Regional CDL-A Position Grain Hopper

Regional CDL-A Grain Hopper Driver — Lexington, KY

Hiring Area: Lexington, KY • Terminal: Lexington, KY

Lexington, KY Regional Hopper-Bottom

Move corn, soybeans and wheat in gravity-discharge hoppers across central Kentucky, with occasional runs into southern Ohio and Indiana. Weekly gross typically falls between $1,300 and $1,600; most weeks bring 2–3 nights home.

Weekly Gross Range
$1,300–$1,600
Estimated Annual Range: $67,600–$83,200
Typical Week ~$1,500
Home Time Typically 2–3 nights
Driver Type Company Driver
Weekly Miles ~2,300 paid
Freight Dry agricultural grain

Position Overview

Bulk grain moves between elevators, farm collection points, feed operations and processors on gravity-discharge hopper trailers.

  • Check residual grain, seals, hopper gates and tarp condition before loading.
  • Follow scale-house, sampling and discharge rules at every origin and receiver.
  • Match weight tickets and commodity paperwork to dispatch instructions.
  • Open and close discharge gates in the sequence required by the facility.
  • Report contamination risks, equipment defects or delays at once.
  • Keep accurate ELD logs and retain all scale and delivery documents.

Pay & Compensation Breakdown

Pay runs on practical miles at $0.65, covering loaded and dispatched empty miles. A typical 2,300-mile week produces about $1,495 before rounding to the displayed $1,500 figure.

Weekly Gross Range $1,300–$1,600
Typical Week ~$1,500 (approx. 2,300 paid miles)
Estimated Annual Range $67,600–$83,200 (52 weeks; not guaranteed)
Base Rate $0.65 per paid mile
Detention $25 per eligible hour after 2 hours
Sign-On / Recurring Bonuses None included in this offer

Schedule, Home Time & Routes

Home Time Typically 2–3 nights per week (not guaranteed every week)
Primary Work Short Central Kentucky elevator turns
Longer Runs Periodic deliveries into southern Ohio / Indiana
Weekly Miles Approximately 2,300 paid
Work Pattern Standard five-day week; extra Saturday shifts during peak harvest

Equipment & Cabin Specs

Tractors Freightliner Cascadia and Kenworth T680, late-model mix
Cab Configuration Mostly sleepers; limited day-cabs for shorter turns
Transmission Automated manual or automatic
Trailers 40–42-ft aluminum or steel hopper-bottom, three-axle where required
Assignment Assigned when available; changes for maintenance or seasonal balancing

Hopper reliability matters more than option lists. Drivers focus on clean compartments, functioning discharge gates, secure tarps and sound chassis before every load. Collision mitigation and lane-departure alerts appear on equipped units; ELD and mobile check-in are standard.

Real Routes

Most volume stays inside central Kentucky on short elevator-to-receiver turns. Longer regional deliveries occur when contracts and receiving capacity support them; backhauls are never guaranteed.

  • Short Kentucky turns: Georgetown (~15 mi), Frankfort (~25 mi), Louisville (~75 mi)
  • Nearby regional: Cincinnati (~85 mi) via I-75
  • Periodic longer runs: Owensboro (~160 mi), Bowling Green (~150 mi)
  • Occasional extended lanes: Evansville, IN (~230 mi) or Indianapolis (~190 mi) when freight is available
  • Columbus, OH (~200 mi) appears only on selected assignments

Typical Week & Daily Workflow

  • Review next-day commodity, reference and destination the evening before or early morning.
  • Inspect hopper compartments for residual grain, moisture and foreign material.
  • Scale in, position under the spout or loading lane, and secure weight tickets.
  • Travel the approved route; notify dispatch of queues or weather delays.
  • At the receiver, open gates in the required sequence and obtain empty-weight confirmation.
  • Confirm the next assignment or return instructions before leaving the site.
  • Use terminal parking when home or approved truck stops on longer runs.

