CDL-A Regional Dry Van Driver – Madison, WI

Conventional 53-foot dry van freight moves between Madison-area warehouses, manufacturing docks and retail networks under scheduled appointments rather than fixed dedicated loops.

• Verifies trailer number, condition and seal before accepting any drop-yard or live-load shipment.
• Confirms pickup reference and shipping documents against the actual load at the shipper dock.
• Applies approved load bars or straps when cargo restraint is required for palletized freight.
• Coordinates revised delivery appointments or return-load options with dispatch when delays occur.
• Submits electronic BOLs, signed PODs and exception records before leaving the receiver.
• Reports equipment defects, gate queues and potential HOS conflicts as soon as they arise.

Base earnings are calculated at $0.65 per paid mile. At 2,100 miles the calculation yields $1,365; 2,300 miles produces $1,495; 2,500 miles produces $1,625. The advertised weekly range of $1,350–$1,650 therefore reflects normal mileage variation. The $78,000 figure is an illustrative annualized midpoint ($1,500 × 52) and is not a guaranteed salary. Detention is paid separately and is not built into the weekly range.

Assigned tractors are provided when fleet availability permits; slip seating is not the normal arrangement. Logistics posts, load bars and cargo straps are supplied for securement. Preventive maintenance is scheduled through the carrier facility or approved vendors; drivers report defects before departure.

Outbound freight is primarily palletized consumer goods, non-refrigerated packaged food, paper and packaging materials, industrial supplies, retail merchandise and selected manufactured products. Most shipments are one or two stops; return loads are sought in the Milwaukee, Rockford, Chicago and Janesville–Beloit markets when available.

• Madison–Milwaukee via I-94 for distribution freight, packaging and consumer goods (frequent).
• Madison–Chicago via I-90 for retail replenishment and palletized general freight (frequent).
• Madison–Rockford via I-90/I-39 for industrial supplies and warehouse transfers (frequent).
• Madison–Minneapolis for consumer products and packaged goods (regular longer regional).
• Madison–Des Moines or Cedar Rapids for distribution and manufactured products (regular longer regional).
• Madison–Green Bay for paper products, packaging and general merchandise (regional).
• Occasional longer runs to Indianapolis when freight volume supports the assignment.

• Valid Class A Commercial Driver’s License.
• Approximately six months of verifiable tractor-trailer experience preferred.
• Recent CDL graduates may be considered if they completed an accredited program and meet training, safety and insurance requirements.
• Acceptable motor vehicle record and safety history under company and insurer standards.
• Ability to meet DOT medical certification, qualification and drug-and-alcohol testing rules.
• Proficiency with electronic logs, dispatch messaging and electronic BOL/POD systems.
• Physical ability to perform pre-trip inspections, open trailer doors and handle routine securement equipment.
• HazMat and Tanker endorsements are not normally required.

• Warehouse appointment queues or late freight releases can extend live-load or unload times beyond two hours.
• Winter snow, freezing rain and reduced visibility slow travel on I-90, I-94 and I-39.
• Summer construction and peak traffic near Milwaukee, Rockford and Chicago may require revised ETAs.
• Empty-trailer shortages or depleted yard pools force substitute equipment or pickup changes.
• Drivers notify dispatch immediately, document arrival and release times, and protect remaining HOS rather than attempt recovery beyond legal limits.

Madison’s commercial driving market is moderately competitive and smaller than Chicago or Milwaukee, yet it sits within practical reach of larger freight networks. Regional truckload, LTL, dedicated retail and local delivery fleets all recruit CDL-A drivers. Employers compete on weekly home time, mileage rates, equipment condition and the number of nights spent away. Drivers often move between local distribution work and regional dry van positions seeking a balance of road time and home resets. Seasonal freight peaks and competing local offers cause availability to fluctuate. Advertised regional pay packages should be evaluated against actual paid miles and accessorial eligibility rather than compared directly with broader occupational wage averages, which include a wide mix of job types and compensation structures.

South-central Wisconsin’s freight geography is defined by the I-90/I-94 corridor and its connections to I-39 and US-151. These routes link Madison with Milwaukee, the Chicago distribution network, Rockford, Janesville and markets farther into Minnesota and Iowa. Food and beverage distribution, consumer products, packaging, industrial supplies, retail replenishment and manufactured goods generate steady outbound volume from local warehouses and plants. Return capacity is frequently available around Milwaukee, Rockford and the western Chicago suburbs. Weekday warehouse activity creates predictable demand, while holiday merchandise, seasonal food shipments and agricultural cycles alter volumes. Winter weather regularly reduces speeds and tightens appointment windows on the primary interstates, requiring flexible dispatch planning for regional dry van operations.