What "home weekly" means for CDL drivers

Home weekly means you drive during the week and return home every Friday or Saturday, then have the weekend off before starting your next route on Monday. You are not living in a truck for weeks at a time — you sleep in your own bed most nights, see your family regularly, and maintain a normal home life while working as a commercial driver.

This schedule sits between two other common CDL arrangements: local driving (where you return home every single night) and over-the-road trucking (where you are gone for weeks). Home weekly routes typically cover 500 to 1,200 miles per week, which is far enough to keep you on the road during business days but close enough to your home terminal to make a weekend return realistic.

The actual days off vary by employer. Some companies may provide Friday through Sunday; others run Sunday through Thursday routes where you are home Thursday night through Sunday. A few offer a choice between schedules, though that usually depends on seniority or the specific terminal you work from.

Key Takeaways

  • Home weekly routes have you driving Monday through Friday and returning home for the weekend, with most companies paying by the mile or by the hour for all time spent driving and waiting.
  • Pay is typically lower than over-the-road trucking because the miles are fewer, but you avoid the cost of living in a truck and the wear of constant travel.
  • Regional carriers, grocery and beverage distributors, and some construction material companies hire the most home weekly drivers.
  • You will need a valid CDL with the appropriate endorsements (tanker, hazmat, doubles) depending on the freight, plus a clean driving record and medical certification.
  • Home weekly work suits drivers with family obligations, those new to trucking who want a gentler schedule, and drivers who want to build experience before moving to over-the-road routes.

How pay works on home weekly routes

Most home weekly positions pay by the mile — typically 35 to 50 cents per mile, depending on the carrier, your experience, and the type of freight. A driver covering 600 miles per week at 40 cents per mile earns $240 that week before taxes and deductions. Some companies also add hourly pay for time spent loading, unloading, or waiting at customer sites, which can add $50 to $150 per week depending on how much dock time is involved.

A few carriers use straight hourly pay instead, usually $18 to $28 per hour. Hourly pay can be more predictable week to week, but you only earn money while the truck is moving or you are actively working — sitting in traffic or waiting for a load does not always count.

Home weekly drivers usually do not pay for fuel, truck maintenance, or insurance — the company covers those. You also avoid the cost of eating on the road or paying for a sleeper cab, which over-the-road drivers often deduct from their pay. That said, home weekly pay is generally lower overall than over-the-road trucking, where drivers can log 3,000 or more miles per week.

Types of companies that hire home weekly drivers

Regional carriers are the largest employer of home weekly drivers. Companies like Heartland Express, PAM Transportation, and Marten Transport run routes that stay within a few states and return drivers to the same terminal every weekend. These carriers often have dedicated lanes — regular routes between the same two or three cities — which means you might drive the same road every week.

Grocery and beverage distributors hire heavily for home weekly work. Sysco, US Foods, and local distributors need drivers to deliver to restaurants and stores within a region. These routes are often Monday through Friday with Saturday morning deliveries, and you return to the warehouse by Friday evening or Saturday afternoon.

Construction material and building supply companies also run home weekly routes. Drivers deliver lumber, concrete, drywall, and other materials to job sites within a region. These jobs often pay well because the freight is heavy and the routes are predictable.

Tanker and hazmat carriers sometimes offer home weekly schedules, especially if they specialize in fuel, chemicals, or food-grade liquids delivered to local businesses. These routes pay more than dry van because the endorsements and regulations are more complex, but they also require additional training and a clean record.

What you need to start a home weekly CDL job

You must have a valid Commercial Driver's License with a Class A or Class B rating, depending on the truck size and trailer configuration. Most home weekly jobs require Class A because they involve tractor-trailers.

You will also need the correct endorsements for the freight you haul. If you are hauling tanker loads, you need the T endorsement. Hazmat freight requires the H endorsement. Double or triple trailers require the doubles/triples endorsement. Some regional carriers run dry van only, which requires no special endorsement beyond the base CDL.

A medical certificate from a Department of Transportation-certified examiner is required before you can legally drive. This certificate lasts two years and confirms you meet vision, hearing, and health standards. You can get one from a certified medical examiner; your employer can usually point you to one nearby.

