Dedicated CDL-A Position Regional Dry Van

CDL-A Dedicated Retail Distribution Dry Van Driver — Detroit, MI

Hiring Area: Detroit Metro & Surrounding • Terminal: Detroit, MI

Detroit, MI Dedicated Regional 2021–2025 Tractors

Dedicated regional dry-van account hauls palletized retail freight from Detroit-area distribution centers into Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, with $1,500–$1,750 weekly gross and generally weekly home time.

Weekly Gross Range
$1,500–$1,750
Estimated Annual: $84,500
Sign-On Bonus $1,000
Home Time Generally Weekly
Driver Type Dedicated Regional
Weekly Miles 2,300–2,600
Freight Type Palletized Retail Dry

Position Overview

Dedicated regional account with recurring customer facilities and variable weekly lanes based on inventory and appointment demand.

  • Run scheduled regional dry-van loads between Detroit-area distribution centers and retail facilities across Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.
  • Pick up preloaded 53-foot trailers and verify trailer number, seal, load information and appointment time before departure.
  • Handle customer gate procedures, BOL/POD paperwork and delivery documentation at distribution centers and retail support facilities.
  • Complete pre-trip and post-trip inspections and report equipment issues through the carrier’s normal maintenance process.
  • Maintain ELD records and operate within HOS requirements while managing scheduled appointment windows.
  • Coordinate with dispatch when traffic, dock delays, trailer availability or customer changes affect the planned schedule.
  • Complete both drop-and-hook and occasional live-load work, with some overnight stays during longer regional turns.

Pay & Compensation Breakdown

Base pay comes from mileage. Retail stop activity and qualifying detention add the rest of a normal week’s earnings.

Weekly Gross Range $1,500–$1,750
Typical Weekly $1,625
Estimated Annual $84,500
Mileage Rate Approx. $0.62 CPM
Retail Stop Pay $25 per additional stop
Detention $30/hr after 2 hours
Sign-On Bonus $1,000 (30/90/180 days)
Pay Frequency Weekly direct deposit

Schedule, Home Time & Routes

Home Time Generally weekly, with occasional mid-week returns when the route plan allows
Operating Schedule 4–5 days/week
Overnight Stays 1–2 nights on longer turns
Weekly Miles 2,300–2,600 paid
Dispatch Window Commonly 4:00 AM–8:00 AM starts
Corridor Michigan, Ohio, Indiana
Terminal Detroit, MI area

Equipment & Cabin Specs

Tractors Freightliner Cascadia & Kenworth T680
Model Years Primarily 2021–2025
Transmission Automatic sleepers
Trailers 53-foot dry vans
Safety Systems Collision mitigation, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise on newer units
Tech ELD, GPS/telematics, forward-facing cameras
Assignment Assigned when available; occasional slip-seat

Logistics posts, load bars and basic securement equipment are standard. Maintenance is handled through the carrier’s terminal shops and approved roadside vendors.

Real Routes

Palletized retail merchandise, packaged consumer goods, household products and seasonal inventory move mostly no-touch from Detroit-area warehouses to Midwest retail support locations.

  • Depending on weekly dispatch, common lanes may include Romulus, MI to Toledo or Columbus, OH
  • Brownstown Township, MI to Indianapolis or Fort Wayne, IN
  • Detroit or Taylor, MI to Cleveland, OH or Chicago, IL
  • Romulus to Grand Rapids or Lansing, MI
  • Primary corridors: I-75, I-94, I-96, I-275, I-69, I-90
  • Typically about 60–70% drop-and-hook, balance live load/unload by facility
  • Backhauls from Ohio, Indiana or western Michigan into the Detroit network

Typical Week & Daily Workflow

  • Load information usually arrives the afternoon or evening before the first appointment.
  • Begin with a pre-trip at the terminal or assigned yard, then pull the preloaded trailer.
  • Arrive at the retail DC, complete gate check-in and move to the assigned door.
  • Finish the delivery sequence, collect paperwork and verify seals before departure.
  • Drop the empty or take a backhaul back toward the Detroit warehouse network.
  • Take the 10-hour break at established truck stops along Monroe, Toledo, Fort Wayne or Ohio Turnpike corridors.
  • Return for scheduled home time after the final retail runs of the cycle.

