🗺 Location & Routes
- Base city: Elizabeth, New Jersey
- Route type: Local dedicated grocery distribution
- Freight: Grocery pallets, frozen foods, dairy & household consumables
- Schedule: Home daily with early AM starts
📋 Job Description
- Operate International LT day cabs pulling 53’ reefers on 6–14 store deliveries per shift.
- Complete temperature compliance checks and seal verification at distribution centers.
- Perform dock unloading coordination and pallet jack deliveries into supermarket receiving areas.
- Navigate multi-stop routes across Northern NJ and NYC metro with strict appointment windows.
- Execute pre-trip inspections, ELD updates, and trailer swaps to maintain refrigerated flow.
- Manage 9–12 hour shifts starting 2:00–5:00 AM to align with grocery receiving schedules.
✅ Requirements
CDL Class A
Valid CDL-A license required
Experience
1+ year refrigerated or grocery delivery preferred
Age
Minimum 21 years old
MVR
Clean driving record, no major violations
Physical
Trailer coupling/uncoupling, dock backing & pallet handling
Endorsements
None required; reefer experience preferred
🚛 Equipment & Fleet
- Truck assignment: Dedicated day cab tractors assigned by route density and seniority.
- Fleet average age: 3 years with ongoing replacement cycle.
- Features: International LT day cabs paired with 53’ refrigerated trailers and liftgates.
- Transmission type: Automatic transmission standard across fleet.
- Maintenance program: Hybrid in-house and vendor network with rapid response for reefers.
🏠 Home Time
- Drivers return to Elizabeth terminal each evening after completing final store unload.
- Dispatch sequences routes around distribution center replenishment waves to ensure daily resets.
- Weekend rotation follows store volume cycles with predictable Friday or Saturday returns.
- Late inbound freight handled through trailer swaps to protect home daily schedule.
📍 Real Routes Our Drivers Take
- Elizabeth DC → Newark & Staten Island supermarkets → I-95 / NJ Turnpike
- Elizabeth Terminal → Brooklyn & Queens grocery stores → I-278 crossings
- Elizabeth DC → Northern NJ retail chain locations → Route 1&9 corridor
- Elizabeth cross-dock → Long Island wholesale outlets → I-495 outbound
🎁 Benefits & Bonus Structure
📝 Hiring Process
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What are the typical start times for this position?
Shifts begin between 2:00 AM and 5:00 AM to align with early grocery receiving windows at supermarkets. Most drivers finish within 9–12 hours depending on stop count and traffic.
How many stops do drivers complete per day?
Drivers typically handle 6–14 multi-stop deliveries per shift. Routes are optimized by dispatch to balance store density with appointment compliance in the NJ/NYC metro area.
Is this touch freight or dock delivery?
Most deliveries involve dock unloading or pallet jack handoff into receiving areas. Drivers coordinate with store teams for proper rotation of refrigerated and frozen goods.
What equipment will I be driving?
International LT day cabs paired with 53’ Thermo King refrigerated trailers. Fleet features automatic transmissions, liftgates, and Geotab tracking systems.
How does overtime and detention pay work?
Overtime is paid after 40 hours. Detention pay applies when waiting exceeds scheduled windows at distribution centers or stores, common during peak grocery replenishment periods.
Are weekends required?
Rotating weekend coverage is part of the schedule to support continuous grocery distribution. Most weeks include five work days with predictable home daily returns.
💼 Career Opportunities
This dedicated grocery distribution role builds strong foundational experience in high-volume refrigerated freight operations serving major supermarket chains. Drivers develop expertise in temperature-controlled compliance, multi-stop urban routing, and dock coordination in one of the busiest retail logistics corridors in the Northeast. Experience with reefer trailers, store delivery protocols, and tight appointment scheduling transfers directly into senior driver roles, dedicated account positions, or fleet trainer opportunities within grocery supply chains. The position offers consistent local mileage (1,200–1,600 weekly) and predictable terminal returns, supporting long-term stability in the essential food distribution sector.
🔗 Local CDL-A Dedicated Grocery Distribution Driver – Elizabeth, NJ
Elizabeth, New Jersey serves as a key hub for grocery distribution supporting Northern New Jersey and the NYC metro area. This local dedicated position focuses on delivering temperature-controlled grocery products from regional distribution centers to supermarket chains and wholesale outlets. Drivers operate modern International day cabs with 53’ refrigerated trailers on routes utilizing the NJ Turnpike, I-95, and urban connectors.
Based on variable weekly hours depending on warehouse cycle demand, most drivers average $1,500–$1,950 per week ($30–$36/hour). The role features home daily returns with no overnight stays, early morning starts, and multi-stop delivery schedules. Additional earnings come through safety bonuses, referral bonuses, overtime, and detention pay during peak periods.
🚀 Apply for This CDL-A Position
Complete the form below to apply for Local CDL-A Dedicated Grocery Distribution Driver in Elizabeth, NJ.