🗺 Location & Routes
- Base city: Tampa, FL
- Route type: OTR
- Freight: General dry van freight including consumer goods, retail merchandise, paper products, building materials, and automotive parts
- Schedule: 10–14 day runs with 3–5 days home time
📋 Job Description
- Operate OTR dry van routes dispatched from the Tampa terminal with true national routing across the continental U.S.
- Haul general dry van freight with a high percentage of drop-and-hook and occasional live loads/unloads
- Follow pre-planned routes with reloads arranged through dedicated and brokered freight network to maintain high utilization
- Perform standard pre-trips, fuel stops, scale checks, and delivery coordination while maintaining ELD and HOS compliance
- Navigate major corridors including I-95, I-75, I-10, and I-40 with heavier concentration in Southeast, Midwest, and Northeast lanes
- Manage variable traffic, dock delays, weather impacts, and customer appointment windows typical of national dry van operations
✅ Requirements
CDL Class A
Valid CDL-A license required
Experience
Minimum 12–18 months verifiable OTR or regional experience
Age
Minimum 21 years old
MVR
Clean or acceptable MVR and safety record
Physical
Ability to meet physical demands including occasional live load/unload
Endorsements
None required
🚛 Equipment & Fleet
- Truck assignment: Late-model tractors paired with standard 53-foot dry vans
- Fleet average age: Late-model
- Features: Current ELDs, GPS tracking, and communication systems
- Transmission type: Not specified
- Maintenance program: Preventive maintenance program with nationwide vendor partnerships for roadside support
🏠 Home Time
- 10–14 day runs common followed by 3–5 days home time
- Average home time every 2–3 weeks with resets in the Tampa area
- Home time negotiated with dispatch based on location and freight balance
- Reasonable predictability with some variability during peak seasons or market shifts
📍 Real Routes Our Drivers Take
- Tampa/Lakeland/Orlando area pickups of consumer goods and retail merchandise heading north via I-75 to Midwest markets including Chicago and Indianapolis with arranged reloads
- Southeast origins to Northeast destinations (Atlanta to PA/NJ/NY) via I-95 carrying paper products and manufactured goods with drop-and-hook opportunities
- Regional Southeast loops combined with occasional longer runs to Texas or West Coast lanes depending on freight network balance
🎁 Benefits & Bonus Structure
📝 Hiring Process
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the typical home time for this OTR dry van position?
Drivers typically run 10–14 days followed by 3–5 days home time, averaging a reset every 2–3 weeks in the Tampa area. Exact dates depend on routing and freight balance.
What freight will I haul as an OTR Dry Van Driver out of Tampa?
General dry van freight including consumer goods, retail merchandise, paper products, building materials (non-flatbed), automotive parts, and mixed manufactured goods.
What is the pay structure for this Tampa OTR position?
Pay is $0.58 – $0.65 per mile (all miles), plus stop pay of $20–$40, detention pay of $35 per hour after 2 hours, and layover pay of $100 per 24-hour period. Average weekly pay $1,450–$2,000.
What equipment will I drive?
Late-model tractors with standard 53-foot dry vans equipped with current ELDs, GPS tracking, and communication systems. Maintenance is handled through a preventive program with nationwide support.
Is experience required for this OTR dry van role?
Yes, minimum 12–18 months verifiable OTR or regional experience is required along with a clean or acceptable MVR.
How does dispatch handle home time requests?
Dispatch works with drivers to negotiate home time based on your location, current load board, and freight balance. While not guaranteed on specific days, they aim for reasonable predictability.
💼 Career Opportunities
OTR dry van driving out of Tampa provides strong mileage opportunities for experienced CDL-A professionals comfortable with longer cycles. The position features consistent freight movement between the Southeast, Midwest, and Northeast, allowing drivers to build valuable national routing experience while maintaining periodic returns to Florida. Drivers who excel at HOS planning, efficient routing, and ELD compliance can achieve reliable weekly miles in the 2,500–3,200+ range. This role builds transferable skills in drop-and-hook operations, live load/unload management, and multi-region navigation that strengthen long-term career prospects in the trucking industry. With steady demand for dry van capacity and a mix of dedicated and brokered freight, motivated drivers can expect stable earning potential through mileage, stop pay, detention, and performance bonuses. The experience gained on these national lanes positions drivers well for future opportunities in similar OTR or regional roles across the country.
🔗 OTR CDL-A Dry Van Driver – Tampa, FL
This OTR CDL-A Dry Van Driver position based in Tampa offers national routing with a strong focus on Southeast, Midwest, and Northeast freight lanes. Drivers can expect $0.58–$0.65 per mile pay with additional stop, detention, and layover compensation for average weekly earnings between $1,450 and $2,000. The role features late-model tractors with 53-foot dry vans and a preventive maintenance program. Typical operations include 10–14 day runs with 3–5 days home time every 2–3 weeks. Freight consists primarily of consumer goods, retail merchandise, paper products, and automotive parts with high drop-and-hook frequency. Ideal for drivers with 12–18 months OTR experience seeking consistent miles while returning periodically to the Tampa area. The position includes a $1,000 sign-on bonus after 60 days and full benefits package after the initial waiting period. Tampa drivers benefit from convenient access to major Interstate corridors for efficient routing across the continental U.S.
🚀 Apply for This CDL-A Position
Complete the form below to apply for OTR CDL-A Dry Van Driver in Tampa, FL.