Home CDL-A Jobs Job Form CDL News
CDL A Job Type
States
Top CDL-A Cities
Driver Hub

CDL A Job Type

×
OTR CDL-A Jobs USA Regional CDL-A Jobs USA Local CDL-A Jobs USA Owner Operator CDL-A Jobs USA

States

×
Alabama Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Florida Georgia Illinois Idaho Indiana Kentucky Louisiana Missouri Minnesota Michigan North Carolina New Jersey New York New Mexico Oregon Ohio Pennsylvania Texas Tennessee Wisconsin Washington

Top CDL-A Cities

×
Atlanta Albuquerque Baton Rouge Birmingham Boise Buffalo Chicago Cleveland Charlotte Cincinnati Columbus Dallas Denver Detroit Elizabeth Eugene Fort Smith Fort Worth Fort Wayne Fresno Greensboro Houston Harrisburg Indianapolis Idaho Falls Jacksonville Joliet Kansas City Lakeland Laredo Lexington Little Rock Los Angeles Louisville Madison Miami Memphis Milwaukee Minneapolis Mobile Montgomery Nashville Newark New York New Orleans Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix Portland San Antonio San Bernardino San Diego Saint Paul Seattle Savannah Springfield Stockton St. Louis Tacoma Tampa Tucson

Driver Hub

×
CDL-A Trucking School & Job Placement CDL-A Pay Calculator
Flatbed Position Western Regional / OTR

CDL-A OTR Flatbed Driver Jobs in Denver, CO

Hiring Area: Denver, CO • Terminal: Denver-area origin

Denver, CO Western Regional / OTR Open-Deck Freight

Western regional and OTR open-deck runs from Denver move construction materials and structural steel across Mountain West lanes. Drivers typically gross $1,700–$2,100 per week with home time every 7–14 days.

Typical Weekly Gross
$1,700–$2,100
Estimated Annual (typical): $101,400
Sign-On Bonus Up to $2,000
Home Time Every 7–14 days
Driver Type Solo CDL-A Company
Weekly Miles Approx. 2,600–2,800
Freight Type Construction / Steel

Position Overview

Work centers on live load and unload at steel yards, fabrication plants, and construction suppliers rather than conventional docks.

  • Secures structural steel and building components with chains, straps, and tarps.
  • Performs en-route load inspections after settling and weather changes.
  • Verifies BOL, weight distribution, and axle limits before departure.
  • Coordinates with shipping personnel at industrial yards and plants.
  • Reports tire, brake, lighting, and securement issues to maintenance.
  • Plans fuel stops and parking around mountain grades and HOS limits.

Pay & Compensation Breakdown

Weekly gross is driven by paid miles and CPM. Tarp and securement activity can add modest extra pay on normal weeks. Sign-on bonus is paid separately in installments and is not included in weekly or annual figures.

Typical Weekly Gross $1,700–$2,100
CPM Range $0.65–$0.75
Paid Miles (typical) Approx. 2,600–2,800 per week
How the range is calculated 2,600 mi × $0.65 ≈ $1,690; 2,800 mi × $0.75 = $2,100 (before accessorials)
Typical Week Example ≈2,700 mi × $0.70 + tarp activity ≈ $1,950
Estimated Annual $101,400 based on $1,950 typical weekly × 52 weeks
Sign-On Bonus Up to $2,000 (installments; separate from weekly pay)
Pay Frequency Weekly direct deposit

Schedule, Home Time & Routes

Home Time Every 7–14 days
Operating Corridor Western U.S.
Base Denver-area origin with western reloads
Typical Paid Miles Approx. 2,600–2,800 per week
Dispatch Style One to two moves planned ahead

Equipment & Cabin Specs

Fleet composition and exact amenities vary by assignment and availability. The following reflects typical equipment used in this type of Denver-based western flatbed operation.

Typical Model Years Primarily 2021–2024; some older units remain in service when well maintained
Common Tractor Makes Peterbilt 579, Kenworth T680, Freightliner 122SD (availability varies)
Transmission Mostly automatic; some manual equipment may be available
Cabin Features (typical) 72" sleeper, air-ride suspension, engine brake; newer units may include adaptive cruise, collision mitigation, lane-departure warning, refrigerator/inverter
Assignment Assigned when practical; temporary or slip-seat equipment can occur during maintenance or fleet balancing
Trailers 48'–53' flatbeds and step decks with sliding tandems
Securement Equipment Chains, binders, 2" & 4" straps, edge protectors, coil racks, tarps, winches (worn gear replaced through normal inspections)
ELD & Communications Electronic logging with in-cab dispatch messaging

Real Routes

Outbound construction and industrial loads leave Front Range yards and commonly reload in western markets rather than returning empty to Denver.

  • Structural steel, fabricated components, aluminum, lumber, roofing, machinery, and building products.
  • Denver → Salt Lake City via I-70 and I-15, often continuing to Reno.
  • Denver → Albuquerque via I-25, with possible Phoenix or Grand Junction reloads.
  • Denver → Phoenix via I-25 and I-40; Denver → Las Vegas via I-70 and I-15.
  • Denver → Boise via I-25, I-80, I-84; Denver → Billings via I-25 and I-90.
  • Cheyenne, Wyoming energy and construction materials form common short hauls.
  • Pickups occur at steel yards, fabrication plants, lumber yards, and industrial suppliers around Denver, Commerce City, Aurora, Thornton, Henderson, and Brighton.

