Local CDL-A Driver Home Daily
CDL-A Local Refrigerated Trailer Shuttle Driver — Boise, ID
Hiring Radius: Boise and Treasure Valley • Terminal: Boise, Idaho
Boise, ID Reefer Drop-and-Hook Local Routes Day-Cab Fleet
Drive local refrigerated trailer transfers between food distribution facilities and cold-storage yards around Boise, Meridian, Nampa and Caldwell. Earn approximately $1,300–$1,700 gross per week with hourly pay, overtime after 40 hours and daily home time.
Weekly Gross
$1,300–$1,700
Estimated Annual: $67,600–$88,400
Hourly Pay $29–$31
Sign-On Bonus $1,000 after 90 days
Home Time Daily
Schedule Monday–Friday, occasional Saturday
Shift 10–12 hours
Freight Refrigerated and frozen food
Job Status: Currently Hiring
• Last Verified: October 12, 2026
Operate a day-cab tractor on short refrigerated trailer transfers throughout the Boise metropolitan area. This is a driving-focused position, not a foodservice route requiring case delivery.
- Move preloaded 53-foot refrigerated trailers between distribution yards, cold storage and food-processing facilities.
- Complete drop-and-hook exchanges and occasional live trailer handoffs.
- Inspect trailer condition, reefer operation, temperature settings and seals before departure.
- Verify trailer numbers, seal records, bills of lading and electronic transfer documents.
- Follow dispatch assignments and report unavailable trailers, dock queues or late releases.
- Perform pre-trip and post-trip inspections and report mechanical defects through the ELD.
- Return the tractor to the designated yard at the end of the shift.
Hourly company-driver pay with overtime after 40 hours in a workweek. Weekly earnings depend on hours worked, dispatch volume and qualifying extra-pay events.
Base Hourly Rate $29–$31
Overtime Rate $43.50–$46.50 after 40 hours
Typical Weekly Gross $1,300–$1,700
Estimated Annual Gross $67,600–$88,400
Detention Pay $29/hour after 2 qualifying hours
Sign-On Bonus $1,000 after 90 days
Pay Frequency Weekly
Weekly and annual figures are gross estimates before taxes and deductions. Detention and the sign-on bonus are separate from the base earnings range. Overtime eligibility follows applicable wage rules and company policy.
Home Time Daily, with no planned overnight trips
Normal Schedule Monday–Friday
Start Window 4:00 AM–6:00 AM
Shift Length 10–12 hours
Weekend Work Occasional Saturday coverage
Daily Mileage Approximately 100–250 miles
Trailer Moves Usually 6–10 per shift
Start times can change with receiving appointments, production schedules and trailer availability. Home daily is the planned schedule, although weather or unusual operating disruptions can extend a shift.
Tractor Brands Freightliner Cascadia and Kenworth T680
Model Years 2019–2024, depending on assignment
Cab Configuration Day cabs
Transmission Automatic
Trailers 53-foot refrigerated trailers with Thermo King or Carrier units
Safety Equipment ELD, electronic inspection records and collision mitigation on equipped tractors
Tractor Assignment Assigned when available; occasional slip-seating
Equipment condition varies by unit. Drivers must verify reefer operation and fuel level, inspect tires and lights, check trailer doors and seals, and report defects before taking equipment onto public roads.
Local refrigerated trailer transfers primarily serve food distribution, cold-storage and processing facilities in the western Treasure Valley.
- Boise to Meridian and return via I-84 and Eagle Road access routes.
- Boise to Nampa distribution facilities via I-84 west.
- Nampa to Caldwell cold-storage and food-processing facilities using I-84 and local industrial roads.
- Meridian to Nampa trailer exchanges, with return moves assigned according to available loads.
- Boise industrial district to local cold-storage yards for empty trailer repositioning and loaded trailer recovery.
Dispatch assigns the actual pickup and delivery sequence. Drivers may repeat a short lane several times in one shift rather than receive a fixed long-distance route.
- Start with a pre-trip inspection, dispatch review and trailer assignment.
- Check the reefer display, setpoint, fuel level, trailer number and seal before moving loaded freight.
- Check in at the customer gate, confirm the assigned yard or dock and record the trailer exchange.
- Complete drop-and-hook moves, secure the tractor and verify the next assignment.
- Notify dispatch when a trailer is missing, a load is not released or a receiving dock is backed up.
- Record arrival, release and transfer times when a qualifying detention claim may apply.
- Finish the shift with a post-trip inspection and return the tractor to the designated yard.
