Port & Intermodal Regional Company Driver
CDL-A Regional Port Driver – Newark & Elizabeth, NJ to NYC Metro
Hiring Area: New York City & North Jersey • Base: Port Newark–Elizabeth / North Jersey
NYC Metro Import / Export Containers 2020–2024 Tractors
Move sealed import and export containers from the Port Newark–Elizabeth complex to regional warehouses, distribution centers, and rail-connected freight points across North Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, the Hudson Valley, Long Island, and southern Connecticut. Most drivers are home daily; occasional overnight runs are assigned when the lane requires it.
Weekly Gross
$1,650–$1,950
Typical Annual: $93,600
Typical Week $1,800
Home Time Mostly Daily
Base Rate $32/hr
OT Rate $48/hr after 40
Freight 20' / 40' / 45' Containers
Pay $32/hr + $48/hr OT
Typical Gross $1,800/week
Home Time Mostly Home Daily
Bonus $1,000 Sign-On
- Pick up sealed import/export containers at Newark or Elizabeth terminals.
- Verify container, seal, chassis and dispatch numbers before leaving the gate.
- Deliver containers to warehouses, DCs and rail-connected facilities.
- Handle live unloads, drop-and-hook moves and empty returns as assigned.
- Complete interchange, BOL, POD and delivery documentation.
- Report terminal queues, chassis defects and appointment changes to dispatch.
- Return empties or reposition equipment according to depot instructions.
This position is paid hourly because port work can involve gate queues, chassis issues, customer appointments and regional driving time. Overtime starts after 40 hours.
Regular Rate $32/hour
Overtime Rate $48/hour after 40
Weekly Range $1,650–$1,950
Typical Weekly Gross $1,800
Typical Annual Gross $93,600
Detention $48/hour after 2 hours when documented
Sign-On Bonus $1,000 ($500 at 30 days + $500 at 90 days)
Pay Frequency Weekly direct deposit
A 50-hour week at $32/hour plus 10 overtime hours at $48/hour produces approximately $1,760 before any qualifying detention or other additional compensation.
Home Time Mostly home daily; occasional overnight
Typical Hours 48–54 hours/week
Dispatch Window 4:00–7:00 AM depending on terminal appointment
Weekly Miles 1,900–2,400 miles
Primary Area North Jersey, NYC Metro, Hudson Valley, Long Island, Eastern PA
Weekend Work Occasional Saturday based on port/customer volume
Tractor Years 2020–2024
Makes Freightliner Cascadia / Kenworth T680
Configuration Day-cab and short-sleeper tractors
Transmission Automatic
Container Sizes 20', 40' and 45' intermodal containers
Chassis Company, pool or terminal chassis depending on move
Driver Technology ELD, eDVIR, GPS/telematics and forward camera
Safety Equipment Collision mitigation and lane-departure systems where equipped
Drivers inspect chassis locking pins, tires, lights, air lines and frame condition before leaving the terminal. Equipment is assigned when available, with slip-seat or rotation during maintenance periods.
Routes are built around terminal releases, customer receiving windows, empty-depot instructions and chassis availability.
- Port Newark / Elizabeth → Secaucus, Kearny and North Jersey distribution centers
- Elizabeth → Allentown / Bethlehem, PA warehouse and retail distribution
- Newark / Elizabeth → Newburgh and Hudson Valley distribution points
- Port complex → New Haven / Bridgeport-area Connecticut customers
- Elizabeth → Long Island City / Queens-area distribution facilities
- Staten Island / Brooklyn interchange → North Jersey terminals and depots
- Common corridors: NJ Turnpike, I-78, I-80, I-95, I-287, I-278 and approved NYC truck routes
- Check in at the yard and review terminal release, container and appointment information.
- Complete pre-trip and inspect chassis, locks, tires, lights and air connections.
- Enter the marine terminal, retrieve the assigned container and verify seal numbers.
- Run the assigned regional lane to the warehouse, DC or customer facility.
- Complete drop, live unload or customer check-in and obtain required paperwork.
- Return the empty to the directed depot or receive the next port move.
- Report defects, delays and delivery completion before ending the shift.
About the Carrier
This is a mid-sized New York–New Jersey transportation operation built around port-connected regional freight rather than long-haul OTR. The local fleet works primarily from the Newark–Elizabeth port complex and moves sealed containers to distribution centers, warehouse customers, rail-connected facilities and regional freight points. Dispatch coordinates terminal releases, customer appointments, chassis availability and empty returns throughout the day. Drivers are expected to understand that a port move is more than highway driving: gate procedures, container verification, chassis inspections, appointment timing and accurate interchange paperwork are part of the job. Most regional lanes allow the driver to return to the North Jersey/NYC area the same day, while longer eastern Pennsylvania, Hudson Valley or Connecticut assignments can occasionally require an overnight.
