Truck Driver Jobs in South Carolina —
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. South Carolina-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.
-
✅
Weekly Direct PayNo delays, no holdbacks — straight to your account
-
✅
All Miles PaidZIP-to-ZIP calculation — loaded and deadhead miles alike
-
✅
No Deposit for Experienced DriversA security deposit applies only with under 3 months of OTR experience
-
✅
Breakdown CoverageReplacement truck provided — keep rolling & earning
Why South Carolina 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.
South Carolina: Port, Peaches & the I-85 Corridor
South Carolina connects one of the fastest-growing container ports on the East Coast with the I-85 manufacturing belt of the Upstate. If you're based here, you're on the lanes that carry Charleston imports and Southern produce north to the Midwest.
🛣️ Major South Carolina Freight Hubs
The Port of Charleston pushes containers inland by rail to Greer and Dillon, and trucks take it from there. The Greenville–Spartanburg stretch of I-85 is lined with plants and distribution centers, while Columbia sits where I-26, I-20, and I-77 meet.
🌡️ South Carolina Climate & Reefer Demand
Long, humid summers above 90°F from May through September make South Carolina a reefer state: peaches, produce, poultry, and seafood spoil in hours without temperature control.
May – August: Peach season in the Ridge and the Upstate — South
Carolina grows more peaches than Georgia, and the crop ships north in reefers
within days of picking.
April – November: Coastal Plain vegetables, watermelons, and
Lowcountry shrimp, plus year-round poultry from the Midlands processing plants.
Hurricane season (June – November): Storm threats compress
shipping windows — shippers move perishables out early, and experienced OTR
drivers get the loads.
🚦 Your South Carolina Lanes with Astel
Astel's core corridors run West ↔ Midwest, anchored at our Chicago yard. South Carolina drivers load in Charleston, Greer, and Columbia and head north on I-26, I-85, and I-75/I-65 through Tennessee and Kentucky toward Nashville, Indianapolis, and Chicago. We're growing — drivers must be ready to run all 48 contiguous states.
📊 South Carolina Freight by the Numbers
A fast-growing freight state on the Southeast's main artery.
South Carolina CDL Class A Requirements
Already hold your South Carolina CDL-A? You're ready to apply right now. Not yet licensed? Here's exactly what the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) requires.
| Requirement | Details | Status for Astel Position |
|---|---|---|
| 🎂 Minimum Age | 21+ years for interstate (OTR) driving — required for all 48-state runs | Required |
| 🪪 Valid SC Driver's License | Current, non-suspended South Carolina 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 | SC 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 South Carolina | 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 South Carolina? We've Got You Covered.
Whether you're stuck on I-26 outside Charleston or on I-85 near Spartanburg, Astel dispatches a replacement truck so you keep rolling. Your paycheck never takes a hit — zero downtime stress.
South Carolina Driver FAQ
Testimonials
Real Reviews from Real Partners
Here are just a few of what our partners have to say about ASTEL:
