Truck Driver Jobs in Arkansas —
Earn up to $110,000/yr
Join Astel — a family-owned carrier with 18+ years on the road. Weekly pay. All miles paid — loaded and deadhead. New Volvo trucks. Real respect on every mile. Astel — a company drivers want to stay in.
Pay That Actually Delivers
Transparent, consistent pay — no gimmicks, no hidden deductions. Arkansas-based drivers gross $2,400–2,700+ per week on our West–Midwest lanes.
- ✅$0.80 per mile — flat rateAll miles paid, loaded and deadhead
- ✅Guaranteed minimum $2,400 per weekYour income floor, every week — for drivers with 1+ year of experience
- ✅$2,000 sign-on bonusFor drivers with 1+ year of CDL-A experience
- ✅Airfare reimbursement up to $200We cover your flight to orientation
- ✅Guaranteed pay raises twice in your first year with us. Our top drivers make 90 cents.
Astel, a company drivers want to stay in. Join a team where your experience is respected.
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Weekly Direct PayNo delays, no holdbacks — straight to your account
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All Miles PaidZIP-to-ZIP calculation — loaded and deadhead miles alike
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No Deposit for Experienced DriversA security deposit applies only with under 3 months of OTR experience
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Breakdown CoverageReplacement truck provided — keep rolling & earning
Why Arkansas Drivers Choose Astel
Our owner is a former truck driver who built the company he wished existed. 18 years later — we're still growing and still treating drivers like people, not numbers.
Arkansas: Home of America's Biggest Shippers
Few states shape U.S. trucking like Arkansas. Walmart, Tyson Foods and J.B. Hunt are all headquartered within 20 miles of each other in the northwest corner, and I-40 carries the freight straight across the state from Memphis to Oklahoma.
🛣️ Major Arkansas Freight Hubs
Northwest Arkansas — Bentonville, Springdale, Lowell — is the corporate heart of American retail and poultry. Little Rock sits at the center of the state on I-40 and I-30, and West Memphis is the busy I-40/I-55 junction on the Mississippi.
🌡️ Arkansas Climate & Reefer Demand
Arkansas summers are long, hot and humid — the Delta routinely tops 95°F — and the state's poultry and grocery volume moves in reefers twelve months a year. Winters are mild but bring occasional ice on the Ozark grades.
Year-round: Broiler chicken from Springdale and the Arkansas
River Valley heads to distribution centers across the country every week.
Spring – Fall: Grocery freight in and out of the Northwest
Arkansas retail supply chain peaks, and rice and produce add seasonal loads in the Delta.
Summer: Heat and humidity push reefer units to full load — pre-cool
discipline and quick door times separate the pros from the rest.
🚦 Your Arkansas Lanes with Astel
Astel's corridors run West ↔ Midwest, and Arkansas connects them through Memphis and Kansas City. Drivers load in Little Rock, Springdale or Fort Smith and head north on I-49 and I-55 toward Kansas City and Chicago, or west on I-40 toward Oklahoma and Denver. We're growing — drivers must be ready to run all 48 contiguous states.
📊 Arkansas Freight by the Numbers
A small state where the biggest names in freight call home.
Arkansas CDL Class A Requirements
Already hold your Arkansas CDL-A? You're ready to apply right now. Not yet licensed? Here's exactly what the Arkansas DFA — Office of Driver Services (CDL) requires.
| Requirement | Details | Status for Astel Position |
|---|---|---|
| 🎂 Minimum Age | 21+ years for interstate (OTR) driving — required for all 48-state runs | Required |
| 🪪 Valid AR Driver's License | Current, non-suspended Arkansas driver's license | Required |
| 📋 Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) | Must hold CLP for minimum 14 days before the skills test | Pre-CDL Step |
| 🏫 ELDT Training | Entry-Level Driver Training from an FMCSA-registered provider | Pre-CDL Step |
| 🩺 DOT Medical Exam | Medical Examiner's Certificate confirming fitness to operate a CMV | Required |
| 📝 Knowledge Tests | AR General Knowledge, Combination Vehicles (Class A), Air Brakes | Pass to Obtain CDL |
| 🚛 Skills Test | Pre-trip inspection, basic vehicle control, on-road driving evaluation | Pass to Obtain CDL |
| ❄️ Reefer Endorsement | No special endorsement required for standard reefer freight in Arkansas | Not Required |
| 🧹 Clean Record | No DUI, no at-fault accidents, no serious traffic violations on record | Required by Astel |
| 📅 OTR Experience | 1+ year over-the-road experience preferred | Preferred by Astel |
Position Details
Driver Responsibilities
- Safely operate a CMV in full compliance with all DOT regulations
- Deliver reefer freight on time across West, Midwest, and all 48 contiguous states as assigned
- Maintain accurate HOS logs and complete trip documentation
- Handle BOLs, receipts, and required paperwork
- Communicate clearly and professionally with dispatch throughout each run
- Monitor and maintain proper reefer temperatures throughout every load
- Perform basic on-road troubleshooting and complete pre/post-trip inspections
🔧 Broken Down in Arkansas? We've Got You Covered.
Whether you're stuck on I-40 near Conway or on the I-49 grade south of Fayetteville, Astel dispatches a replacement truck so you keep rolling. Your paycheck never takes a hit — zero downtime stress.
Arkansas Driver FAQ
Testimonials
Real Reviews from Real Partners
Here are just a few of what our partners have to say about ASTEL:
