Local CDL-A Position Tanker Position
Local CDL-A Fuel Tanker Driver
Hiring Radius: Elizabeth–Newark area • Terminal: Elizabeth, NJ
Elizabeth, NJ Local Home Daily Fleet avg ~4 years
Local fuel tanker runs haul gasoline, diesel and heating oil from New Jersey terminals to retail stations and commercial accounts, earning $1,600–$2,100 weekly with a typical annual gross around $96,200 and home daily after 10–12 hour shifts.
Weekly Gross
$1,600–$2,100
Typical Annual Gross: ~$96,200
Sign-On Bonus Up to $1,500
Home Time Home Daily
Driver Type Company Driver
Weekly Miles 600–1,100
Freight Type Petroleum Tanker
Drivers load refined petroleum products at New Jersey fuel terminals and deliver them to retail stations, commercial fleets and industrial customers within a 50–150-mile radius of Elizabeth.
- Verifies product, compartment and fill-point data before every delivery.
- Performs grounding, hose connection and spill-prevention steps at sites.
- Completes meter reconciliation and required delivery documentation.
- Reports delays, equipment issues or product discrepancies to dispatch.
- Maintains accurate ELD records under variable local traffic conditions.
- Conducts detailed pre-trip and post-trip inspections of all equipment.
Hourly pay is $33–$38, with overtime after 40 hours. Typical schedules of roughly 48–50 hours can produce weekly gross pay around $1,850–$2,100 depending on hours, overtime and approved additional pay. Detention is $35/hour after two hours when approved. Annual safety bonus is $1,500. Sign-on is staged $500 at 30/90/180 days.
Weekly Gross $1,600–$2,100
Typical Annual Gross ~$96,200
Sign-On Bonus Up to $1,500 staged
Detention $35/hr after 2 hours
Safety Bonus $1,500 annual
Pay Frequency Weekly
Home Time Home Daily
Operating Radius 50–150 miles of Elizabeth
Terminal Elizabeth-area terminal
Weekly Miles 600–1,100
Shift Start 3:00 AM – 6:00 AM typical
Fleet Age Average ~4 years
Tractors Kenworth T880 day-cabs
Transmission Automatic
Trailer Type Multi-compartment petroleum tankers
Assignment Seniority-based; slip-seating possible
Electronic PTO, ELD platform, GPS/telematics, collision-mitigation and stability systems on newer units, dash cameras on selected tractors, hose assemblies, emergency shutoffs, fire extinguishers and required HazMat/PPE are standard. Maintenance is handled in-house and through approved vendors.
Gasoline, diesel and heating oil move in segregated compartments from terminals in Newark, Elizabeth, Linden, Bayonne, Carteret and Perth Amboy to retail stations, commercial fleets and industrial accounts.
- Elizabeth to Newark and Jersey City retail and commercial stops
- Newark to Paterson, Clifton and Paramus delivery lanes
- Linden to Edison, Woodbridge and Perth Amboy sequences
- Carteret and Bayonne rack loads feeding Elizabeth-area customers
- Primary corridors: NJ Turnpike, I-95, Route 1&9, Garden State Parkway, I-278, I-78
- Daily sequences change; reloads often occur at Newark or Linden rather than empty returns
- Early dispatch sets terminal rack appointment and first customer sequence.
- Gate check-in, credential verification and rack assignment begin loading.
- Grounding, vapor-control connection and bottom-loading of assigned compartments.
- Two to four customer deliveries follow, with fill-point verification and controlled unloading.
- Meter and document reconciliation completed before departure from each site.
- Possible mid-day reload at a nearby terminal before final return to Elizabeth.
- Post-trip inspection and tractor parking at the terminal end the shift.
