Regional CDL-A Position Dedicated Foodservice Reefer
CDL-A Regional Foodservice Reefer Driver – Dedicated Sysco Account
Hiring Area: Fort Wayne, IN • Terminal: Fort Wayne, IN
Fort Wayne, IN Dedicated Account · Variable Routing 2021–2025 Cascadias
Fort Wayne-based regional reefer work on a dedicated Sysco foodservice account covers northern Indiana, northwest Ohio and southern Michigan. Drivers earn $1,480–$1,950 weekly on 1–3 day cycles with 4–5 nights home most weeks and occasional overnight stays away.
Weekly Gross Range
$1,480–$1,950
Typical Annualized Gross: $88,400
Sign-On Bonus $1,250 after 90 days
Home Time 4–5 nights/week · occasional overnights
Driver Type Dedicated Regional Reefer
Weekly Miles 2,200–2,600 available
Freight Type Sysco Foodservice Reefer
Temperature-controlled multi-stop deliveries move fresh, frozen and chilled foodservice product from the Fort Wayne distribution network to restaurants, schools, hospitals and institutional customers.
- Confirm reefer set points and monitor temperature on every leg.
- Perform 4–8 stops per route with pallet-jack unloading and signed PODs.
- Back safely into confined restaurant and institutional receiving areas.
- Record shortages, damage, rejected cases and temperature exceptions.
- Document qualifying detention and keep dispatch informed of delays.
- Protect seal integrity and follow food-safety protocols at each stop.
Compensation combines mileage, stop pay and detention. Weekly earnings vary based on paid miles, qualifying stops, detention and route volume. The $1,250 sign-on bonus is paid separately after 90 days of active employment and is not included in weekly or annual figures.
Weekly Gross Range $1,480–$1,950
Typical Weekly Gross $1,700
Typical Annualized Gross $88,400 (based on $1,700 × 52; actual earnings vary)
Mileage Rate $0.62–$0.65 per paid mile
Stop Pay $15 per qualifying delivery stop
Detention $31/hour after applicable threshold
Sign-On Bonus $1,250 after 90 days
Home Time 4–5 nights per week; occasional 1–2 night regional trips
Route Length 1–3 days
Operating Area Northern Indiana · Northwest Ohio · Southern Michigan
Terminal Base Fort Wayne, IN
Weekly Miles 2,200–2,600 available
Dispatch Window 1:00 AM–6:00 AM
Tractors Freightliner Cascadia 2021–2025 sleepers
Transmission Automated
Safety Systems Collision mitigation, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise
Trailers 48–53 ft refrigerated, Thermo King or comparable, multi-temp capable
Assignment Assigned when scheduling permits; temporary swaps for maintenance
Air-ride suspension, ELD, forward-facing dash cameras and continuous temperature monitoring standard. Manual and electric pallet jacks supplied. Fort Wayne maintenance and approved vendors handle preventive work and roadside support.
Dedicated Sysco foodservice account freight consists of fresh produce, frozen foods, dairy, refrigerated meats, prepared items and institutional product. Routing is planned but variable within the regional network.
- Fort Wayne → South Bend / Kalamazoo / Grand Rapids loops
- Fort Wayne → Toledo / Monroe / Detroit sequences
- Fort Wayne → Indianapolis corridor multi-stop runs
- Selected Chicago-area movements when the account requires
- Primary corridors: I-69, I-469, I-80/I-90, US-30, US-24, US-27
- Mix of drop-and-hook at larger chains and live unload at smaller customers
- Arrive Fort Wayne DC early, hook preloaded reefer, verify set point and seals.
- Depart within the 1–6 AM window to meet first customer appointments.
- Complete sequential deliveries with pallet-jack work and POD collection.
- Overnight as needed in southern Michigan, northwest Ohio or northern Indiana.
- Accept compatible backhaul near Toledo, South Bend or Indianapolis when hours allow.
- Return to Fort Wayne for trailer drop, inspection and weekly reset.