Most carriers require a clean driving record — no major violations in the past three to five years, no DUIs, and no at-fault accidents. Some carriers are more lenient than others, especially if you have been out of trucking for a while. A few regional carriers specifically hire drivers returning to the industry.

How to find home weekly CDL positions

Job boards dedicated to trucking are the fastest way to search. Indeed.com, TruckersReport.com, and Trucking.com all let you filter by schedule — search "home weekly" or "regional" and your state. You can also search by carrier name if you already know which companies operate near you.

Call regional carriers directly. Most have a driver recruitment line listed on their website. When you call, ask specifically whether they have home weekly routes available and what the current pay is. Carriers update their rates and hiring needs frequently, so a phone call gets you current information faster than a job posting.

Attend a truck driving school job fair if you are still in training. Many regional carriers recruit directly at schools and offer sign-on bonuses or tuition reimbursement. If you have already finished school, some schools maintain job boards for graduates.

Check with local trucking companies and owner-operators in your area. Small regional carriers and independent contractors sometimes hire home weekly drivers but do not post on national job boards. A call to your local trucking association or a visit to a truck stop can connect you with these employers.

Home weekly versus other CDL schedules

Home weekly is a middle ground between local and over-the-road work. Local driving keeps you home every night but usually pays less per mile because the routes are short and the work is repetitive — delivery routes, construction site shuttles, or short-haul regional work. Over-the-road trucking pays more per mile and offers more miles per week, but you live in the truck for weeks and see your family only a few times per month.

Home weekly suits drivers who want more income than local work offers but need more home time than over-the-road trucking provides. It is also a good stepping stone: many drivers start with home weekly to build experience and a clean record, then move to over-the-road routes if they want higher pay, or stay home weekly if the schedule fits their life better.

Some drivers use home weekly as a way to test whether trucking is right for them. The schedule is demanding — you are away Monday through Friday — but it is not as isolating as over-the-road work. If you find you dislike the time away from home, you can transition to local driving. If you want more income, you can move to over-the-road routes.

Common challenges with home weekly driving

The main challenge is the five-day absence. Even though you are home on weekends, you miss weekday events — your child's school activities, appointments, or time with family. Some drivers find the Monday-to-Friday grind harder than they expected, especially in the first few months.

Weather and traffic can extend your week. A snowstorm or major accident can delay your Friday return home. Most carriers build in a buffer and expect drivers to be home by Saturday morning, but delays happen. Knowing this in advance helps you set realistic expectations with your family.

Home weekly routes can also be repetitive. If you are running the same lane every week, the work becomes routine quickly. Some drivers like the predictability; others find it monotonous. Ask potential employers whether routes vary or whether you will be on a dedicated lane.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to have experience to get a home weekly job?

No. Many regional carriers hire drivers fresh out of trucking school for home weekly routes. Some offer a training period where an experienced driver rides along, or they pair you with a mentor driver for your first few weeks. Your school's job placement office can connect you with carriers that hire new drivers.

What happens if I cannot make it home on Friday?

Tell your dispatcher as soon as you know. Most carriers have a backup plan — you might stay at a truck stop or a company facility and return home Saturday morning, or you might be assigned a different route the following week. Repeated late returns can affect your standing, so communication is important.

Can I switch from home weekly to over-the-road driving later?

Yes. Home weekly experience counts toward your total driving record and helps you build a clean safety record, which over-the-road carriers want to see. Many drivers use home weekly as a stepping stone to over-the-road work once they have six months to a year of experience.

Do home weekly jobs include benefits like health insurance?

Most regional carriers offer health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off after a waiting period — usually 30 to 90 days. Smaller carriers and owner-operators may not. Ask about benefits during the hiring process; they can add significant value to your total pay.

What is the difference between home weekly and "regional" driving?

Regional driving is a broader term that means you stay within a region, usually a few states. Home weekly is a specific schedule within regional driving. Some regional routes keep you out for 10 days or two weeks before returning home; home weekly brings you back every weekend. Ask carriers to clarify their specific schedule.