🗺 Location & Routes
- Base city: Columbus, Ohio
- Route type: Regional refrigerated multi-stop distribution
- Freight: Temperature-controlled foodservice pallets
- Schedule: 2–3 day rotation cycles with reset at home
📋 Job Description
- Pickup and delivery of refrigerated foodservice freight across Midwest corridors
- Complete DOT inspections before and after each dispatch cycle
- Maintain ELD logs in compliance with FMCSA regulations
- Secure mixed pallet loads using straps, bars, and temperature protocols
- Unload freight using liftgate systems, dollies, and manual handling at customer docks
- Ensure compliance with appointment windows and food safety handling requirements
✅ Requirements
CDL Class A
Valid CDL-A license required
Experience
Minimum 12 months CDL-A experience required
Age
Minimum 21 years old
MVR
Clean record, no major violations or recent safety events
Physical
Ability to handle consistent touch freight and unloading
Endorsements
Reefer experience preferred, not required
🚛 Equipment & Fleet
- Truck assignment: rotating sleeper pool with dedicated regional dispatch pairing
- Fleet average age: 3–7 years across active Midwest reefer units
- Features: Thermo King reefers, liftgates, dolly kits, electronic routing tablets
🏠 Home Time
- Drivers return home every 2–3 days depending on dispatch cycle timing
- Weekly reset typically aligned with freight reload windows in Columbus corridor
📍 Real Routes Our Drivers Take
- Columbus → Chicago I-70/I-65 corridor with Chicago South Holland DC congestion delays
- Columbus → Cleveland → Pittsburgh loop via I-76 with intermodal yard staging at Cleveland terminals
- Columbus → Louisville → Cincinnati foodservice triangle with I-71 bottlenecks and early dock appointments
🎁 Benefits & Bonus Structure
📝 Hiring Process
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is unloading required on every stop?
Yes, most stops include assisted or full touch freight using dollies and liftgates.
How predictable are home returns?
Generally every 2–3 days, but timing shifts slightly with reload availability.
Are routes fixed or rotating?
Routes rotate weekly depending on freight demand and customer scheduling.
Is winter freight affected?
Yes, Midwest weather can add dwell time at docks and terminals.
Do I need reefer experience?
Preferred but not required; training provided during onboarding.
How is detention paid?
Detention applies after 2 hours of confirmed wait time at $25/hr.
💼 Career Opportunities
Dispatch volume in the Columbus regional foodservice network stays consistently active due to steady demand from restaurant distribution centers, healthcare suppliers, and institutional kitchens across the Midwest corridor. Drivers entering this lane typically start on multi-stop refrigerated cycles and transition into more stable dedicated accounts as familiarity with delivery windows improves. Over time, experienced operators may be assigned priority freight lanes with reduced dwell exposure and tighter appointment control. Some drivers move into trainer positions supporting new hires on liftgate and dock procedures, while others shift into compliance-focused roles handling safety audits and route planning coordination. The structure of this operation rewards consistency, dock efficiency, and clean safety performance more than raw mileage accumulation.
🔗 CDL-A Regional Refrigerated Foodservice Carrier – Columbus, Ohio
This regional reefer position operates within high-frequency Midwest food distribution lanes tied to Columbus-area consolidation hubs. Drivers move temperature-controlled pallet freight into dense restaurant, hospital, and institutional delivery networks with strict appointment windows. Weekly earnings reflect variable mileage cycles, stop density, and occasional dock delays common in multi-stop foodservice logistics. The role combines highway segments with urban delivery sequencing, requiring structured time management across I-70, I-75, and I-80 corridor access points. Operational flow depends on reload timing and trailer availability at regional yards, with dispatch adjusting routes based on freight stacking and outbound demand patterns. This setup supports steady year-round freight movement with predictable regional coverage rather than long-haul variability.
🚀 Apply for This CDL-A Position
Complete the form below to apply for CDL-A Regional Refrigerated Foodservice Carrier in Columbus, Ohio.