About the Carrier

Agricultural bulk movements in central Kentucky depend on carriers that can switch between short elevator turns and longer regional deliveries as harvest volumes and storage capacity change. This mid-sized operator keeps gravity-discharge hoppers paired with late-model tractors ready for that mix. Dispatch tracks receiving windows and elevator inventories rather than running fixed daily shuttles, so equipment and drivers stay flexible across Kentucky and selected neighboring markets. Maintenance support focuses on keeping gates, tarps and chassis serviceable so loads are not rejected for contamination or mechanical issues.

Benefits & Healthcare Coverage

Hopper Orientation Paid training on gates, tarps and facility procedures
Detention Review Documented claims paid when eligibility rules are met
Terminal Parking Available for home-time layovers when space permits
Medical / Dental / Vision Company options subject to eligibility
Retirement & PTO 401(k) access and service-based paid time off

Driver Qualification Requirements

  • Valid Class A CDL
  • At least 6 months tractor-trailer experience preferred; less may be considered
  • Hopper-bottom or agricultural bulk experience preferred, not required
  • Satisfactory MVR and employment history
  • Meet DOT physical, drug/alcohol testing and FMCSA rules
  • Able to work early starts and occasional harvest Saturdays
  • No Tanker or HazMat endorsement normally required

Operational Delays

  • Harvest queues at elevators often stretch scale and loading waits to 1–3 hours or longer.
  • Wet weather slows field collection and turns yard surfaces muddy.
  • I-75 and I-64 congestion or construction can compress available driving hours.
  • Trailer cleaning or gate/tarp repairs may be required before the next commodity load.
  • Receivers sometimes suspend unloading when storage bins are full.

Hiring Process

1
Application
Submit CDL and recent work history
2
Screening
Phone discussion of experience and schedule
3
Qualification
MVR, Clearinghouse, drug screen, road test if needed
4
Orientation
Hopper familiarization and first dispatch

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long do grain facility stops usually take? ▼
A straightforward turn often finishes in 30–60 minutes. During harvest peaks the same stop can run 1–3 hours or more.
Q: What happens if the trailer still has residual grain? ▼
Residual material, moisture or foreign objects can cause rejection. Drivers must confirm the trailer is clean and suitable before accepting the next commodity.
Q: Are longer runs to Indianapolis or Columbus regular? ▼
No. Short Central Kentucky turns form the core of the work. Longer regional deliveries appear only when customer demand and receiving capacity support them.
Q: Can I park overnight at a grain facility? ▼
Most yards prohibit overnight stays and unattended loaded trailers. Terminal parking or approved truck stops are used instead.
Q: How often do Saturday shifts appear? ▼
The base schedule is Monday–Friday. Extra Saturday work occurs mainly during peak harvest when elevators extend receiving hours.
Q: Do drivers enter grain bins? ▼
No. All routine work stays outside confined spaces. Stuck gates or discharge problems are reported to the facility and dispatch.

CDL Job Market

Lexington’s CDL-A openings split across several distinct segments. Regional dry-van and dedicated fleets compete with LTL terminals and local construction bulk operators for experienced drivers. Agricultural hopper work forms a narrower niche that values comfort with dusty facilities, commodity handling rules and seasonal schedule swings. National truckload carriers also recruit from the same pool, yet many drivers prefer the shorter cycles that I-75 and I-64 make possible without full OTR commitments. Demand for ag capacity rises sharply during corn and soybean harvest, then eases in quieter months when retail and manufacturing lanes absorb more hiring. Overall the market remains active year-round, giving qualified Class A drivers multiple pathways—local, regional or specialized—rather than a single dominant job type.

Location & Freight Market

Central Kentucky’s grain economy rests on a dense network of elevators, feed mills and storage facilities that move corn, soybeans and wheat from field to processor. Trucks handle the short first and last legs even when longer hauls continue by rail or barge. Lexington’s position at the I-75/I-64 crossroads links these local points to Louisville, Cincinnati and southern Indiana markets without forcing every load into a multi-day cycle. Weather and field conditions can rapidly alter elevator inventories, creating both peak-season surges and quieter transfer periods. The same corridors also carry warehouse, food-manufacturing and automotive-related freight, so road capacity stays busy year-round. That combination of agricultural density and interstate access continually generates demand for hopper equipment capable of switching between short local turns and occasional regional deliveries.

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