🗺 Location & Routes
- Base city: Joliet, Illinois
- Route type: Regional Dedicated
- Freight: Beverage & packaged grocery
- Schedule: 5-6 days out, home weekly
📋 Job Description
- Haul beverage and packaged food products from Joliet distribution hubs to grocery chains, convenience stores, and retail DCs
- Handle 2-6 stops per load with live unloads at retail locations and drop-and-hook at DCs
- Work pre-planned dedicated lanes across Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and northern Kentucky
- Manage daily dispatch adjustments based on warehouse throughput and retail demand
- Complete deliveries within scheduled dock appointments while logging accurate ELD hours
- Secure loads and maintain temperature integrity where required on multi-temp trailers
✅ Requirements
CDL Class A
Valid CDL-A license required
Experience
Minimum 12 months verifiable CDL driving experience
Age
Minimum 21 years old
MVR
Clean driving record preferred, minor violations reviewed case-by-case
Physical
Able to handle foodservice deliveries and occasional lifting
Endorsements
None required, food handling training provided
🚛 Equipment & Fleet
- Truck assignment: Volvo VNL 860 (2022–2025 models)
- Fleet average age: 2–6 years
- Features: Automatic I-Shift, high-roof sleeper, refrigerator, APU on select units, collision mitigation
- Trailers: 53’ refrigerated and dry van, multi-temp capable
- ELD: Omnitracs with dispatch app
🛣️ Midwest Regional Lane Structure (IL–IN–WI–KY Corridor)
- Primary runs originate from Joliet I-55 / I-80 hubs serving major grocery networks
- Consistent lanes to Chicago metro, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and northern Kentucky retail areas
- Backhauls arranged into Joliet or nearby Midwest DCs to minimize empty miles
- Daily mileage typically 250–500 miles with multi-stop sequencing
- Weekly average 1,200–2,000 miles depending on stop density and seasonal volume
💰 Weekly Mileage & Stop-Based Pay Breakdown
- Base mileage pay on practical miles plus per-stop compensation
- Detention and layover pay when delays occur at grocery DCs or retail docks
- Average weekly earnings $1,650–$2,350 based on stops, mileage, and demand
- Additional safety bonus up to $1,200 per year for clean performance
- $750 referral bonus after referred driver completes 60 days
📦 Joliet Food & Beverage Delivery Patterns
- Early morning departures (3–7 AM) to meet grocery store receiving windows
- Typical loads include bottled drinks, canned goods, dairy, and mixed grocery pallets
- High-volume DCs use drop-and-hook; retail stops require live unload with appointments
- Congestion common during peak summer beverage season and holiday grocery runs
- Dispatch may re-route same-day for urgent retail replenishment
🏠 Home Time
- Home weekly based out of Joliet area
- Typically 5–6 days on the road followed by 2–3 days off
- Weekend work possible during holiday or summer peaks
🎁 Benefits & Bonus Structure
📝 Hiring Process
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How is the weekly pay calculated?
Mileage on practical miles plus stop pay, detention, and layover when applicable. Actual earnings depend on stops per week and seasonal volume.
What does home weekly really look like?
Most drivers get back to Joliet after 5–6 days. Exact days off depend on dispatch planning and freight demand.
Is detention paid?
Yes. Detention pay applies after standard free time at grocery DCs and retail docks.
What experience is needed?
At least 12 months of verifiable CDL-A experience. Minor MVR issues may be reviewed.
What trucks will I drive?
Primarily 2022–2025 Volvo VNL 860 automatics with sleeper cabs and modern safety systems.
How predictable are the routes?
Dedicated accounts provide good consistency but expect daily adjustments for retail demand and dock delays.
🔗 Regional Dedicated Food & Beverage CDL-A Driver – Joliet, Illinois
Drivers based in Joliet run dedicated regional freight moving beverages and grocery products out of major distribution centers along the I-55 and I-80 corridors. Loads head to supermarket chains, convenience stores, and wholesale distributors across Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and parts of northern Kentucky. Most shifts start early to hit morning delivery windows, with multiple stops common each day. Detention happens regularly at busy grocery receiving docks, especially during peak summer beverage months and holiday periods. Drivers average between 1,200 and 2,000 miles weekly depending on the number of deliveries and current retail demand. This is straightforward dedicated work with the same core customers, automatic transmission Volvos, and home time on a weekly reset. Pay is based on practical miles plus additional compensation for stops and delays. The operation runs year-round with noticeable volume increases during warm weather and major retail cycles.
🚀 Apply for This CDL-A Position
Complete the form below to apply for Regional Dedicated Food & Beverage CDL-A Driver in Joliet, Illinois.