Regional CDL-A Position Dedicated Automotive Parts
Regional CDL-A Automotive Parts Truck Driver — Elizabeth, NJ
Hiring Area: Northern & Central New Jersey • Home Terminal: Elizabeth, NJ
Elizabeth, NJ Regional Dedicated Mixed 2021–2025 Fleet
Regional dry-van runs moving palletized automotive parts from Elizabeth across Northeast lanes. Typical weekly gross $1,550–$1,950 depending on hours worked; estimated annual around $91,000 at a 50-hour week. Most weeks include 1–2 overnight stays with return to the Elizabeth terminal.
Weekly Gross Range
$1,550–$1,950
Est. Annual at Typical Week: ~$91,000
Sign-On Bonus $1,500 (phased)
Home Time 1–2 nights away most weeks
Driver Type Regional Dedicated
Weekly Miles 1,800–2,400 (varies)
Freight Type Automotive Parts
Appointment-based deliveries of boxed and palletized automotive service parts support distributors and industrial customers throughout the Northeast without open-ended OTR schedules.
- Verify pallet placement, load bars, and cargo securement before departure.
- Follow customer gate, staging, and dock instructions.
- Complete BOL and POD paperwork, noting shortages or visible damage.
- Report missed appointments, freight discrepancies, and delays to dispatch.
- Track available driving hours and plan legal parking before overnight runs.
- Complete pre-trip and post-trip inspections and report equipment defects.
Pay is hourly. Regular rate $30/hr for the first 40 hours; overtime $45/hr thereafter where applicable under the carrier’s policy and applicable law. A $100 weekly account premium is paid when the driver remains assigned to the automotive account and meets its conditions. Gross weekly range of $1,550–$1,950 reflects roughly 46–54 hours plus the premium. The $1,750 figure used for the ~$91,000 annual estimate assumes a typical 50-hour week (40 regular + 10 OT + $100 premium). Upper-end weeks require additional overtime hours. Detention pays $25/hr after 90 minutes of documented customer-caused wait. Sign-on bonus of $1,500 is paid in three $500 installments at 30, 90, and 180 days of active employment, subject to safety and eligibility rules. Actual earnings vary with hours worked, route mix, and unpaid time off; bonuses and detention are not included in the typical-week calculation.
Regular Rate $30/hr (first 40 hours)
Overtime $45/hr after 40 hours (where applicable)
Account Premium $100/week when eligible
Weekly Gross Range $1,550–$1,950
Est. Annual (typical week) ~$91,000 ($1,750 × 52)
Sign-On Bonus $1,500 ($500 at 30/90/180 days)
Detention $25/hr after 90 min qualifying wait
Most workweeks include one or two overnight stays away from the Elizabeth terminal. Some shorter regional assignments return the same day. Drivers normally return equipment to the Elizabeth terminal at the end of the assigned sequence; overnight parking is limited to approved truck stops or authorized customer yards. Dispatch window is generally 4:00–7:00 AM. Weekly mileage of 1,800–2,400 and on-duty time near 50 hours are planning targets that shift with appointment density, dock delays, and reload availability.
Home Time Pattern 1–2 nights away most weeks; some same-day returns
Return Point Elizabeth terminal after most sequences
Operating Area Northern/central NJ, eastern PA, southern New England, lower Hudson Valley
Weekly Miles (typical) 1,800–2,400 (varies with stops and waits)
Dispatch Window Generally 4:00–7:00 AM
The fleet mixes Freightliner Cascadia and International LT tractors, primarily model years 2021–2025, with some older well-maintained units still in service. Day cabs handle shorter turns; sleeper tractors are assigned when an overnight is expected. Transmissions are primarily automated manual or automatic. Trailers are predominantly 53-foot dry vans (roughly 2018–2025). Cargo equipment includes logistics posts, load bars, pallet restraints, and straps. ELD, GPS, electronic dispatch, and digital POD tools are standard. Equipped units carry forward-collision warning, lane-departure alerts, and adaptive cruise control. Equipment is assigned when scheduling allows; slip seating occurs during maintenance, peaks, or coverage changes. Preventive maintenance is handled through the carrier shop or approved vendors.
Tractors Freightliner Cascadia & International LT (mostly 2021–2025)
Cab Types Day cabs and sleepers (route-dependent)
Transmission Primarily automated manual or automatic
Trailers 53-ft dry vans (mix ~2018–2025)
Assignment Assigned when possible; slip seating as needed
Freight consists of palletized and boxed automotive parts—replacement components, filters, brake and suspension parts, electrical items, and boxed assemblies—moving between import-related warehouses, domestic suppliers, regional distribution centers, and wholesale facilities. Loads are generally non-refrigerated and travel in 53-ft dry vans. The corridors below are representative service lanes for an Elizabeth-based operation; actual dispatch follows customer orders, appointment windows, and reload availability rather than fixed daily lanes.
- Elizabeth → Allentown, PA primarily via I-78 West
- Elizabeth → Harrisburg, PA area via I-78 West and I-81 South (exact path depends on receiver)
- Elizabeth → Philadelphia area via NJ Turnpike and I-95 South
- Elizabeth → New Haven / Hartford, CT via I-95 North (I-91 for Hartford)
- Elizabeth → Albany, NY corridor via I-78, I-287, I-87 North
- Elizabeth → Binghamton, NY area (routing varies; common options include I-80 / I-380 / I-81 combinations)
- Local and central New Jersey turns, including Edison industrial sites
- Begin with pre-trip inspection and review of assigned trailer and load details (typically 4–7 AM).