Health Coverage Medical, dental and vision options after eligibility
Retirement 401(k) with company match
Time Off Paid vacation and holidays by tenure/policy
Training Paid orientation and port/intermodal operating procedures
Driver Support Dispatch support, breakdown coordination and terminal guidance
Equipment Support Approved repair network and roadside assistance
- Valid Class A CDL and current DOT medical card.
- 12 months CDL-A experience preferred; port/intermodal experience is a plus.
- Valid TWIC required for assignments requiring secure marine-terminal access.
- Acceptable MVR, Clearinghouse and safety history.
- Pass required DOT drug/alcohol screening and employment verification.
- Comfortable with terminal gates, chassis inspections and regional appointment driving.
- Marine-terminal gate queues during vessel and appointment surges.
- Chassis shortages, defects or equipment swaps.
- Warehouse receiving delays and limited appointment windows.
- NYC/North Jersey traffic on I-95, NJ Turnpike, I-287 and major crossings.
- Weather, bridge restrictions and truck-route limitations in the NYC area.
1
Application
Submit CDL-A application and recent driving history
2
Recruiter Call
Review port experience, schedule and operating area
3
Qualification
MVR, Clearinghouse, employment verification, TWIC and drug screen
4
Orientation
Paid orientation and terminal/intermodal operating procedures
Q: Is this mostly port drayage or long-haul trucking? ▼
The position is regional port/intermodal work. Most loads begin or end at the Newark–Elizabeth port complex and move to warehouses, distribution centers or regional freight facilities rather than long-haul OTR destinations.
Q: What container sizes will I handle? ▼
The operation primarily handles 20-foot, 40-foot and 45-foot intermodal containers. The assigned chassis depends on the terminal, equipment pool and specific move.
Q: Do I unload the freight inside the container? ▼
No. Drivers normally perform the transportation, gate, chassis, check-in and documentation work. Customer facilities generally handle unloading, although the driver may need to participate in dock or yard procedures.
Q: Is TWIC required? ▼
Yes. A valid TWIC is required for assignments requiring secure marine-terminal access. Drivers without current port credentials may not be eligible for all terminal moves.
Q: How often will I stay out overnight? ▼
Most routes are completed the same day. Longer moves into eastern Pennsylvania, the Hudson Valley or Connecticut can occasionally require an overnight when the customer appointment or hours-of-service window makes a same-day return impractical.
Q: What happens if the terminal has a long gate delay? ▼
The driver reports the delay to dispatch. The next appointment or return move can be adjusted when possible, and qualifying detention is documented according to the pay policy.
Q: Can I use any NYC road to avoid traffic? ▼
No. NYC truck operations must follow applicable local and through truck routes, and most city parkways prohibit commercial trucks. Dispatch and navigation are expected to account for legal truck routing.
The New York–New Jersey freight market supports several distinct CDL-A career paths, including port drayage, regional intermodal, LTL, food distribution, dedicated delivery and regional truckload. Port drivers work in a different operating environment from conventional highway drivers: terminal appointments, chassis availability, container releases, gate procedures and customer receiving windows can determine how much of a shift is spent driving versus waiting or repositioning equipment. That makes experience with Newark, Elizabeth and North Jersey freight facilities useful even when the weekly mileage is lower than a traditional OTR job. NYC also adds another layer of operating knowledge because trucks must follow the city's designated truck-route network and most parkways are restricted to commercial vehicles. For drivers who prefer regional freight and predictable access to the NYC/North Jersey market, port-connected work provides a combination of highway miles, terminal work and regular regional customers.
The Port Newark–Elizabeth area is the operating center for this position, with regional freight extending into North Jersey, the Lehigh Valley, Hudson Valley, Long Island and southern Connecticut. A typical move can start with a container pickup at Newark or Elizabeth, continue to a distribution center near Secaucus, Kearny, Allentown or Bethlehem, and finish with an empty return or another port assignment. NYC-bound work requires truck-specific routing rather than simply following the fastest passenger-car route. The city maintains nearly 1,000 miles of designated truck routes, while most parkways prohibit commercial trucks. NYC's truck-route network is also being updated, with adopted changes taking effect October 4, 2026. This makes local route knowledge, legal truck navigation and careful planning around bridges, tunnels and industrial streets a practical part of the job.