On-Call CDL-A Driver — Wildland Fire Support
Pay: $1.00 per mile
Schedule: On-call, assignment-based
Reporting Location: Tucson, Arizona
Travel: Long-distance trips to active wildland fire camps
We are looking for experienced CDL-A drivers to drive our company-owned, automatic-transmission semi-trucks, trailers, and support equipment to active wildland fire camps.
You provide the driver; we provide the equipment and cover all approved assignment-related operating and travel expenses. You do not need to own or provide a truck, trailer, insurance, fuel, or other equipment. We cover fuel, tolls, lodging, flights, and other approved expenses associated with the assignment.
This is not a regular Monday-through-Friday driving job. Wildfires are unpredictable, and drivers may be asked to report to our Tucson, Arizona yard with as little as four hours’ notice, including at night, on weekends, or on holidays.
Trips may be as long as 1,500 miles each way and may take several days. In some cases, drivers may team drive with another qualified driver when equipment needs to arrive quickly. During team-driving assignments, the total mileage for each day’s trip is divided evenly between the two drivers, and each driver is paid $1.00 per assigned mile.
Once the equipment is delivered to the fire camp, we will arrange and pay for the driver’s flight or ride home. When the equipment is later released from the fire, we may fly the driver back to the incident to drive it home.
What the Job Involves
- Driving company-owned, automatic-transmission semi-trucks, trailers, and emergency-support equipment.
- Reporting to our Tucson yard with as little as four hours’ notice.
- Handling long-distance trips that may take several days.
- Driving during evenings, weekends, holidays, and other nontraditional hours.
- Team driving with another qualified driver when necessary.
- Completing pre-trip and post-trip inspections.
- Staying in regular contact with dispatch and company leadership.
- Traveling into remote areas, fire camps, staging areas, and federal disaster areas.
- Returning to incident locations after demobilization to drive equipment home.
Safety Comes First
Some assignments may qualify for temporary regulatory relief under a federal or state emergency declaration. When applicable, the company will provide specific instructions regarding the relief available for that assignment.
Emergency relief never changes our expectation that drivers stop when fatigued or when conditions are unsafe. We expect drivers to use good judgment, communicate openly, and prioritize safety at all times.
Getting the equipment there matters, but getting it there safely matters more.
Requirements
- Valid Class A CDL.
- Current DOT medical card.
- Safe driving record.
- Experience driving tractor-trailers over long distances.
- Ability to meet company and insurance requirements.
- Comfortable driving in unfamiliar, remote, mountainous, or congested areas.
- Reliable phone communication and the ability to respond quickly.
- Ability to report to our Tucson yard on short notice.
- Willingness to travel and be away for several days.
- Willingness to work evenings, weekends, and holidays when dispatched.
- Ability to pass required background checks, drug testing, and driver-qualification requirements.
Who This Job Is a Good Fit For
This position is a good fit for an experienced driver who enjoys long trips, can handle an unpredictable schedule, and wants to do work that is different from a normal freight route.
The equipment you move directly supports the crews managing wildland fires and protecting people, property, and communities. The work can be demanding, but it is meaningful and can take you to places most drivers never get to see.
Pay and Expenses
- $1.00 per dispatched mile.
- During team-driving assignments, the total mileage for each day’s trip is divided evenly between the two drivers, and each driver is paid $1.00 per assigned mile.
- Drivers operate company-owned or company-provided equipment.
- All tractors used for these assignments have automatic transmissions.
- No truck, trailer, insurance, fuel, or equipment ownership is required.
- The company pays for fuel, tolls, lodging, airfare, and other approved job-related travel expenses.
- Drivers are not expected to pay truck-operating expenses out of their mileage compensation.
- Assignments are offered as operational needs arise.
- Work, assignments, and mileage are not guaranteed.
- Drivers may accept or decline individual assignments. Because this work is time-sensitive, drivers who consistently respond promptly, report as agreed, and successfully complete assignments will receive priority for future opportunities.
How to Apply
To apply, please submit an application here at Indeed and then email a copy of your current DOT medical card and a copy of your CDL to recruiting@latcat.com. Qualified applicants will complete a phone screening and driver-qualification process before being added to the active roster.
This is an on-call, assignment-based position and is not a guaranteed full-time schedule.
Pay: $1.00 per mile
Application Question(s):
- Please describe any criminal violations that have occurred in the last 7 years. These are not an automatic disqualifier and will be evaluated by our insurance company.
- Please describe any tickets or accidents in the last 3 years. These are not an automatic disqualifier for the position and will be evaluated by our insurance company.
Work Location: In person