About the Carrier
This regional transportation operation supports food manufacturers, cold-storage facilities and distribution customers throughout southwestern Idaho. A medium-sized fleet of maintained day-cab tractors and refrigerated trailers handles recurring local transfers and scheduled trailer exchanges. Dispatch coordinates equipment availability, customer appointments and empty-trailer returns to keep the network moving. Drivers work with a local operations team and maintenance providers rather than a nationwide long-haul terminal structure. Daily work is centered on safe tractor-trailer handling, temperature-control checks, accurate transfer records and dependable communication with warehouse personnel. Freight volume can rise during holiday grocery demand and periods of increased food production.
Medical, Dental & Vision Available after 60 days
401(k) Company matching contribution under plan terms
Paid Orientation Company procedures and equipment familiarization
Paid Time Off Accrued under company policy
Work Clothing Basic company-issued items under policy
Driver Support Local dispatch and maintenance coordination
- Valid Class A CDL and current DOT medical qualification.
- At least 12 months of verifiable tractor-trailer driving experience.
- Refrigerated trailer experience preferred; drop-and-hook experience is an advantage.
- Driving record and employment history must meet company insurance standards.
- Pass required DOT drug screening, Clearinghouse review and background checks.
- Ability to couple and uncouple trailers, climb tractor steps and complete inspections safely.
- Availability for early morning starts and occasional Saturday assignments.
- Morning receiving queues and overlapping warehouse appointments.
- Loaded trailers not released on time or empty trailers unavailable for exchange.
- Reefer alarms, low fuel or trailer defects requiring inspection before departure.
- I-84 traffic, road construction and winter driving conditions.
- Holiday grocery demand and production changes that increase trailer turns.
- Late dispatch changes when a facility cannot accept the scheduled trailer.
Report delays promptly and retain accurate arrival and release records for dispatch and payroll review.
1
Application
Submit your CDL-A driving application and experience details.
2
Recruiter Review
Discuss schedule, experience, pay and local operating area.
3
Safety Screening
Complete required driving-record, DOT and employment checks.
4
Orientation
Review equipment, trailer procedures and dispatch workflow.
Q: How much can a local refrigerated shuttle driver earn in Boise? ▼
The estimated gross range is $1,300–$1,700 per week at $29–$31 per hour. Actual earnings depend on hours worked, overtime and qualifying additional pay.
Q: Is this position home daily? ▼
Yes. The planned schedule returns drivers to the designated Boise-area yard at the end of each shift. No regular overnight trips are scheduled.
Q: Do drivers unload frozen or refrigerated food? ▼
The primary responsibility is moving trailers, not unloading individual cases. Drivers may need to assist with trailer positioning, document checks and facility handoffs.
Q: How much experience is required? ▼
At least 12 months of verifiable tractor-trailer driving experience is required. Reefer and drop-and-hook experience are preferred.
Q: What equipment will I drive? ▼
The fleet uses Freightliner Cascadia and Kenworth T680 day cabs, generally model years 2019–2024, pulling 53-foot refrigerated trailers.
Q: When does overtime begin? ▼
Overtime is paid after 40 hours in a workweek, subject to applicable wage rules. The overtime rate is 1.5 times the applicable regular hourly rate.
Q: Are the shifts always the same? ▼
Most starts fall between 4:00 AM and 6:00 AM. Customer appointments, trailer availability, seasonal volume and occasional Saturday coverage can change the schedule.
Q: Is a sign-on bonus available? ▼
A $1,000 sign-on bonus is available after 90 days, subject to the employer's eligibility and payment terms.
Boise and the wider Treasure Valley offer a varied CDL-A employment market, with opportunities in local delivery, food distribution, LTL pickup and delivery, shuttle operations, construction and regional refrigerated trucking. Competition is strongest for drivers who combine verifiable Class A experience with a safe driving record and reliable attendance. Local employers commonly use hourly pay with overtime, while regional and OTR carriers more often use mileage-based or trip-based compensation. Local work generally offers daily home time, whereas regional schedules may include several nights away. Early starts and occasional weekend coverage are common in food-related operations. Seasonal grocery demand can increase available shifts, although weekly hours still depend on freight volume and customer schedules.
Southwestern Idaho's food-processing and agricultural industries generate recurring freight for refrigerated and dry-van equipment. Dairy products, potatoes, frozen foods, meat and packaged groceries move between processing facilities, cold storage and distribution centers. Boise serves as a regional distribution base, while Meridian, Nampa and Caldwell contain industrial and commercial facilities supporting short-haul transfers. Interstate 84 is the principal freight corridor connecting the valley with eastern Oregon and southern Idaho; I-184 provides access to Boise's urban network, and US-20 and US-26 connect communities north and east of the metro area. Local shuttle work is shaped by appointment windows, trailer availability, urban traffic and winter road conditions. Holiday grocery demand and agricultural production cycles can increase refrigerated trailer movements.