile toward Birmingham or Atlanta.
  • After delivery, dispatch looks for a reload instead of an automatic empty return.
  • Tuesday through Thursday typically produce two or three longer regional moves.
  • Friday freight often turns toward Mobile or the Florida Panhandle for weekend home time.
  • Ten-hour breaks occur at established truck stops along the major interstates.
  • A 34-hour reset is normally taken at home when the weekly clock allows.
  • Next load is usually identified before the current delivery is finished.

About the Carrier

This Mobile-based regional fleet handles temperature-controlled freight between Gulf Coast warehouses, grocery distribution centers and food-production facilities across Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. Drivers typically work assigned Southeast lanes rather than nationwide OTR routes, with dispatch planning reloads around delivery appointments and available backhaul freight. The operation uses sleeper tractors and 53-foot refrigerated trailers, with most freight moving through established distribution corridors from the Mobile area.

Benefits & Healthcare Coverage

Health Coverage Medical, Dental, Vision options
Retirement 401(k) with company contribution
Paid Time Off After eligibility period
Rider / Pet Subject to company approval
Orientation Paid company orientation

Driver Qualification Requirements

  • Valid Class A CDL
  • 6–12 months tractor-trailer experience preferred
  • Acceptable MVR and safety history
  • Current DOT physical and medical card
  • Pass drug screen and Clearinghouse query
  • Ability to operate automatic sleeper tractors and perform basic reefer checks

Operational Delays

  • Grocery and food-distribution docks can back up during morning receiving periods.
  • Production facilities sometimes hold trailers until product is ready for shipment.
  • Reefer alarms, sensor faults or fuel issues may require staying with the trailer until service arrives.
  • Interstate construction, thunderstorms and Gulf Coast weather alter transit times.
  • Holiday grocery volume tightens dock availability and increases outbound demand.

Hiring Process

1
Recruiter Call
Usually within one business day
2
Background Checks
CDL, MVR, employment, drug screen, Clearinghouse
3
Conditional Offer
After safety review
4
Orientation
Paid at Mobile terminal; equipment assignment follows

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is this mostly no-touch freight? ▼
Most loads are no-touch or preloaded. Drivers may handle paperwork, seals or trailer checks, but routine unloading is performed by the customer facility.
Q: How often do live loads versus drop-and-hook occur? ▼
Roughly 55–65 percent of activity is drop-and-hook or preloaded. The rest is live loading or unloading that typically runs 45–120 minutes.
Q: What happens if a reefer alarm sounds on the road? ▼
Contact dispatch immediately. Stay with the trailer until maintenance provides instructions so the load temperature is protected.
Q: Are recent CDL graduates considered? ▼
Not the primary profile. Strong school graduates may be reviewed individually if additional supervised experience can be arranged.
Q: How is overnight parking handled? ▼
Use established interstate truck stops. Company terminal parking is available in Mobile when returning between runs; some customer yards allow overnight parking only when authorized.
Q: Does orientation include reefer-specific training? ▼
Yes. Orientation covers temperature-control procedures, pre-trip reefer inspection and cold-chain practices.
Q: Can an extra night out be required? ▼
Occasionally, when a reload, customer appointment or HOS clock makes a same-day return to Mobile impractical.

CDL Job Market

Mobile sits at the junction of I-10 and I-65, giving drivers direct access to both Gulf Coast east-west lanes and north-south corridors into Alabama and beyond. Port activity, refrigerated warehousing, food distribution and regional manufacturing create steady demand for CDL-A operators. Local postings regularly include regional reefer, port drayage, dry-van distribution and dedicated grocery accounts. National fleets, Alabama-based carriers and smaller Southeast operators all recruit here, so drivers with solid tractor-trailer experience can usually find multiple regional options that keep them closer to home than pure OTR. Refrigerated specialists remain particularly active because of the concentration of cold-storage facilities and import seafood and produce volumes.

Location & Freight Market

Mobile’s port and surrounding cold-chain facilities support refrigerated imports, frozen food storage and inland distribution. The port complex includes refrigerated cargo infrastructure, while nearby temperature-controlled warehouses serve import, export and forward-distribution operations. Poultry and agricultural products from surrounding areas, plus grocery and foodservice distribution serving the Gulf Coast and Southeast, generate continuous temperature-controlled volume. Industrial zones around Theodore and Brookley add outbound manufacturing freight. Seasonal spikes appear before holidays and summer travel periods; hurricane season can temporarily disrupt schedules. Together these factors keep refrigerated and general freight moving steadily through the Mobile corridor year-round.

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