Class A CDL Solo OTR Driver Villa Park, IL Home Terminal

Class A CDL Solo OTR Truck Drivers

DSL Express and partners are now hiring experienced Class A CDL Solo OTR Truck Drivers from the Villa Park, IL and greater Chicagoland area to run our updated and modernized fleet. This is a strong market for us because Chicagoland is one of our core freight areas, and we need serious drivers from the west suburbs and surrounding Illinois communities who can help service nationwide OTR routes that regularly connect back through this region. Pay is pretty good.

The minimum full-time pay here is $104,000 per year on the low end. This is an OTR position. You can live in Villa Park, nearby suburbs, elsewhere in Illinois, or out of state, but drivers from this market are especially valuable to us because of how much freight moves through the Chicago area.

Typical Pay Highlights:

• 30% of line haul OR 65 cents per mile + bonuses (the option most solo drivers prefer)
• Average weekly gross: $1,900 $2,400 (with peaks reaching $2,700+ on legal hours)
• Switch between percentage and miles pay any time you want
• Full-time minimum pay in 2025 was $104,130 no steady driver earned less
• Top performers reached $145,000 last year

Pay Details & Realistic Expectations: All pay is performance-based. In 2025, 87% of our drivers chose the 30% percentage plan because it delivered stronger earnings in today's market. Slow season (Q1) usually brings in $1,900$2,100 per week. Peak seasons (Q2 and Q4) average $2,100$2,400 with some $2,700 weeks. Consistent drivers earned between $115,000 and $125,000 annually. This seasonal pattern has held steady for the past 25 years.

Pay Options:

• Percentage Pay (Best Option for Most Solos) - We pay up to 30% of line haul plus bonuses. We keep miles intentionally lower on percentage (2,0002,500 in slow season, up to 3,000 in busy season) because it maximizes earnings, saves fuel, and prevents burnout while giving drivers more time for proper deliveries.
• Miles Pay Option - Switch whenever you like. Up to 65 cents per mile plus bonuses based on experience and record. Typical miles: 2,5003,600 per week.
• Team Pay (Miles Only) - Up to 75 per mile split. Average $2,000$2,600 per driver per week. Note: Solo percentage pay is currently the better earning choice in this market.

Important Info About Our Work Ethic:

We receive a large number of applications and are selective we only want "A" stringers and Division 1 professionals. If you are honest, motivated, hard-working, and dependable, you will earn excellent money and be treated like family. If you are looking to coast, miss stops, or hang around truck stops, this is not the right fit.

We are fair, but success here depends on your effort. This is real OTR driving.

Sound harsh? Good. The truth matters. We still miss the experienced drivers who retired after the 2019 ELD changes. Respect to all the real ones still pushing through.

What Makes DSL Express Different:

• We are an established 25-year-old company (since 2001) that is large enough to provide excellent support but small enough that you won't feel like just another number.
• We welcome veterans and offer fair chance employment to anyone willing to work hard.
• 24/7 dispatch from three offices with real, experienced staff.
• Late-model trucks (mostly automatics, with manuals available) equipped with fridges and inverters.
• Our own maintenance facilities in Chicago and Las Vegas.
• You get a dedicated dispatcher who actually learns how you operate.
• All no-touch freight in dry van or reefer trailers.
• Strong partnerships with other carriers that give us big-company power with a family-owned atmosphere.

Perks:

• No forced dispatch
• Take the truck home on hometime with parking assistance
• Fuel cards and EZ-Passes provided
• Weekly direct deposit
• Flexible and reliable home time
• Hazard occupational insurance (lost wages, medical, and beneficiary coverage)
• Monthly bonuses for safety, delivery, and communication
• Additional bonuses for passing DOT inspections

Job Description:

• Class A CDL required (additional endorsements are a plus)
• Minimum 2+ years verifiable CDL driving experience
• Clean MVR and acceptable PSP report
• Dry van or reefer all no-touch freight
• Must be able to use modern ELD systems and pass pre-employment drug screen

Driver Requirements:

• Must be physically fit and prepared for the demands of over-the-road driving
• Valid Class A CDL with no pending suspensions
• Current valid medical card
• No failed or refused drug/alcohol tests in the last 4 years
• No DWI, DUI, or BAC convictions in the last 4 years
• No reckless driving convictions in the last 3 years
• No more than 3 moving violations or accidents in the last 3 years
• No license suspension for points or unpaid tickets in the last 3 years
• No more than 2 moving violations in the past year
• At least 3+ years of verifiable work history (including non-driving time)