Dallas, TX
Looking for dry van OTR CDL-A work around Dallas? Here's the pay, the home time, and a fast way to get matched with carriers hiring right now.
The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is anchored by AllianceTexas and BNSF's Alliance intermodal facility, North America's largest inland rail port, sitting on the I-35 and I-45 national freight corridors.
Long-haul freight across multiple states or coast-to-coast, paid mostly by the mile — the highest-mileage and typically highest-paying route type for company drivers. For CDL-A drivers based in Dallas and nearby communities like Fort Worth, Garland, Lancaster, that translates to steady freight and dry van OTR runs you can actually build a schedule around.
OTR CDL-A pay in this market typically runs about $83k to $110k a year for company drivers, before sign-on bonuses, detention, and per diem. Dry van is the baseline for most freight and the easiest to get into, so it generally sits at the bottom of the specialized-freight pay scale. The number that matters most is weekly miles times your rate — a strong rate on thin miles loses to a steady seat every time.
Enclosed trailers carrying non-perishable boxed and palletized freight like retail goods, paper, and packaged products — the most common and accessible freight for CDL-A drivers.
Dry van is the baseline for most freight and the easiest to get into, so it generally sits at the bottom of the specialized-freight pay scale.
Texas rates run about 1% above the national average for the same freight, which is baked into the numbers below. Figures assume 2,750 paid miles a week (typical for OTR out of Dallas) plus ~7% in accessorials (detention, stop pay, per diem), over 50 working weeks.
| Experience | Rate (typical–good) | Weekly gross | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 years | $0.57–0.63/mi | $1,664–$1,843 | $83,214–$92,130 |
| 2–5 years | $0.61–0.68/mi | $1,783–$1,991 | $89,158–$99,559 |
| 5+ years | $0.66–0.75/mi | $1,932–$2,199 | $96,588–$109,961 |
From the CDL Lane pay model — cents-per-mile researched across 100+ carriers (how we calculate), adjusted for Texas and dry van freight. Run your own numbers in the pay calculator.
Tell us your experience, freight, and schedule. We'll line up OTR carriers hiring near Dallas — free, fast, no obligation.
Get matched →OTR CDL-A drivers in the Dallas market typically earn $83k–$110k a year, with the exact number driven by experience, weekly miles, and freight type — the table above breaks it down by experience band.
It's the most common first seat in trucking: the most openings, no-touch freight, and every schedule from local to OTR. Pay sits at the baseline of the freight scale, which is the trade-off for availability and simplicity.
Two levers: experience tiers (the 2-year and 5-year marks matter most) and switching freight — reefer adds ~$0.03/mi, flatbed ~$0.07/mi, tanker ~$0.09/mi. Endorsements are the fastest raise in trucking.
Typically 2–3+ weeks out with a few days home between runs. OTR pays the most because of the miles — the figures above assume a normal 2,750-mile week.
A valid CDL-A and a reasonably clean driving record cover most openings. Tell CDL Lane your experience, preferred freight, and home base and we'll match you with carriers hiring near Dallas — including Fort Worth, Garland, Lancaster.