About This Dedicated Foodservice Operation
Regional foodservice distribution relies on consistent refrigerated capacity that connects distribution centers with restaurants, schools, hospitals and institutional kitchens under tight appointment windows. This position operates under a mid-sized regional carrier that holds a dedicated Sysco foodservice account centered on the Fort Wayne network. The work prioritizes temperature integrity, multi-stop efficiency and reliable regional coverage rather than long-haul general freight. Planned outbound volume is balanced with available backhauls while maintenance and equipment support remain close to the Fort Wayne base.
Health Coverage Medical after 30 days, dental, vision
Retirement 401(k) with company match
Paid Time Off Paid vacation and paid holidays
Insurance Basic life, short-term and/or long-term disability
Additional Support Uniforms, safety-boot reimbursement, quarterly safety incentives, paid orientation and food-safety training
- Valid Class A CDL and current DOT medical certification
- 1+ year verifiable reefer or foodservice experience preferred; strong backing and multi-stop ability considered
- Acceptable MVR meeting company and insurance standards
- Pass DOT drug/alcohol testing and Clearinghouse query
- Physically able to lift up to 50 lbs, operate pallet jack and work outdoors in all seasons
- Customer receiving windows and warehouse congestion can extend dwell times
- Winter weather on northern Indiana and southern Michigan lanes reduces average speeds
- Holiday and school-calendar peaks raise stop density and dock pressure
- Construction on I-69, I-469 and I-80/I-90 may require alternate routing
- Reefer alarms or low fuel trigger immediate dispatch and maintenance response
1
Application
Submit CDL-A application with license and employment history
2
Screening
Recruiter review, MVR, employment verification and Clearinghouse
3
Drug Screen & Offer
DOT drug test and final employment offer
4
Orientation
Paid Fort Wayne orientation, equipment assignment and first dispatch
Q: How much physical unloading is required? ▼
Smaller restaurants, schools and institutions usually need live pallet-jack unloading. Larger chain locations more often support drop-and-hook or limited dock interaction.
Q: Will I regularly overnight away from Fort Wayne? ▼
Most weeks include 4–5 nights home. Occasional 1–2 night stays occur in the Toledo area, southern Michigan or northwest Ohio when route length or HOS requires it.
Q: What should I do if a reefer alarm activates? ▼
Contact dispatch immediately and follow the account reefer procedure. Do not repeatedly reset an alarm without reporting it. Maintenance coordinates roadside assistance.
Q: Is weekend work part of the schedule? ▼
Weekend volume is normally lighter. Rotations may be used during holiday peaks or major customer promotions.
Q: Do receivers check product temperature? ▼
Yes. Customers may request temperature readings or inspect product condition. Any shortage, damage or temperature exception must be documented.
Q: How are backhauls decided? ▼
Dispatch weighs empty location, remaining hours, reefer compatibility and next customer appointment. Empty return to Fort Wayne is used when a productive backhaul does not fit.
Q: Is a tractor permanently assigned? ▼
Assigned equipment is provided when scheduling allows. Temporary changes occur for preventive maintenance or refrigeration support.
Fort Wayne maintains a solid CDL-A hiring environment supported by manufacturing, distribution, foodservice and regional trucking. Transportation and material-moving occupations represent a meaningful share of local employment alongside strong production activity. Drivers with clean records can move between dedicated foodservice, grocery distribution, LTL, automotive freight, dry-van and manufacturing accounts. Foodservice roles stay competitive because they demand multi-stop skill, customer interaction and early-start tolerance beyond pure highway driving. National food distributors, Performance Food Group operations and regional carriers continue to recruit in the market, sustaining steady demand for experienced regional drivers year-round.
Fort Wayne sits at a practical freight crossroads served by I-69, I-469, I-80/I-90, US-30 and US-24. Manufacturing, automotive supply, distribution, retail and foodservice activity generate continuous truck movement north into Michigan, east into Ohio, south toward Indianapolis and west toward the South Bend/Chicago corridor. Local cold-storage capacity, including facilities near the I-69/I-469 interchange, supports temperature-controlled logistics. Foodservice demand follows restaurant, school and hospital receiving windows, producing recurring short- and mid-haul reefer volume. The combination of interstate access and a diversified industrial base keeps regional trucking opportunities active throughout the year without requiring long-haul operations.
