Truck Driver Jobs in Rhode Island
Earn up to $110,000/yr
Join Astel, a family-owned carrier with 18+ years on the road. Weekly pay. Every mile is 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
The pay is transparent and consistent, no gimmicks and no hidden deductions. Rhode Island-based drivers gross $2,400–2,700+ per week on our West–Midwest lanes.
- ✅$0.80 per mile, flat rateEvery mile is 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 covers 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 and earning
Why Rhode Island 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.
Rhode Island Small State, Big Ports
Rhode Island fits between Boston and New York, and that is exactly why freight moves through it: the Port of Davisville at Quonset, ProvPort on Narragansett Bay, the squid fleet at Point Judith, and a new 3.8-million-square-foot Amazon robotics center in Johnston. From here, I-95 and the Mass Pike are your line west to the Midwest.
Major Rhode Island Freight Hubs
Almost everything sits within 30 minutes of Providence. Quonset Business Park with its 250+ companies lies to the south, the I-295 warehouse ring wraps around Johnston and Cranston, the Blackstone Valley industrial towns sit to the north, and the fishing port at Galilee is on the coast.
Rhode Island Climate & Reefer Demand
Narragansett Bay softens the extremes, but reefers still run both ways: summer highs around 80–85°F keep seafood, dairy, and produce on temperature control, while January nights near 15–20°F put the same units in heat mode to protect loads from freezing.
Year-round: Point Judith lands more than 20 million pounds of
squid a year. Scallops, flounder, and lobster add to it, and chilled and frozen
seafood leaves the state every week for Midwest distributors.
May – October: Narragansett Bay oyster season, nursery and turf
shipments, and the summer tourist crowd on the coast that doubles grocery volume
into Newport and South County.
Winter: Nor'easters and black ice on I-95 thin out the driver pool.
Experienced OTR drivers who handle New England winters are in demand.
Your Rhode Island Lanes with Astel
Astel's core corridors run West ↔ Midwest, and our Chicago yard is the anchor. Rhode Island drivers load in Providence, Quonset, and Johnston, take Route 146 or I-95 to the Mass Pike, and run I-90 west through New York and Ohio toward Cleveland, Detroit, and Chicago. We're growing, so drivers must be ready to run all 48 contiguous states.
Rhode Island Freight by the Numbers
The smallest state in the country punches well above its weight in cargo.
Rhode Island CDL Class A Requirements
If you already hold your Rhode Island CDL-A, you're ready to apply right now. If you're not yet licensed, here's exactly what the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires.
| Requirement | Details | Status for Astel Position |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 21+ years for interstate (OTR) driving, required for all 48-state runs | Required |
| Valid RI Driver's License | Current, non-suspended Rhode Island 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 | RI 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 Rhode Island | 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 other 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 Rhode Island? We've Got You Covered.
Trucks break down. If it happens on I-95 near Warwick or on Route 146 heading up to Worcester, Astel dispatches a replacement truck so you keep rolling, and your paycheck never takes a hit.
Rhode Island Driver FAQ
Testimonials
Real Reviews from Real Partners
Here are just a few of what our partners have to say about ASTEL:
