Local CDL-A Position Home Daily

Local CDL-A Beverage Distribution Driver - Lexington, KY

Hiring Radius: Central Kentucky • Terminal: Lexington, KY

Lexington, KY Multi-Stop Touch Freight 2022–2025 Day Cabs

Multi-stop packaged-beverage delivery across Central Kentucky retail and hospitality accounts. Weekly gross $1,350–$1,750, Monday–Friday early starts, home daily with no planned overnight runs.

Weekly Gross
$1,350–$1,750
Estimated Annual: $70,200–$91,000
Sign-On Bonus Up to $1,000
Home Time Home Daily
Driver Type Company Driver
Weekly Miles 600–1,100
Freight Type Packaged Beverages • Touch

Position Overview

Touch-freight beverage distribution serving supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants, hotels and event facilities throughout the Bluegrass region.

  • Verify route manifest, trailer number and product quantities before departure.
  • Position hand truck and move cases from trailer to customer receiving areas.
  • Confirm shortages, damages and returned merchandise with store personnel.
  • Complete electronic POD documentation and obtain customer signatures.
  • Report appointment delays, equipment issues and route changes to local dispatch.
  • Perform DOT-compliant pre-trip and post-trip inspections on assigned equipment.

Pay & Compensation Breakdown

Hourly pay with overtime after 40 hours accounts for driving, unloading, customer check-in and paperwork time instead of pure mileage.

Base Hourly Rate $25–$32 / hour
Overtime 1.5× after 40 hours
Typical Week Example ≈ $1,540 (50 hrs @ $28 base + OT)
Sign-On Structure $500 after 60 days + $500 after 180 days
Detention After documented customer waiting threshold
Pay Frequency Weekly payroll

Schedule, Home Time & Routes

Home Time Home daily — no planned overnight runs
Operating Radius 75–125 miles from Lexington
Terminal Lexington-area distribution operation
Daily Miles 120–220 typical
Start Window 4:00–6:00 AM, primarily Monday–Friday

Equipment & Cabin Specs

Tractor Model Years Primarily 2022–2025
Tractor Makes Freightliner M2 day cabs
Transmission Automatic
In-Cab Features Backup cameras, air-ride where equipped
Assignment Consistent equipment by seniority and route

48–53 ft dry beverage trailers with liftgates, manual pallet jacks, two-wheel hand trucks, beverage dollies, load bars, cargo straps and pallet restraints. Samsara ELD/telematics plus electronic DVIR. Fleet average age 3–4 years; older units serve as relief. Preventive maintenance handled through local shop and outside vendors.

Real Routes

Palletized bottled water, carbonated soft drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, juice and other packaged non-alcoholic beverages sequenced for multi-stop retail and hospitality delivery.

  • Lexington → Georgetown via I-75 North / US-25 for grocery and convenience accounts.
  • Lexington → Nicholasville via US-27 South serving retail and restaurant stops.
  • Lexington → Richmond via I-75 South with mixed grocery and hospitality deliveries.
  • Lexington → Winchester via I-64 East supporting retail and commercial accounts.
  • Lexington → Paris loop using I-75 / US-27 connections for Bluegrass retail.
  • Lexington → Versailles → Frankfort longer western Bluegrass loop when density justifies.
  • Fayette County retail loop via New Circle Road with higher stop counts and lower highway miles.

Typical Week & Daily Workflow

  • Report between 4:00–6:00 AM for pre-trip inspection and route manifest confirmation.
  • Verify trailer load and receive any last-minute dispatch notes before departure.
  • Complete 8–16 stops including grocery receiving windows and convenience-store hand-truck deliveries.
  • Handle live unloading, quantity verification and signed paperwork at each account.
  • Return empty pallets or product transfers when available; otherwise stage trailer at terminal.
  • Finish post-trip, submit electronic documentation and release for the day.

About This Lexington Distribution Operation

Packaged-beverage replenishment for supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants, hotels and event venues relies on local multi-stop capacity that can flex with weather and seasonal demand. Operating from a Lexington distribution point, the account sequences palletized product for early-morning delivery windows across Fayette County and surrounding Central Kentucky communities. Same-day route adjustments keep retail and hospitality orders on schedule while drivers and equipment return to the terminal each evening.

Benefits & Healthcare Coverage

Health Coverage Medical, dental and vision options
Retirement 401(k) with company contribution
Paid Time Off Paid vacation and company holidays
Training Support Paid orientation, liftgate and hand-truck instruction
Additional Quarterly safety incentive (policy-based)

Driver Qualification Requirements

  • Valid Class A CDL (no HazMat, Tanker or doubles required)
  • 6 months CDL-A experience preferred; local delivery, beverage, foodservice, grocery or LTL experience is a plus
  • Acceptable MVR with no major preventable violations or recent serious disqualifications
  • DOT physical, drug screen, Clearinghouse query and company qualification process
  • Ability to operate pallet jack and hand truck and occasionally lift cases up to approximately 50 lb

Operational Delays

  • Morning congestion on I-75, New Circle Road and major Lexington approaches.
  • Grocery receiving queues of 30–90 minutes, longer in holiday or summer peaks.
  • Late warehouse releases or crowded docks during high-volume beverage periods.
  • Construction activity on I-75 or I-64 changing travel times.
  • Slick docks, ramps or parking lots during winter weather.

Hiring Process

1
Application
Submit CDL-A application with license and history
2
Recruiter Screen
Initial call within one business day
3
Qualification
MVR, employment, DOT and Clearinghouse review
4
Orientation & Dispatch
Paid training then first supervised route

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many stops are typical on a route? ▼
Most routes are built around 8–16 stops. Lighter days may have fewer larger-volume deliveries; peak summer or holiday days can run higher.
Q: Is this touch freight or no-touch? ▼
It is touch freight. Drivers regularly use liftgates, pallet jacks and hand trucks at customer locations.
Q: How much physical lifting is involved? ▼
Drivers repeatedly exit the cab and move product with hand trucks or pallet jacks. Occasional case handling up to approximately 50 lb is required. Larger grocery stops may allow full-pallet movement; convenience stores often need multiple hand-truck trips.
Q: What time do drivers usually start? ▼
Typical report times fall between 4:00 and 6:00 AM so the first deliveries reach stores before their busiest receiving periods.
Q: Are weekends required? ▼
The normal schedule is Monday–Friday. Occasional Saturdays may be scheduled during summer, holiday replenishment or major local events.
Q: Is overtime available? ▼
Yes. Overtime is paid at 1.5× the base rate after 40 hours in a workweek, subject to actual hours worked.
Q: What type of equipment is used? ▼
Primarily Freightliner M2 day cabs (mostly 2022–2025) with automatic transmissions, paired with 48–53 ft dry beverage trailers equipped with liftgates.
Q: Do I need prior beverage delivery experience? ▼
Not mandatory. Similar multi-stop, foodservice, grocery or LTL experience is preferred, and account-specific training is provided.
Q: Are HazMat or Tanker endorsements required? ▼
No additional endorsements are required for the standard packaged-beverage operation.
Q: What areas around Lexington are covered? ▼
Routes commonly reach Georgetown, Nicholasville, Richmond, Winchester, Paris, Versailles and Frankfort within a 75–125 mile operating radius.
Q: Can I take the tractor home overnight? ▼
Taking a tractor home is not automatically guaranteed. It depends on route assignment, company policy, equipment availability and proximity to the terminal.
Q: How are empty pallets or customer returns handled? ▼
When available, dispatch may coordinate empty-pallet returns, product transfers or supplier reloads. Otherwise the driver returns the equipment to the terminal.

CDL Job Market

Lexington’s CDL-A market is diversified rather than tied to a single industry. Drivers move among local delivery, construction materials, dedicated manufacturing, retail distribution, LTL, foodservice, fuel and regional dry-van work. Current listings span a wide range of pay depending on route type, experience, freight and schedule. Local hourly positions commonly compete on overtime eligibility, home-daily scheduling and delivery premiums rather than mileage alone. Multi-stop and customer-facing backgrounds transfer readily into LTL, foodservice and grocery accounts, giving experienced drivers several options. Seasonal peaks in beverage, event and construction freight help sustain demand throughout the year.

Location & Freight Market

Lexington sits at the intersection of I-75 and I-64, giving distributors efficient access to the Bluegrass region without relying on a major port or intermodal gateway. Consumption-driven freight—supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants, hotels, schools and entertainment venues—forms the core of local beverage volume. Weather, weekends, holidays and sporting events directly influence daily pallet counts and stop density. Warehouse and cross-dock facilities clustered around the city support retail and commercial replenishment within a practical operating radius. Georgetown, Nicholasville, Richmond, Winchester, Paris, Versailles and Frankfort represent the primary surrounding markets reached via I-75, I-64 and US-27. Summer heat and holiday periods typically produce the highest beverage demand, while winter weather can slow dock access and travel times. The combination of interstate connectivity and steady regional consumption keeps packaged-beverage distribution active year-round.

Start Your Application