Fuel Tanker Full-Time
Local CDL-A Fuel Tanker Driver – Buffalo, NY
Hiring Area: Buffalo, NY • Terminal: Buffalo Area
Company Driver Local / Short Regional Home Daily on Most Shifts
Deliver gasoline, diesel, and seasonal heating oil from Buffalo-area loading racks to retail stations and commercial customers across Western New York. Earn approximately $1,550–$2,050 gross per week at $29–$31 per hour, including eligible overtime. Company equipment, paid orientation, and a staged sign-on bonus are available. Most assignments return to the terminal daily, although occasional regional coverage can extend a shift.
Estimated Weekly Gross
$1,550–$2,050
Estimated Annual: $80,600–$106,600
Hourly Pay $29–$31 + OT
Sign-On Bonus Up to $1,200
Home Time Daily on Most Shifts
Typical Hours 48–58 Per Week
Freight Gasoline / Diesel / Heating Oil
Job Status: Currently Hiring
• Last Verified: October 9, 2026
Operate a petroleum tanker from the Buffalo area, delivering fuel safely to established commercial accounts and retail locations.
- Load assigned fuel products at approved bulk terminals.
- Deliver gasoline, diesel, and seasonal heating oil to customer tanks.
- Verify compartment assignments, product codes, seals, and delivery quantities.
- Perform pre-trip inspections and check hoses, valves, and emergency shutoffs.
- Complete delivery tickets, meter readings, electronic logs, and customer signatures.
- Maintain HazMat procedures and report delays, equipment defects, or spills immediately.
Pay is hourly, with eligible overtime at 1.5 times the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek. Weekly earnings depend on scheduled hours, completed deliveries, and qualifying differentials.
Base Hourly Rate $29–$31/hour
Overtime Rate $43.50–$46.50/hour
Estimated Weekly Gross $1,550–$2,050
Estimated Annual Gross $80,600–$106,600
Sign-On Bonus $1,200 in staged payments, subject to eligibility
Detention Pay $28/hour after 60 minutes of qualifying customer delay
Night Differential $1.50/hour on eligible overnight shifts
Pay Frequency Weekly direct deposit
Annual figures are weekly gross estimates multiplied by 52 and are not guaranteed. Bonuses, benefits, taxes, and other deductions are separate.
Home Time Home daily on most assignments
Typical Schedule 5 days per week; rotating weekends may apply
Shift Starts Early morning, afternoon, or overnight by dispatch
Weekly Hours Approximately 48–58, depending on demand
Service Area Buffalo, Tonawanda, Niagara Falls, Batavia, Rochester, and nearby communities
Extended Runs Occasional short-regional coverage when scheduled
Fuel demand, rack queues, customer receiving hours, and winter road conditions can change dispatch times and release schedules.
Tractor Models Freightliner Cascadia and Peterbilt 567 day cabs
Model Years Approximately 2020–2024, depending on availability
Fleet Condition Maintained working fleet with newer core units and older serviceable tractors
Tank Trailers Multi-compartment petroleum tankers
Loading System Bottom-loading connections and vapor recovery where required
Safety Equipment Overfill protection, emergency shutoffs, grounding provisions, and spill supplies
Driver Technology ELD, electronic DVIR, dispatch messaging, and selected collision-mitigation systems
Tractor Assignment Regular assignment when available; temporary replacement during maintenance
Drivers receive required PPE and instruction on tanker inspections, delivery equipment, product handling, and emergency procedures.
Routes are assigned around terminal availability, customer fuel levels, truck capacity, and delivery windows. These corridors represent the operating area rather than guaranteed daily trips.
- Buffalo, NY → Tonawanda, NY — commercial accounts and fuel stations via I-190 and I-290.
- Buffalo, NY → Niagara Falls, NY — retail fuel deliveries via I-190 and local connector roads.
- Buffalo, NY → Amherst, NY — suburban service stops using I-290 and I-990 where appropriate.
- Buffalo, NY → Lockport, NY — scheduled northern suburban deliveries via NY-78 and connecting routes.
- Buffalo, NY → Batavia, NY — selected eastern runs using I-90 and NY-33.
- Buffalo, NY → Rochester, NY — occasional short-regional assignments along I-90.
- Buffalo, NY → Hamburg, NY — local customer deliveries using I-90 and US-62.
Customer stops may require separate compartment drops, meter reconciliation, site access checks, and confirmation that receiving tanks have sufficient capacity.
- Review the dispatch sheet, delivery sequence, product assignments, and customer restrictions.
- Complete the pre-trip inspection, confirm PPE, and check tanker valves and safety systems.
- Check in at the loading rack, verify product and compartment assignments, and load safely.
- Complete several deliveries according to customer capacity, route order, and receiving windows.
- Record meter readings, delivery quantities, discrepancies, and required customer documentation.
- Contact dispatch if a rack queue, blocked access, weather delay, or equipment fault changes the route.
- Return to the terminal or assigned yard, complete the post-trip inspection, and submit remaining paperwork.
About the Carrier
This regional petroleum carrier supports fuel distribution across Western New York, serving retail filling stations, commercial fleets, and selected industrial and municipal customers. Daily operations center on reliable loading, accurate product separation, safe unloading, and communication between drivers, dispatchers, and customer sites. The fleet consists of maintained day-cab tractors and multi-compartment tank trailers suited to regular fuel delivery work. Schedules reflect actual customer demand, loading-rack availability, and seasonal changes rather than a fixed route every day. Summer travel and construction activity can increase retail fuel movement, while winter brings additional heating-oil demand, difficult road conditions, and occasional schedule changes. Drivers are expected to work independently, follow documented safety procedures, and keep delivery records accurate.
