Regional CDL-A Refrigerated Freight
CDL-A Regional Reefer Driver – Produce & Grocery Freight in Boise, ID
Hiring Area: Boise & Treasure Valley • Terminal: Boise, Idaho
Regional Routes Home Every 3–5 Days Sleeper Tractor
Haul refrigerated produce, packaged food and grocery freight from Boise-area shippers to distribution centers across Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Utah. Earn $1,550–$1,950 gross per week, with mileage pay, stop pay and qualifying detention compensation. Typical dispatch cycles run 2–4 nights away, with home resets targeted every 3–5 days. This position suits experienced Class A drivers who understand reefer inspections, temperature control and appointment-based deliveries.
Weekly Gross Pay
$1,550–$1,950
Estimated Annual: $80,600–$101,400
Base Mileage Rate $0.60–$0.66 CPM
Sign-On Bonus $1,000 staged
Home Time Every 3–5 days
Weekly Miles 2,300–2,800
Freight Produce & Grocery Reefer
Job Status: Currently Hiring
• Last Verified: October 12, 2026
Operate a sleeper tractor on scheduled regional refrigerated freight runs. The work combines highway driving, food-safety checks and delivery appointments.
- Inspect tractor, trailer, reefer unit and load condition before departure.
- Verify temperature set points, reefer fuel and trailer airflow requirements.
- Transport produce, chilled groceries and packaged food to regional receivers.
- Check bills of lading, seals, pallet counts and proof of delivery.
- Complete live pickups and drop-and-hook exchanges as assigned.
- Report reefer alarms, detention, damaged freight and appointment changes promptly.
- Follow ELD, hours-of-service and customer food-safety procedures.
Mileage is the main earnings component. Weekly totals depend on dispatched miles, route mix, completed stops and qualifying delays. Bonuses are additional and are not included in the regular annual estimate.
Weekly Gross Range $1,550–$1,950
Estimated Annual Gross $80,600–$101,400
Base Mileage Rate $0.60–$0.66 per mile
Sign-On Bonus $1,000 paid at 30, 90 and 180 days
Stop Pay $20 per additional stop after the first delivery
Detention $30/hour after 2 qualifying hours
Safety Incentive Up to $750 annually, subject to eligibility
Annual estimates multiply the weekly gross range by 52. Actual earnings vary with miles, freight availability, time off and eligibility for supplemental pay.
Home Time Targeted every 3–5 days
Typical Nights Out 2–4 per dispatch cycle
Weekly Mileage 2,300–2,800 miles
Operating Area Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Utah
Dispatch Planning Usually 24–48 hours ahead when freight permits
Start Times Set by shipper and receiver appointments
Home time is planned around freight, hours of service and weather. Harvest volume or a delayed receiver can occasionally shift the return schedule.
Tractor Years 2020–2025, depending on availability
Tractor Makes Freightliner Cascadia and Kenworth T680
Transmission Primarily automatic
Trailer 53-ft refrigerated van with swing doors
Reefer Equipment Thermo King or Carrier units
Driver Technology ELD, eDVIR, forward-facing camera and applicable collision mitigation
Tractor Assignment Assigned when available; occasional slip-seat coverage
Sleeper tractors support multi-night runs. Equipment condition and available safety features vary by unit. Drivers must report defects before continuing with an unsafe vehicle or trailer.
Dispatches follow produce availability, grocery appointments and return-load opportunities. These are representative lanes rather than guaranteed daily assignments.
- Boise / Caldwell, ID to Portland, OR via I-84, with refrigerated grocery or produce deliveries.
- Boise, ID to Salt Lake City, UT via I-84 and I-15, serving food distribution and cold-storage receivers.
- Boise, ID to Pasco and Spokane, WA using I-84, I-82 and I-90, depending on the pickup and delivery points.
- Ontario, OR or Twin Falls, ID reloads that position the tractor for a return toward Boise.
Packing facilities commonly require live loading and seal checks. Larger distribution centers may offer drop-and-hook, but trailer availability and appointment queues vary.
- Inspect the tractor and reefer, verify the dispatch instructions and confirm the required temperature.
- Check in at the shipper gate, follow dock instructions and confirm the load count and seal.
- Travel to the receiver within the available HOS and appointment window.
- Submit signed delivery documents and record shortages, damage or rejected product.
- Contact dispatch for a reload, authorized empty movement or revised appointment.
- Document qualifying detention and report mechanical or refrigeration problems.
- Return to the Boise area for the planned home reset when the freight cycle permits.
About the Carrier
This regional refrigerated operation serves agricultural shippers, food producers and grocery distribution customers throughout the inland Northwest. The fleet is organized around repeat regional lanes, a mix of live-load and drop-and-hook appointments, and return planning that accounts for seasonal demand. Drivers work with dispatch to manage delivery windows, equipment issues and changes in freight availability. The operation uses practical late-model equipment suited to multi-day highway work rather than a uniform premium fleet. Safe driving, accurate paperwork and consistent temperature control are central to moving perishable freight without avoidable claims or delays.