About the Elizabeth-Area Fuel Operation
Petroleum distribution around New York Harbor depends on short-haul tanker capacity that keeps retail stations and commercial fleets supplied ahead of peak demand periods. Local fuel operations based near the Elizabeth terminal load refined products at the dense cluster of New Jersey fuel terminals and move them to nearby customer sites. The focus stays on local petroleum logistics rather than long-haul general freight, with drivers handling both terminal rack procedures and customer-site delivery controls. This specialization supports the continuous replenishment cycle that retail and industrial accounts require in one of the Northeast’s most concentrated fuel markets.
Health Coverage Medical, dental and vision options
Retirement 401(k) with company match
Paid Time Off Paid holidays and PTO
Life Insurance Life insurance options
Additional Support PPE, endorsement renewal support, paid training
- Valid Class A CDL with Tanker and HazMat endorsements
- 12 months CDL-A experience preferred; tanker or HazMat strongly preferred
- Clean or acceptable MVR; no recent disqualifying violations
- Pass DOT physical, drug/alcohol screen, Clearinghouse query and background checks
- Ability to climb tanker platforms, connect hoses and wear required PPE
- NJ Turnpike, Route 1&9 and morning commuter congestion
- Terminal gate or rack queues during peak loading windows
- Customer sites with limited access, parked vehicles or insufficient tank capacity
- Seasonal heating-oil or summer gasoline demand spikes
- Weather affecting safe operating speeds and stopping distances
1
Recruiter Call
Within one business day
2
Qualification Review
CDL, MVR, employment verification
3
Screening
DOT drug screen and Clearinghouse
4
Orientation & Dispatch
Paid orientation then first load
Q: How many customer stops are typical in a shift? ▼
Most shifts include 2–4 deliveries, depending on distance, volume and traffic.
Q: Is weekend work required? ▼
Weekend shifts can occur during higher-demand periods, holiday weeks or seasonal heating-oil demand.
Q: Do drivers leave loaded tankers unattended overnight? ▼
No. Loaded tankers are handled under company and customer security procedures; overnight parking is at the terminal.
Q: What happens if a station cannot accept the full load? ▼
Drivers verify tank capacity and fill points before unloading. Dispatch can resequence stops when capacity is limited.
Q: Are product combinations mixed at the rack? ▼
No. Compartment allocation and product selection follow dispatch instructions; drivers do not improvise combinations.
Q: How long does the full hiring process usually take? ▼
For qualified tanker candidates the process generally runs 3–7 business days depending on verification speed.
Q: Is orientation paid? ▼
Yes. Orientation covering HazMat, rack procedures and delivery expectations is paid according to company policy.
Elizabeth sits inside the Newark–Elizabeth port complex and the broader New York/New Jersey freight network, creating steady demand for CDL-A drivers across multiple sectors. Local, regional, dedicated, intermodal, LTL, foodservice, construction and port-related positions are common. Fuel and tanker work forms a smaller but consistent niche because Tanker and HazMat endorsements plus petroleum experience narrow the candidate pool. Employers in the Elizabeth/Linden corridor regularly recruit for both hazardous and non-hazardous tanker roles, while dry-van and intermodal fleets compete for the larger general-driver base. Port activity, industrial waterfront operations and the dense terminal network keep hiring active year-round, with seasonal spikes in construction and heating-fuel volumes adding further openings.
The New York Harbor petroleum complex anchors one of the densest refined-product distribution networks on the East Coast. Active terminals in Newark, Elizabeth, Linden, Bayonne, Carteret and Perth Amboy receive product by pipeline, barge and vessel, then supply retail stations, commercial fleets and industrial users throughout northern and central New Jersey. Proximity to the NJ Turnpike, I-95, Route 1&9 and Garden State Parkway allows short-haul tankers to complete multiple deliveries within a single shift. Port Newark and the surrounding industrial waterfront generate additional demand for supporting freight, while seasonal heating-oil needs in winter and gasoline demand in summer create predictable volume swings. This combination of terminal density, highway access and continuous retail/commercial consumption keeps petroleum and related bulk freight moving through the Elizabeth area every day of the year.