Truck Driver Jobs in Louisiana
Earn up to $110,000/yr
Join Astel, a family-owned carrier with 18+ years on the road. Weekly pay. All miles paid, both loaded and deadhead. New Volvo trucks. Real respect on every mile. Astel is a company drivers want to stay in.
Pay That Actually Delivers
This pay is transparent and consistent. No gimmicks, no hidden deductions. Louisiana-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 is 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 covers loaded miles and deadhead 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 so you keep rolling and earning
Why Louisiana 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.
Louisiana Is Where the Mississippi Meets the Interstate
Louisiana sits at the mouth of America's river system: the Lower Mississippi ports, the I-10 petrochemical corridor, and I-55 running straight north to Chicago. Drivers based here sit at the southern end of one of the busiest north–south lanes in the country.
Major Louisiana Freight Hubs
New Orleans and the river parishes handle the ships, Baton Rouge anchors the I-10/I-12 industrial belt, Hammond has become the state's grocery distribution hub where I-12 meets I-55, and Lafayette and Shreveport hold the I-49 corridor to the north.
Louisiana Climate & Reefer Demand
Louisiana is subtropical. From May through September temperatures sit above 90°F with humidity that never lets up, so seafood, produce, and grocery loads run on temperature control all year.
Year-round: Louisiana seafood, shrimp, crawfish, oysters,
crabs, ships chilled and frozen from the coast to the whole country. The state
is the largest seafood producer in the lower 48.
October–January: Sugarcane harvest across the river parishes
and Acadiana, and Louisiana strawberries from Ponchatoula in late winter.
Hurricane season (June–November): Gulf storms compress
shipping windows. Shippers clear cold storage early, and experienced OTR drivers
get the loads.
Your Louisiana Lanes with Astel
Astel's core corridors run West ↔ Midwest, anchored at our Chicago yard. Louisiana drivers load in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Hammond and head north on I-55 through Jackson and Memphis toward St. Louis and Chicago, or up I-49 toward Kansas City. We're growing, and drivers must be ready to run all 48 contiguous states.
Louisiana Freight by the Numbers
Louisiana moves more freight per resident than almost any state.
Louisiana CDL Class A Requirements
Already hold your Louisiana CDL-A? You're ready to apply right now. Not licensed yet? Here's exactly what the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) requires.
| Requirement | Details | Status for Astel Position |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 21+ years for interstate (OTR) driving, required for all 48-state runs | Required |
| Valid LA Driver's License | Current, non-suspended Louisiana 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 | LA 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 Louisiana | 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 the rest of the 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 Louisiana? We've Got You Covered.
Stuck on I-10 outside Baton Rouge or on I-20 near Shreveport, you get a replacement truck from Astel so you keep rolling. Your paycheck never takes a hit, and downtime doesn't cost you.
Louisiana Driver FAQ
Testimonials
Real Reviews from Real Partners
Here are just a few of what our partners have to say about ASTEL:
