Dedicated CDL-A Position Regional Linehaul
CDL-A Dedicated Retail Linehaul Driver – Fort Smith, AR
Hiring Area: Fort Smith, AR • Terminal: Fort Smith, AR
Company Driver Mostly No-Touch Freight Home Daily on Selected Runs
Run scheduled retail freight between distribution facilities and regional delivery points from Fort Smith. Earn approximately $1,450–$1,700 gross per week at $28–$30 per hour, including eligible overtime. Shorter assignments return home daily; extended routes may require an overnight stay. Most freight moves in 53-foot dry vans, with a mix of drop-and-hook and scheduled live appointments.
Estimated Weekly Gross
$1,450–$1,700
Estimated Annual: $75,400–$88,400
Hourly Pay $28–$30 + eligible OT
Sign-On Bonus Up to $750 after 90 days
Home Time Daily on selected runs
Weekly Schedule Approximately 50–55 on-duty hours
Freight Palletized retail goods
Job Status: Currently Hiring
• Last Verified: October 11, 2026
Operate a dedicated dry-van account serving retail distribution centers and regional freight facilities. The work combines highway linehaul, trailer exchanges and scheduled customer appointments.
- Move palletized merchandise on recurring Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma lanes.
- Complete mostly drop-and-hook transfers with some live appointments.
- Inspect trailers, seals, bills of lading and load condition before departure.
- Record arrival, check-in and release times when detention occurs.
- Follow dispatch instructions and report route or appointment changes promptly.
- Maintain ELD records and complete required pre-trip and post-trip inspections.
Pay is hourly, with overtime calculated at the applicable rate for eligible hours. Weekly earnings depend on scheduled hours, completed assignments and qualifying additional pay. Annual estimates assume 52 paid working weeks and exclude bonuses.
Hourly Rate $28–$30
Overtime 1.5× applicable regular rate for eligible hours
Estimated Weekly Gross $1,450–$1,700
Estimated Annual Gross $75,400–$88,400
Sign-On Bonus Up to $750 after 90 days
Detention Paid when eligible under account policy
Weekly and annual figures are estimates, not guaranteed minimums. Confirm the applicable overtime rules, bonus eligibility and detention terms with recruiting before accepting an offer.
Home Time Daily on shorter assignments; overnight stays possible on extended runs
Operating Area Western Arkansas, eastern Oklahoma and selected southwest Missouri lanes
Terminal Fort Smith, Arkansas
Typical Workweek Approximately 50–55 on-duty hours
Shift Starts Scheduled according to dispatch and customer appointments
Weekends Availability may be required
Tractor Years Approximately 2020–2024, depending on availability
Tractor Makes Freightliner Cascadia and Volvo VNL
Transmission Primarily automatic
Cab Configuration Day cab or regional sleeper, according to assignment
Safety Technology ELD, electronic inspections and available collision-mitigation systems
Trailers 53-foot dry vans with swing doors and load-securement equipment
Equipment is maintained through scheduled inspections and repairs. Drivers receive an assigned tractor when available; temporary equipment changes or slip-seating may occur during maintenance or periods of high demand.
The account moves boxed retail goods, household products and other palletized general merchandise in 53-foot dry vans.
- Fort Smith–Van Buren–Alma using I-40 for local terminal and distribution connections.
- Fort Smith–Fayetteville–Rogers via I-49 for Northwest Arkansas freight facilities.
- Fort Smith–Sallisaw–Muskogee via I-40 and connecting highways for eastern Oklahoma turns.
- Fort Smith–Tulsa using I-40 and the appropriate connecting routes when scheduled.
Actual destinations depend on dispatch, customer appointments, trailer availability and hours-of-service limits. Longer regional assignments may include a return load or an overnight stop.
- Receive the dispatch plan and appointment details before the shift.
- Complete the pre-trip inspection and verify the assigned trailer.
- Check in at the facility, confirm trailer and seal information, and complete the exchange.
- Deliver the load or proceed to the next scheduled pickup.
- Report delays, document detention and confirm any revised instructions with dispatch.
- Return to the terminal when the assignment allows; follow approved parking instructions on overnight runs.
About the Carrier
This regional trucking operation supports retail distribution through recurring customer accounts, scheduled dry-van linehaul and a mix of local and extended regional runs. Dispatch coordinates appointment times, trailer availability and reloads, while terminal maintenance handles routine inspections and equipment repairs. The operation uses a practical mix of established tractors rather than relying exclusively on new equipment. Freight volume varies with customer replenishment schedules, weekends and seasonal retail demand. Drivers should expect normal commercial driving responsibilities, including accurate logs, trailer checks, communication with dispatch and compliance with customer-site procedures. Routes are planned around service commitments and legal driving limits, although congestion, dock delays and equipment availability can change the day's schedule.
