Truck Driver Jobs in Tucson, AZ
Truck drivers in Tucson haul freight on I-10 and I-19 and run local routes for food, beverage and waste companies across the metro. Local Class A delivery jobs can pay $75,000 to $95,000 a year. Current openings are below, followed by who hires, what it pays and how to get a CDL.
Current Truck Driver Openings in Tucson, AZ
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Truck Driver Work in Tucson
Tucson sits where I-10, the freight corridor between Southern California and Texas, meets I-19 running south to the Nogales border crossing, so long-haul trucks pass through every hour. But most driving jobs based in Tucson are local and regional routes that get you home at night. Food service distributors like Sysco and Shamrock Foods run refrigerated trucks to restaurant and hospital kitchens all over the metro, Swire Coca-Cola delivers to store back rooms, and waste haulers like Waste Connections run residential garbage routes that start before dawn.
Those route jobs are physical. Food service drivers unload with a ramp and a hand truck, and beverage drivers restock back rooms, so the pay is higher than the driving alone would suggest. Tractor-trailer freight work at LTL carriers and regional fleets is covered in our CDL truck driver guide. Early starts on waste and delivery routes also help drivers beat the worst of a Tucson summer afternoon.
Top Tucson Employers for Truck Drivers
These Tucson employers hire CDL drivers for local and regional routes:
- Sysco - hires Class A local delivery drivers in Tucson to run refrigerated straight trucks and tractor-trailers to restaurant and institutional kitchens.
- Shamrock Foods - hires Class A delivery drivers in Tucson for perishable, frozen and food service equipment routes.
- Swire Coca-Cola - hires Class A distribution drivers in Tucson who run daily routes from the sales center to retail customers and restock back rooms.
- Waste Connections - hires Class A or B residential route drivers in Tucson to run garbage collection routes on a Monday-to-Friday schedule.
Truck Driver Salaries in Tucson
- Entry level (new CDL, local Class B or route work): roughly $45,000 to $55,000 a year.
- Experienced (Class A local or regional): roughly $55,000 to $75,000 a year.
- Senior (food service delivery and specialized freight): roughly $75,000 to $95,000 a year.
These are estimates that vary by employer and experience. Federal survey data put the Tucson median for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers at $27.23 an hour, about $56,640 a year (May 2025). A Waste Connections residential route posting in Tucson started at $22 an hour on about 50 hours a week, and a Sysco local Class A delivery posting in Tucson listed $75,000 to $95,000 a year. A Class A license pays more than Class B, and hand-unload delivery work and overtime move pay the most.
How to Become a Truck Driver in Tucson
Arizona's commercial driver licenses are issued by the ADOT Motor Vehicle Division. First-time Class A and Class B applicants must finish Entry-Level Driver Training with a provider on the FMCSA training registry, then pass the knowledge and skills tests at an MVD commercial office, and every CDL driver needs a DOT medical exam. Locally, Pima Community College's Class A Vehicle Driver Certificate takes 6 to 11.5 weeks, in person or hybrid, and HDS Truck Driving Institute on South Wilmot Road runs a 160-hour Class A program over 4 weeks full time or 8 weeks part time. Our CDL truck driver guide walks through the permit, skills test, age rules and endorsements step by step.
What the Job Involves
Drivers do a pre-trip inspection, check the load against the paperwork, and run the route while logging hours of service on an electronic logging device. Local delivery drivers unload at each stop, get signatures, and handle returns and empty pallets. Waste drivers service every stop on a route sheet and inspect the truck before and after the shift.
Skills Employers Look For
- A valid Class A or B CDL and a clean driving record
- A current DOT medical card and the ability to pass drug testing
- Backing and maneuvering in tight loading docks and alleys
- Hand truck and liftgate skills for delivery routes
- Electronic logging and hours-of-service knowledge
- Courteous customer contact at every stop
Career Path and Advancement
Many Tucson drivers start on a Class B route or as a helper, upgrade to Class A, then move to the higher-paying food service and beverage routes. From there the paths split: tractor-trailer freight with an LTL carrier, specialized freight with hazmat or tanker endorsements, owner-operator work, or off the road into driver trainer, dispatcher, safety or transportation supervisor roles.
Related Careers in Tucson
These Tucson guides cover the closest driving careers:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Class B CDL enough for a Tucson driving job?
For some route jobs, yes. Waste Connections' Tucson residential route posting accepts a Class A or B. Food service and beverage delivery jobs at Sysco, Shamrock Foods and Swire Coca-Cola ask for Class A, so a Class A opens more doors.
Do delivery truck drivers in Tucson have to unload?
Usually. Sysco's Tucson drivers unload with a ramp and a two-wheel hand truck, and Swire Coca-Cola's distribution drivers restock store back rooms. That physical work is a big part of why these routes pay more than driving alone.
How much do truck drivers make in Tucson?
New CDL drivers on local routes usually earn about $45,000 to $55,000 a year, experienced Class A drivers about $55,000 to $75,000, and food service delivery drivers up to about $75,000 to $95,000. These are estimates that vary by employer, route and hours.
Can you get a local truck driving job with home time in Tucson?
Yes. Most Tucson-based driving jobs are local routes for food service, beverage and waste companies that get you home daily. Long-haul jobs exist too, but many of them are dispatched out of Phoenix.
Do you need to be 21 to drive a truck in Arizona?
To drive a commercial truck across state lines, yes: federal rules set 21 as the minimum. Arizona issues intrastate CDLs from age 18, and some local employers set their own minimum age and years of experience, so check each posting.
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