Truck Driver Jobs in Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix is home base for Swift Transportation and Knight Transportation, so few metros offer a new Class A driver more ways in. Local and regional drivers here typically earn $23 to $33 an hour. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring and how to get your CDL.
Current truck driver Openings in Phoenix, AZ
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Truck Driver Work in Phoenix
West Phoenix along I-10 and Buckeye Road is the center of the Valley's trucking work. Swift runs its headquarters, terminal, shop and driving academy at 2200 S 75th Ave, and Knight's first-ever terminal still operates at 5601 W Buckeye Rd, both in the 85043 ZIP code. Foodservice distributors add local routes that bring drivers home nightly, with Sysco Arizona dispatching from Tolleson just to the west.
The lanes out of the Valley shape the job. Regional drivers commonly run Phoenix to Southern California, Nevada and Utah on I-10 and I-17, while city and LTL drivers work the Valley itself. Summer heat above 110 degrees is part of the work here, so pre-trip checks on tires, cooling and reefer units matter more than in milder markets.
Top Phoenix Employers Hiring Truck Drivers
These Phoenix-area carriers and distributors had Class A driver openings posted on their own careers sites this month:
- Swift Transportation - the Phoenix-headquartered carrier hires regional dedicated drivers running Phoenix to SoCal, Nevada and Utah with home time twice a week, plus OTR refrigerated drivers.
- Knight Transportation - the Buckeye Road terminal hires Arizona to California regional reefer drivers with weekly home time, plus dedicated hazmat, ports and flatbed drivers.
- Sysco Arizona - the Tolleson foodservice distributor hires CDL A local delivery drivers, and most driver trainees run daily routes and are home nightly.
- Saia - the LTL carrier hires Phoenix local city drivers who hold hazmat, tanker and doubles endorsements.
Truck Driver Salaries in Phoenix
- Entry level: about $21 to $23 an hour, or $43,500 to $48,000 a year, for newly licensed drivers.
- Experienced: roughly $27 to $33 an hour, or $56,000 to $69,000 a year, for regional and local Class A drivers.
- Senior / specialized: $33 to $37 an hour and up, with the top tenth of Phoenix drivers above $76,500 a year.
These are estimates based on federal 2025 wage data for the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler metro and current local postings. Pay moves with the type of freight and the pay model: Saia lists Phoenix city drivers at $31.85 to $36.40 an hour, Knight's Arizona to California regional reefer job pays 47 to 64 cents a mile, and Swift advertises regional dedicated averages around $1,400 a week. Hazmat, tanker and doubles endorsements open the higher-paying LTL and dedicated jobs.
How to Become a Truck Driver in Phoenix
Commercial licenses in Arizona are issued by the ADOT Motor Vehicle Division. A Class A CDL covers tractor-trailers and a Class B covers heavy straight trucks such as refuse and ready-mix units. You can get a CDL at 18, but under 21 it is valid only inside Arizona. You must hold a commercial learner's permit for at least 14 days before the skills test, pass a DOT medical exam with a certified examiner, and complete Entry-Level Driver Training, which the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has required since February 2022. A hazmat endorsement also needs a TSA security threat assessment.
Local training options include the Swift Academy at the company's S 75th Ave headquarters, a three-week program with no upfront tuition that is deducted from your paychecks and paid back if you stay on with Swift. SAGE Truck Driving Schools trains Class A and B drivers at 9215 N Black Canyon Hwy, and Southwest Truck Driver Training runs day, evening and weekend Class A courses at 2323 S 51st Ave.
What the Job Involves
Truck drivers run pre-trip and post-trip inspections, couple and uncouple trailers, plan routes and fuel stops, and log hours on an electronic logging device within federal hours-of-service limits. Local and LTL drivers make multiple stops a shift, back into tight docks and sometimes unload freight, while regional and OTR drivers spend nights in the sleeper and manage reefer temperatures on food loads.
Skills Employers Look For
- Valid Class A CDL with a clean driving record
- Current DOT medical card
- Hazmat, tanker or doubles endorsements for LTL and dedicated work
- Safe backing and tight-dock maneuvering
- ELD and hours-of-service compliance
- Cargo securement and reefer monitoring
- Customer service on delivery stops
Career Path and Advancement
Many Phoenix drivers start at a training carrier such as Swift, put in a year of over-the-road or regional miles, then move to home-daily LTL or foodservice delivery work once they have the experience those employers require. From there the ladder runs to driver trainer, dedicated or hazmat routes, dispatcher, and terminal or fleet management, and the West Phoenix carrier cluster means most of those moves can happen without leaving the Valley.
Related Careers in Phoenix
If driving interests you, these related Phoenix roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a CDL in Phoenix?
Get a commercial learner's permit from the ADOT Motor Vehicle Division, finish Entry-Level Driver Training with a registered provider, hold the permit at least 14 days, then pass the skills test. You also need a DOT medical card from a certified examiner.
How much do truck drivers make in Phoenix?
Most Phoenix heavy truck drivers earn about $23 to $33 an hour, with a metro median near $28.74 an hour or $59,770 a year. LTL city drivers with endorsements can earn more, with Saia posting $31.85 to $36.40 an hour.
Can I drive a truck in Arizona at 18?
Yes. Arizona issues CDLs at 18, but a driver under 21 is limited to driving within Arizona and faces hazmat restrictions. Interstate runs to California or Nevada have to wait until you turn 21.
Are there home-daily truck driving jobs in Phoenix?
Yes. Foodservice and LTL carriers such as Sysco Arizona and Saia run local routes that bring drivers home each day. Saia asks for a year of tractor-trailer experience, while Sysco Arizona also takes on driver trainees.
Is there paid CDL training in Phoenix?
Swift Transportation runs a Swift Academy at its Phoenix headquarters with no upfront tuition. The cost comes out of your paychecks and is paid back if you stay with the company, so read the agreement before you sign.
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