Health Insurance Medical, dental and vision after the applicable waiting period
Retirement 401(k) with company match, subject to plan terms
Paid Time Off Vacation eligibility based on service and company policy
Additional Coverage Basic life insurance and short-term disability, subject to plan terms
Driver Support Paid orientation, fuel discounts and rider program after approval
- Valid Class A CDL and authorization to work in the United States.
- At least 12 months of verifiable tractor-trailer experience.
- Previous refrigerated trailer experience and basic temperature-control knowledge.
- Acceptable MVR, PSP and employment history under carrier insurance standards.
- Ability to pass the required DOT physical and drug screening.
- Availability for early starts, occasional weekends and seasonal schedule changes.
- Ability to complete inspections, handle shipping documents and follow food-safety procedures.
Tanker and HazMat endorsements are not required for standard produce and grocery reefer freight.
- Seasonal queues at potato, onion and other agricultural packing facilities.
- Receiver appointment delays and limited dock availability at grocery distribution centers.
- Winter weather, chain restrictions and slow travel on mountain sections of I-84.
- Traffic and construction around Portland-area delivery approaches.
- Reefer maintenance, rejected loads or repositioning for an available backhaul.
1
Online Application
Submit your CDL-A and recent driving history.
2
Recruiter Review
Discuss experience, home time and pay structure.
3
Qualification Checks
Review CDL, MVR, PSP, Clearinghouse and required screening.
4
Offer & Orientation
Complete onboarding and equipment familiarization in the Boise area.
Q: How much can a regional reefer driver earn in Boise? ▼
The advertised gross range is $1,550–$1,950 per week. Pay depends on dispatched miles, additional stops, qualifying detention and bonus eligibility. Sign-on payments are separate from regular weekly earnings.
Q: How often do drivers get home? ▼
The schedule targets a Boise-area home reset every 3–5 days, with approximately 2–4 nights away during a normal regional cycle. Freight volume, weather and appointment changes can affect return timing.
Q: Is previous reefer experience required? ▼
Yes. Applicants should have practical refrigerated trailer experience, including pre-trip checks, temperature verification and responding correctly to reefer alarms.
Q: Is the freight mostly live load or drop-and-hook? ▼
Both are used. Agricultural packing facilities commonly require live loading, while some grocery distribution centers allow trailer exchanges. The mix varies by customer and lane.
Q: Which states are covered by the regional routes? ▼
Core operating areas include Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Utah. A specific trip depends on available freight, receiver appointments and the return-load plan.
Q: What should a driver do if the reefer unit alarms on the road? ▼
Contact dispatch immediately, follow the carrier's cargo-protection instructions and arrange approved service. Record the alarm and temperature information. Do not continue with a temperature-sensitive load if doing so would compromise cargo safety.
Q: Are HazMat or tanker endorsements required? ▼
No. Standard produce and grocery shipments use refrigerated trailers and do not require HazMat or tanker endorsements.
Q: Does harvest season change the schedule? ▼
Yes. Potato, onion and other seasonal produce movements can increase pickup activity, dock queues and early or weekend appointments. Dispatch adjusts assignments to available freight and legal driving hours.
Boise has a varied CDL-A employment market supported by regional distribution, food transportation, retail replenishment, construction and long-haul freight. Drivers can find local delivery, dedicated regional, refrigerated and OTR opportunities, although the number of suitable openings changes with customer contracts and freight demand. Competition is strongest for drivers who combine dependable safety records with recent tractor-trailer experience and the ability to manage specialized equipment. Regional and OTR jobs commonly use mileage-based pay, while local delivery and some dedicated accounts use hourly compensation with overtime or stop pay. Home-daily schedules are available, but often involve multiple stops or fixed delivery windows. Regional jobs generally require several nights away, and OTR work may keep drivers out for one or more weeks. Experienced reefer drivers can be attractive candidates during produce season, when agricultural shipping activity increases. Employers still evaluate driving history, reliability, equipment familiarity and schedule flexibility.
Boise and the surrounding Treasure Valley sit within an agricultural and food-distribution network that moves potatoes, onions, dairy products, packaged groceries and seasonal produce. Packing facilities and cold-storage operations generate refrigerated loads, while retail distribution and general warehousing support dry-van traffic. I-84 is the principal freight corridor linking Boise with eastern Oregon and the Portland market; I-15 provides access toward Salt Lake City, and I-82 and I-90 connect selected Washington lanes. Agricultural pickups may involve live loading, pallet verification, seal checks and variable dock waits. Grocery distribution centers typically use scheduled appointments, with trailer exchanges available at some locations. Harvest periods can increase loading demand and reduce appointment flexibility. Winter storms, chain restrictions and mountain weather can disrupt I-84 travel, while construction and metropolitan congestion affect delivery times near larger receivers. Reload availability depends on the timing of outbound produce, inbound grocery freight and the carrier's customer network.