Medical / Dental / Vision Available after the initial eligibility period
401(k) Plan eligibility and any company match subject to plan terms
Paid Time Off Available according to tenure and company policy
Orientation Paid onboarding for eligible new hires
Driver Support Dispatch assistance, terminal parking and maintenance coordination
Benefit eligibility, employee contributions and waiting periods are confirmed during recruiting and enrollment.
- Valid Class A CDL.
- At least 12 months of recent, verifiable tractor-trailer experience preferred.
- Acceptable motor vehicle record and employment history.
- Ability to pass the required DOT physical, drug screening and background checks.
- Ability to complete vehicle inspections, secure required paperwork and follow customer procedures.
- Availability for assigned shifts, occasional weekends and possible overnight runs.
Final eligibility depends on applicable regulations, insurer standards and the carrier's qualification review.
- Retail distribution center queues and delayed trailer releases.
- Appointment changes or live loading that takes longer than expected.
- Traffic and work zones along I-40 and I-49.
- Heavy rain, fog or winter weather on regional highways.
- Seasonal volume increases that reduce available trailers or reload options.
Drivers should report delays promptly, retain required documentation and follow dispatch guidance without exceeding hours-of-service limits.
1
Recruiter Contact
Review experience, schedule and pay expectations.
2
Document Review
Verify CDL, driving record and employment history.
3
Qualification Screening
Complete required drug testing and safety checks.
4
Orientation
Review equipment, account procedures and dispatch expectations.
Q: How much can a driver earn each week? ▼
Estimated gross pay is $1,450–$1,700 per week, based on approximately $28–$30 per hour and eligible overtime. Actual earnings depend on hours worked and assigned duties.
Q: Is this a home-daily CDL-A job? ▼
Some shorter assignments return to Fort Smith daily. Extended regional routes can require overnight stays, so daily home time should not be assumed for every dispatch.
Q: Is the freight no-touch? ▼
Most loads are handled through drop-and-hook exchanges or facility personnel. Drivers remain responsible for trailer inspections, paperwork and following customer loading procedures. Some appointments may involve live loading or unloading.
Q: What areas do the routes cover? ▼
Common operating areas include Van Buren, Alma, Fayetteville, Rogers, Sallisaw, Muskogee and Tulsa. Actual lanes depend on customer demand and dispatch assignments.
Q: What equipment will I drive? ▼
The operation uses primarily automatic Freightliner Cascadia and Volvo VNL tractors, generally from the 2020–2024 model years, pulling 53-foot dry vans. Specific equipment depends on availability.
Q: Is there a sign-on bonus? ▼
The advertised bonus is up to $750 after 90 days, subject to eligibility and the applicable bonus terms. Confirm the requirements with recruiting before accepting the position.
Q: How is detention handled? ▼
Record arrival, check-in, door and release times according to company procedures. Submit supporting information to dispatch or payroll for review under the account's detention policy.
Q: What experience is preferred? ▼
A valid Class A CDL and approximately 12 months of recent, verifiable tractor-trailer experience are preferred. Applicants must also meet applicable driving-record, medical and screening requirements.
Fort Smith offers a mixed CDL-A employment market shaped by manufacturing, retail distribution, food-related freight and regional highway traffic. Drivers can compare dedicated dry-van accounts with local pickup and delivery, regional truckload, less-than-truckload and longer-haul positions. Dedicated linehaul work can appeal to drivers who prefer repeat customer lanes over constantly changing spot-market destinations, although consistent freight does not guarantee identical hours or daily home time. Nearby Van Buren and Alma provide additional access to the I-40 corridor, while Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville broaden the regional distribution network. Employers compete through hourly or mileage pay, overtime eligibility, benefit costs, equipment condition and schedule predictability. Applicants should compare the compensation method as well as advertised weekly totals: hourly positions depend on paid hours and applicable overtime, whereas mileage-based positions depend on dispatch volume and completed miles. For drivers evaluating Fort Smith CDL-A jobs, the most useful questions concern actual weekly hours, overnight frequency, weekend rotation, detention rules and how pay changes when freight volume slows.
Fort Smith sits on the Arkansas River near the Oklahoma border, with I-40 providing a major east-west freight connection and I-49 linking the area toward Northwest Arkansas. This geography supports dry-van movements between regional warehouses, retail distribution facilities and manufacturing locations. Routes toward Van Buren and Alma can serve nearby freight activity, while Fayetteville and Rogers connect drivers to the larger distribution concentration around the Northwest Arkansas retail economy. Eastern Oklahoma destinations, including Sallisaw, Muskogee and Tulsa, provide practical regional extensions when customer schedules require them. The account's palletized retail freight is suited to standard 53-foot dry vans and a mix of drop-and-hook transfers and live appointments. Daily operating conditions still vary: customer check-in procedures, dock congestion, empty-trailer availability and appointment changes can affect turnaround time. Seasonal retail demand may increase freight volume before major shopping periods, while weather along the Ozark corridors can slow travel. Drivers should expect dispatch to adjust routes according to customer requirements, equipment availability and federal hours-of-service limits rather than assume every lane runs on an identical schedule.