The CDL Transportation Group Driver Hub is a free set of tools for CDL-A drivers: a 23-question job offer checklist, pay and per diem calculators, a 1099 vs W-2 comparison, a truck parking finder, diesel prices, and a job match quiz. You do not need to sign up to use the tools. Only the checklist asks for your contact details. Here is what each piece does and how to get the most out of it.
What is the Free CDL-A Job Offer Checklist?
It is a printable PDF with 23 questions to ask any carrier before you accept an offer. It is built so you can read the questions off during a phone call with a recruiter. The questions are grouped into four parts:
- Pay and miles: practical vs. HHG miles, how many miles you can honestly expect each week, and whether pay is guaranteed.
- Extra pay: detention, layover, breakdown pay, and stop and tarp pay, the items many offers leave out.
- Home time and life: the home-time policy, pets and riders, and the equipment and lanes you will run.
- Contracts and red flags: training repayment clauses, lease-purchase terms, and orientation travel and pay.
It also shows how to compare cents-per-mile, percentage and weekly pay offers side by side. To get it, you fill in a short form on the Driver Hub page. The checklist itself is free, and the page says no fees apply.
What tools can drivers use for free?
The Driver Hub lists these tools, and the page says no sign-up is needed:
- Open CDL-A jobs: current openings in dry van, reefer, flatbed, team and owner-operator. Browse them on the jobs page.
- Job match quiz: six questions, then open jobs ranked by your freight type, pay and home time. Try the match quiz.
- 1099 vs W-2 calculator: estimates what you would pocket at a given cents-per-mile rate after taxes.
- Pay calculator: turns cents per mile into weekly, monthly and yearly pay.
- Per diem calculator: estimates your deduction at the IRS transportation rate and the tax it could save.
- AI tax helper: answers questions about write-offs, tax brackets, per diem and quarterly taxes in plain English.
- Truck parking finder: truck stops near you, with directions and driver-reported parking. See the parking finder.
- Truck stops by state: Love's, Pilot, Flying J, TA and Petro, listed by state and city. Start at truck stops by state.
- Diesel prices today: national and regional prices with weekly trends on the diesel prices page.
- Carrier reports: look up a carrier before you sign, or report one that broke a promise.
- Driver blog: articles on pay, rules, home time and life on the road.
The calculators give estimates based on what you enter. They are not tax or financial advice. This is general information, so ask a qualified professional about your situation.
How could you use the tools together? (hypothetical)
Here is a made-up example to show the flow, not a promise of any result. Say a recruiter offers you a certain rate per mile.
- Run the rate through the pay calculator to see weekly pay at the miles you realistically expect.
- Check it in the 1099 vs W-2 calculator to compare take-home under each setup.
- Pull out the checklist and ask about detention, layover, breakdown pay and home time.
- Look up the carrier in the carrier reports before you commit.
Doing that takes a few minutes and puts numbers behind a pitch that otherwise only sounds good.
What does the recruiting service do?
CDL Transportation Group also places experienced CDL-A OTR drivers with carriers. According to the Driver Hub, the service is free to drivers because carriers pay, not you. The page describes three steps:
- Tell them what you want: pay, home time, lanes, equipment, pets or riders.
- Get matched: the page says most drivers hear back within 24 hours and are matched with a carrier in 48 hours or less.
- Follow-up: the team stays in touch after placement and steps in if a carrier is not honoring the agreed pay, miles or home time.
Recruiting hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm CST. Using the tools or the checklist does not require you to take a job through the service.
Is there a referral bonus?
Yes. The Driver Hub says you can earn $500 by referring a CDL-A driver once they complete 30 days on the road, and you can track each step of their hiring online. Check the Driver Hub for current terms, as they can change.
Common mistakes when comparing job offers
- Comparing only the cents-per-mile number. A higher rate on fewer miles can pay less than a lower rate on more miles.
- Ignoring practical vs. HHG miles. Ask which one the offer uses.
- Skipping extra pay. Ask about detention, layover and breakdown pay up front.
- Not reading training repayment or lease terms. Get them in writing before orientation.
- Not checking the carrier. Look up its record before you sign.
Frequently asked questions
Is the checklist really free?
Yes. The Driver Hub describes it as 100 percent free with no fees.
Do I have to take a job through CDL Transportation Group to use the tools?
No. The tools and the checklist are there for you to use on their own.
What experience do I need?
The form lets you pick anything from student with no experience to five-plus years. The service is aimed at experienced CDL-A OTR drivers, so ask a recruiter about your situation if you are new.
Where can I read more about getting started?
See our guides on what ELDT is and how much CDL training costs.
Free for CDL-A drivers: get our Job Offer Checklist — 23 questions to ask any carrier about pay, miles and home time before you sign. Download the free checklist →
Know a CDL-A driver looking for work? Refer them and earn $500 when they complete 30 days on the road. Refer a driver →
CDL Transportation Group | CDL-A OTR Driver Recruiting