About the Carrier

Dedicated retail distribution accounts need carriers that can keep trailers turning between the same warehouse clusters and the same customer facilities week after week. This mid-sized regional operation runs dry-van freight for those recurring accounts out of the Detroit market. Dispatch works from known customer demand rather than open-board loads, so drivers learn the facilities and their gate procedures while still seeing lane changes when inventory or appointments shift. Equipment is late-model but not exclusively brand-new; assigned tractors are the norm when available, with occasional slip-seat during maintenance. The focus stays on steady regional turns, terminal parking, and coordinated maintenance instead of chasing maximum miles or promotional perks.

Benefits & Healthcare Coverage

Medical Insurance with employee contribution options
Dental & Vision Coverage available
401(k) Plan with company match subject to eligibility
Orientation Paid
Additional Support Terminal parking, roadside assistance, referral program

Driver Qualification Requirements

  • Valid Class A CDL
  • Minimum 6 months recent tractor-trailer experience preferred; stronger consideration for recent dry-van or regional experience
  • Safe driving history and acceptable MVR
  • Ability to meet DOT physical and drug-testing requirements
  • Ability to operate automatic-transmission tractors
  • Recent CDL graduates may be considered depending on training history and MVR

Operational Delays

  • Morning congestion on I-75, I-94 and I-275
  • Interstate construction and bridge-area slowdowns
  • Seasonal retail volume that stretches dock times
  • Trailer not ready when a preload is still being worked
  • Winter weather and lake-effect conditions on western Michigan and northern Ohio routes
  • Yard congestion during peak appointment windows
  • Occasional appointment changes when inbound inventory runs late

Hiring Process

1
Recruiter Screen
Initial call within one business day
2
Background Checks
CDL, MVR, Clearinghouse, drug screen
3
Orientation
Paid terminal orientation
4
First Dispatch
Equipment hand-off and start

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is most of the freight no-touch? ▼
Most loads are no-touch for the driver. Warehouse personnel handle pallet movement. Drivers handle inspections, seals, paperwork and positioning the trailer at the dock.
Q: How much live work versus drop-and-hook? ▼
Typically about 60–70% drop-and-hook. The balance is live loading or unloading depending on the facility that day.
Q: Do routes stay the same every week? ▼
No. Facilities stay familiar, but weekly lanes shift with store demand, inventory levels and appointment windows.
Q: Where do drivers take their 10-hour break on regional turns? ▼
Established truck stops along the Monroe/Dundee, Toledo, Fort Wayne and Ohio Turnpike corridors, or approved customer yards when authorized.
Q: Are weekend runs part of the normal schedule? ▼
Occasional weekend freight appears during retail peaks and holiday replenishment periods.
Q: How long does hiring usually take? ▼
With clean documentation the process typically runs 3–7 business days from first contact through orientation.

CDL Job Market

Detroit’s CDL-A market is supported by automotive manufacturing, retail distribution, intermodal freight and regional warehouse operations. Local and dedicated regional dry-van positions appear regularly around the Romulus, Taylor, Brownstown and Livonia warehouse zones. Cross-border activity and the major interstate corridors add further short-haul and regional openings. Newer drivers often start on dedicated accounts, while experienced drivers can move between retail distribution, automotive support and broader regional work. Seasonal retail peaks and automotive production cycles create additional hiring periods, so Class A openings remain available across several fleet types throughout the year.

Location & Freight Market

Southeast Michigan generates steady dry freight because automotive production, imported goods and large retail distribution centers all operate in the same corridor. Warehouse clusters near Romulus, Brownstown, Taylor and Livonia ship consumer merchandise outward while receiving inbound product by rail, air and cross-border routes. The I-75, I-94, I-96 and I-275 network links Detroit directly to Toledo, Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Chicago, creating natural regional lanes. Retail inventory cycles and holiday merchandise keep trailer turns active. Proximity to the Canadian border and intermodal facilities adds further volume. These factors—manufacturing density, warehouse infrastructure and interstate access—keep palletized freight moving through the region year-round.

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