Health Insurance Medical, dental, and vision options under the company plan
Retirement 401(k) plan; matching subject to plan terms
Paid Leave Vacation and holiday benefits according to company policy
Life Insurance Coverage options subject to eligibility
Training Paid orientation and job-specific safety instruction
Work Equipment Required PPE and tanker safety supplies
Additional Programs Staged sign-on bonus and eligible referral incentives
Eligibility, enrollment dates, employee contributions, and benefit amounts are determined by the applicable company plan.
- Valid CDL Class A license and eligibility to operate commercial tanker equipment.
- Current HazMat and Tanker endorsements required.
- At least 12 months of recent CDL-A experience preferred; petroleum delivery experience is an advantage.
- Acceptable motor vehicle record and employment history.
- Valid DOT medical qualification and required FMCSA Clearinghouse checks.
- Ability to follow loading-rack rules, delivery procedures, and hazardous-material requirements.
- Ability to handle hoses and delivery equipment, climb tanker access steps, and work outdoors in changing weather.
- Availability for assigned shifts, including occasional weekends or overnight coverage.
- Loading-rack queues during busy dispatch periods.
- Customer access restrictions, low tank capacity, or delayed site authorization.
- Lake-effect snow, freezing rain, and winter traffic on I-90 and I-190.
- Equipment inspections or repairs that require a tractor or trailer change.
- Extra heating-oil deliveries during sustained cold weather.
- Terminal inventory changes that require a revised loading plan or dispatch sequence.
Drivers must notify dispatch about delays and follow site-specific procedures. Safe unloading takes priority over completing a route ahead of schedule.
1
Initial Contact
Discuss experience, endorsements, availability, and pay expectations.
2
Qualification Review
Review license, driving record, work history, and required checks.
3
Orientation
Complete required paperwork and tanker safety training.
4
Dispatch Assignment
Begin work after qualification, onboarding, and equipment clearance.
Q: How much can a local fuel tanker driver earn in Buffalo? ▼
The estimated range is $1,550–$2,050 gross per week, based on an hourly rate of $29–$31 and approximately 48–58 hours. Actual earnings depend on hours worked, eligible overtime, and qualifying differentials.
Q: Is this a home-daily CDL-A job? ▼
Most assignments are designed to return drivers to the Buffalo-area terminal daily. Occasional short-regional coverage, weather, customer delays, or operational changes can affect the planned release time.
Q: Which endorsements are required? ▼
A valid CDL Class A license with HazMat and Tanker endorsements is required. Applicants must also meet applicable medical, driving-record, and federal qualification requirements.
Q: What type of equipment is used? ▼
The operation uses maintained Freightliner Cascadia and Peterbilt 567 day cabs with multi-compartment petroleum tank trailers. Tractor assignments depend on availability and maintenance requirements.
Q: How is overtime calculated? ▼
The advertised pay model uses 1.5 times the regular hourly rate for eligible hours over 40 in a workweek. Individual eligibility and payroll treatment are subject to applicable law and the employer's policies.
Q: Is there a sign-on bonus? ▼
The listed sign-on bonus is up to $1,200, paid in stages when the applicable service and eligibility conditions are met. Confirm the payment schedule and any repayment provisions before accepting an offer.
Q: What affects daily routes and delivery times? ▼
Loading-rack queues, customer receiving windows, tank capacity, traffic, equipment inspections, and Western New York winter weather can change route order and shift length. Dispatch may reassign stops as conditions change.
Q: Do I need previous petroleum tanker experience? ▼
Recent CDL-A experience is preferred, and previous fuel delivery or tanker work is an advantage. Applicants must have the required endorsements and satisfy the carrier's qualification and training requirements.
Buffalo's CDL-A employment market combines regional distribution, manufacturing freight, food transportation, construction-related hauling, and cross-border supply-chain activity. Fuel tanker driving is a specialized segment because employers need drivers with the appropriate endorsements, safe operating habits, and the ability to follow strict loading and unloading procedures. Local petroleum routes can appeal to drivers who prefer returning to a terminal rather than spending several nights away, although early starts, rotating weekends, and variable finishing times remain common features of fuel work. Pay comparisons should account for overtime availability, paid waiting time, benefits, and the physical responsibilities of handling petroleum products, not just the advertised hourly rate. Experienced tanker drivers may also consider opportunities around Tonawanda, Niagara Falls, Rochester, and the wider Western New York region. Demand and hiring conditions vary with individual carrier staffing, customer contracts, fuel volumes, and seasonal requirements, so applicants should verify the current schedule and compensation directly before accepting a position.
Buffalo's position near Lake Erie, the Niagara River, and the Canadian border supports a regional economy built around manufacturing, distribution, retail trade, and transportation. Fuel delivery work serves a different operating pattern from dry van or general freight: loads move from approved petroleum terminals to individual customer tanks, and each stop requires attention to product identity, available tank capacity, site access, and unloading procedures. I-190 connects Buffalo with Niagara Falls, while I-290 serves northern suburbs and links with other regional roads. I-90 provides the principal east–west corridor toward Batavia and Rochester, with local highways handling many final delivery miles. Seasonal conditions affect both demand and productivity. Winter weather can slow the loading and delivery cycle, while colder periods may increase heating-oil requirements for customers served by the operation. Retail gasoline and diesel deliveries continue throughout the year, but exact route volumes depend on customer inventories, terminal availability, and assigned contracts. Drivers considering this work should evaluate the actual service area, expected overtime, and home-time policy rather than assuming every shift follows the same route.