Typical Week & Daily Workflow

  • Outbound Denver pickup usually starts between 5:00 AM and 9:00 AM.
  • Position trailer under crane or forklift, verify load, then secure and scale.
  • Linehaul toward Utah, Arizona, Nevada, or New Mexico with en-route securement checks.
  • Deliver, then search for reload in the delivery market rather than deadhead home.
  • Typical cycle example: Denver → Salt Lake → western market → Colorado-bound freight.
  • Loading and securement often take 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on crane and paperwork.
  • Parking evaluated before final HOS hour; terminal parking available on return.

About This Denver Flatbed Operation

Construction and industrial freight across the Mountain West relies on open-deck capacity that can move steel, fabricated components, and building materials between Front Range suppliers and western markets. This mid-sized regional operation builds loads around customer demand, reload opportunities, weather, and driver HOS rather than fixed accounts. It supports manufacturing plants, steel yards, and construction distributors by keeping flatbeds and step decks productive on western corridors while drivers handle securement and live loading at industrial sites.

Benefits & Healthcare Coverage

Benefits packages for this type of mid-sized regional flatbed operation typically include the following. Exact details and eligibility can vary.

Health Coverage Medical, dental, and vision options with employee contribution
Retirement 401(k) plan (company match according to plan eligibility)
Paid Time Off Available after eligibility requirements are met
Orientation & Training Paid orientation, onboarding, and flatbed securement refresher
Rider / Pet Rider program and pet policy subject to company and insurance rules
Operational Support 24/7 roadside assistance, detention documentation help, parking coordination

Driver Qualification Requirements

  • Valid Class A CDL, minimum age 21, current DOT medical card.
  • 12 months CDL-A experience; previous flatbed experience strongly preferred.
  • Acceptable MVR with no pattern of serious or preventable violations.
  • Ability to climb trailers, handle chains/straps/tarps outdoors in all weather.
  • No additional endorsements required for the standard freight described.

Operational Delays

  • Crane or forklift availability and yard congestion at steel and lumber facilities.
  • Appointment windows and shipping paperwork delays at industrial sites.
  • Winter traction restrictions, chain controls, and mountain-pass closures on I-70.
  • Summer construction and recreational traffic on I-25 and I-70 corridors.
  • Rain, snow, wind, or freezing temperatures that slow tarp and securement work.

Hiring Process

1
Recruiter Call
Usually within one business day
2
Qualification Review
CDL, MVR, employment history, Clearinghouse, drug screen
3
Orientation
Paid safety and flatbed securement training
4
Equipment & First Dispatch
Assignment after onboarding is complete

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much do CDL-A flatbed drivers typically make in Denver on this type of run? ▼
Typical weekly gross is $1,700–$2,100 based on roughly 2,600–2,800 paid miles at $0.65–$0.75 CPM, before accessorials. A normal week often lands near $1,950.
Q: How much experience is required? ▼
12 months of CDL-A experience is required. Previous flatbed experience is strongly preferred.
Q: Is flatbed experience mandatory? ▼
Strongly preferred. Limited flatbed experience may be considered only if the driver can demonstrate solid securement knowledge and meets safety standards.
Q: How often are drivers home? ▼
Home time is generally every 7–14 days, planned around freight availability and the driver’s schedule.
Q: What states do these Denver flatbed runs typically cover? ▼
Common destinations include Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, and Montana, with reloads in those western markets.
Q: Are automatic trucks available? ▼
Most equipment is automatic. Some manual units may be available depending on assignment and driver qualification.
Q: Is this fixed-route or variable dispatch? ▼
Variable. Dispatch builds loads around customer demand and reloads. There is no fixed Denver-to-one-city account.
Q: Are lumper services common on these loads? ▼
No. Work at steel yards, fabrication plants, and construction suppliers is predominantly live load and live unload.

CDL Job Market — Denver

Denver’s CDL-A market remains competitive. The Front Range supports national carriers, large LTL fleets, dedicated operations, regional dry-van companies, construction-related haulers, specialized open-deck operators, and local fleets. Experienced flatbed drivers form a narrower recruiting pool than general CDL-A holders because securement, tarp work, outdoor loading, and mountain-weather operation filter candidates. Local, regional, and OTR openings appear regularly across dry van, reefer, flatbed, and specialized segments. Construction materials, manufacturing distribution, and intermodal activity keep demand steady year-round, while spring and summer building seasons often increase open-deck needs. Drivers with proven securement skills and western mountain experience generally hold more negotiating leverage than entry-level applicants. Most postings offer sleeper equipment, CPM or weekly packages, scheduled home time, electronic logs, and standard health and retirement benefits.

Location & Freight Market — Denver

Denver functions as Colorado’s primary freight gateway, linking the Midwest, Mountain West, Southwest, and Pacific Northwest through I-25 north-south and I-70 east-west. Manufacturing, construction-material suppliers, steel and fabrication operations, and distribution facilities concentrate along the Front Range in Denver, Commerce City, Aurora, Thornton, Henderson, and Brighton. These industries generate steady outbound shipments of structural steel, lumber, engineered building components, machinery, and industrial equipment that feed Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, and other western markets. Ongoing state highway construction programs sustain additional demand for building materials. Mountain grades, winter storms, high winds, summer recreational traffic, and limited truck parking shape daily operations. The combination of industrial density and interstate connectivity keeps open-deck freight moving through the region throughout the year.

Start Your Application