- Collect a preloaded trailer or check in for live pickup at a local or regional shipper.
- Complete the primary delivery, confirm paperwork, and notify dispatch of any delay or shortage.
- Accept a reload if freight and remaining hours allow; otherwise return empty or staged.
- Mid-week sequences may include one or two longer legs requiring an overnight stop.
- Friday prioritizes deliveries that can finish safely within available hours and support return to Elizabeth.
- Approximately 35 % drop-and-hook and 65 % live handling; ordinary live waits run 30–90 minutes.
About the Carrier
Northeast automotive aftermarket and manufacturing supply chains need regional capacity that can meet scheduled receiving windows at distribution centers and industrial docks. This mid-sized carrier concentrates on palletized service parts rather than unrestricted over-the-road freight. Operations revolve around appointment discipline, trailer availability, and realistic driving hours so replenishment and production schedules stay intact. Equipment is based in Elizabeth to stay close to the dense New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania freight generators while still reaching Connecticut and lower New York destinations when customer demand requires it.
Medical Employee medical coverage options (plan terms apply)
Dental & Vision Available according to carrier benefits structure
Retirement 401(k) option; any match governed by plan documents
Training Paid automotive-account familiarization and paid orientation
Operational Support Terminal parking, maintenance coordination, electronic dispatch tools
Other Safety recognition eligibility; required workwear/ID where applicable
- Valid Class A CDL and acceptable MVR under carrier insurance standards
- Six months CDL-A experience preferred; shorter experience may be considered with strong safety record
- Meet DOT physical qualification and drug-and-alcohol testing requirements
- Comply with federal hours-of-service and ELD rules; read and follow English shipping instructions
- Available for regional assignments that may include one or two overnight stays
- No Tanker or HazMat endorsement routinely required for ordinary boxed automotive parts
- Morning congestion around Elizabeth, Newark, the NJ Turnpike, and I-95
- Gate queues and limited staging space at busy metropolitan facilities
- Dock waits when multiple inbound loads arrive together or paperwork is incomplete
- Unreleased trailers or partial orders at supplier docks
- Volume swings during model-year transitions, seasonal replenishment, and holiday periods
Typical timeline is approximately 5–10 business days once a qualified application is received; actual duration depends on verification speed and orientation slots.
1
Application Review
CDL class, recent experience, availability
2
Recruiter Screening
Schedule, pay structure, account expectations
3
Compliance Checks
MVR, prior employment, Clearinghouse, drug testing
4
Offer & Orientation
Formal offer, paid orientation, first dispatch
Q: Are most loads drop-and-hook or live? ▼
Modeled mix is roughly 35 % drop-and-hook and 65 % live loading or unloading, varying by customer. Ordinary live waits are often 30–90 minutes.
Q: What determines weekly gross pay? ▼
Hours worked at $30 regular / $45 overtime (where applicable), plus the $100 account premium when eligible. The $1,550–$1,950 range reflects approximately 46–54 hours. The ~$91,000 annual figure is calculated from a typical 50-hour week.
Q: How often do drivers return to the Elizabeth terminal? ▼
Most sequences end with a return to the Elizabeth terminal. Typical weeks include one or two overnight stays; some shorter assignments return the same day.
Q: Can I take the tractor home? ▼
No. Company equipment is parked at the Elizabeth terminal or authorized customer yards only.
Q: How are detention claims handled? ▼
Document appointment time, arrival, check-in, and release. Dispatch reviews the records against account policy before approving $25/hr after 90 minutes of qualifying wait.
Q: What happens if a delivery appointment changes? ▼
Contact dispatch at once. They arrange revised times, alternate reloads if available, and safe parking so hours-of-service limits are protected.
Q: Is lumper service common? ▼
Not assumed for this palletized automotive account. Any required paid unloading must be authorized by dispatch with reimbursement clarified in advance.
Elizabeth anchors one of the densest CDL-A labor markets in the Northeast. Port Newark–Elizabeth, Newark Liberty International Airport, extensive warehouse districts, and rail infrastructure generate steady demand for local and regional drivers. National fleets, regional carriers, and account specialists all compete for the same talent pool. Common alternatives include port drayage, intermodal, LTL, parcel linehaul, food distribution, general dry van, and dedicated warehouse shuttles. Employers place high value on reliable appointment performance, safe handling of congested industrial roads, and accurate paperwork. Experienced drivers are costly to replace when accounts require early starts, occasional overnights, and schedule flexibility. Credible hourly rates, transparent overtime and detention rules, and realistic home-time expectations therefore matter to both carriers and applicants in this high-competition environment.
The Port Newark–Elizabeth marine terminal complex drives one of the East Coast’s busiest freight corridors. Containerized cargo, automotive processing, warehousing, and distribution facilities cluster around the port and adjacent industrial zones. Direct links to the New Jersey Turnpike, I-78, I-95, and the Goethals Bridge provide rapid access to eastern Pennsylvania, the lower Hudson Valley, Connecticut, and the New York metro area. Automotive supply chains—import distribution, aftermarket inventory, wholesale replenishment, and manufacturing components—move continuously between these sites. Newark Liberty Airport adds further time-sensitive volume. The same geography produces congestion, construction delays, and limited staging space that can turn short distances into extended cycles. Seasonal inventory shifts, model-year transitions, and holiday calendars further modulate weekly demand, sustaining ongoing need for regional capacity able to meet appointment windows under Northeast operating conditions.