Truck Driver Jobs in Maine
Earn up to $110,000/yr
Join Astel, a family-owned carrier with 18+ years on the road. Weekly pay. All miles are 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
Transparent, consistent pay, no gimmicks and no hidden deductions. Maine-based drivers gross $2,400–2,700+ per week on our West–Midwest lanes.
- ✅$0.80 per mile — flat rateAll miles are paid, both 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. 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, so you keep rolling & earning
Why Maine 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.
Maine Runs on Lobster, Potatoes, and the End of I-95
Maine is a reefer state by nature: half a billion dollars of lobster a year, nearly all of America's wild blueberries, the potato fields of Aroostook County, and the only container port in the state sitting next to a new cold-storage warehouse in Portland. It all leaves on I-95, and the Midwest is one long run west.
Major Maine Freight Hubs
Greater Portland is the engine: the International Marine Terminal, the Hannaford grocery DC in South Portland, and the I-95/I-295 split. Lewiston hosts a Walmart grocery DC, Bangor is the gateway to the north, and Presque Isle is potato country.
Maine Climate & Reefer Demand
Maine summers are mild, 75–85°F on the coast, but winters drop below 0°F, and far below in Aroostook County. Reefers spend as much time in heat mode protecting potatoes and seafood from freezing as they do cooling in August.
Late July to August: Wild blueberry harvest Downeast in Washington
and Hancock counties. Maine grows nearly all of the nation's wild blueberries,
and the crop goes out frozen and fresh.
September to October: Potato harvest in Aroostook County, the
top potato-producing county in the U.S. Schools still close for it, and the
crop moves in temperature-controlled trailers all winter.
Year-round: Lobster and seafood from Portland, Rockland, and
Stonington ship chilled and frozen to the Midwest every week, and the Portland
cold-storage warehouse restocks the whole Northeast.
Your Maine Lanes with Astel
Astel's core corridors run West ↔ Midwest, and our Chicago yard is the anchor. Maine drivers load in Portland, Lewiston, and Bangor, take I-95 south to the Mass Pike, and run I-90 west across New York and Ohio toward Cleveland, Detroit, and Chicago. We're growing, and drivers must be ready to run all 48 contiguous states.
Maine Freight by the Numbers
A cold-chain state at the far end of the Northeast Corridor.
Maine CDL Class A Requirements
If you already hold your Maine CDL-A, you're ready to apply right now. If you're not yet licensed, here's exactly what the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) requires.
| Requirement | Details | Status for Astel Position |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 21+ years for interstate (OTR) driving, required for all 48-state runs | Required |
| Valid ME Driver's License | Current, non-suspended Maine 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 | ME 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 Maine | 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
We've Got You Covered If You Break Down in Maine
Get stuck on I-95 near Augusta or on I-295 outside Portland, and Astel dispatches a replacement truck so you keep rolling. Your paycheck never takes a hit and there's zero downtime stress.
Maine Driver FAQ
Testimonials
Real Reviews from Real Partners
Here are just a few of what our partners have to say about ASTEL:
