🗺 Location & Routes
- Base city: Elizabeth, New Jersey
- Route type: Local multi-stop foodservice delivery
- Freight: Frozen, produce, dry goods & beverage supplies
- Schedule: Early AM starts, home every evening
- Average Weekly Miles: 600–1,250 miles
- Primary Corridors: NJ Turnpike, I-95, Route 1&9, NYC access
📋 Job Description
- Operate Freightliner M2 straight trucks and 53’ reefers on 8–15 stop daily routes serving restaurants, hotels, schools and institutions across Northern New Jersey and New York metro.
- Manually unload mixed pallets using liftgates, pallet jacks and hand trucks while maintaining strict temperature compliance for frozen and refrigerated product.
- Navigate urban delivery windows, tight loading zones and customer receiving schedules along I-95 and NJ Turnpike corridors.
- Complete pre-trip inspections, ELD logging, seal verification and reefer temperature checks on each outbound load from regional distribution hubs.
- Coordinate with dispatch for route sequencing to minimize dwell time and meet tight appointment times in high-density metro markets.
- Handle 60–120 cases per stop on typical 9–12 hour shifts that begin between 3:00 AM and 6:00 AM.
✅ Requirements
CDL Class A
Valid CDL-A license required
Experience
1+ year foodservice or multi-stop delivery preferred; reefer experience a plus
Age
Minimum 21 years old
MVR
Clean driving record, no major violations in past 3 years
Physical
Able to lift up to 75 lbs, operate liftgates, pallet jacks and maneuver in tight urban docks
Endorsements
None required
🚛 Equipment & Fleet
- Truck assignment: Dedicated day cab units assigned by seniority and route density
- Fleet average age: 3 years with regular rotation
- Features: Refrigerated trailers with Thermo King units, liftgates and Geotab tracking
- Transmission type: Automatic only
- Maintenance program: Hybrid in-house and vendor network with rapid response for reefers
🏠 Home Time
- Dispatch releases drivers after final customer unload and equipment return to Elizabeth terminal each evening.
- Routes structured around daily foodservice receiving windows with minimal overnight requirements.
- Five-day work week standard with occasional Saturday rotations during holiday or seasonal demand spikes.
- Late load contingencies managed through dynamic rerouting to ensure same-day terminal return.
📍 Real Routes Our Drivers Take
- Elizabeth DC → Newark / Jersey City Restaurants → NJ Turnpike North
- Elizabeth Terminal → Manhattan & Bronx Institutional Customers → I-95 / Lincoln Tunnel
- Elizabeth Hub → Suburban Northern NJ Schools & Hotels → Route 1&9 / Garden State Parkway
- Elizabeth Cross-dock → Brooklyn & Queens Foodservice Stops → I-278 / Verrazzano Bridge
🎁 Benefits & Bonus Structure
📝 Hiring Process
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many stops do drivers complete per shift?
Typical routes include 8–15 deliveries depending on customer density and order volume, with most drivers finishing within 9–12 hours.
Is this touch freight?
Yes. Drivers manually unload using liftgates and pallet jacks at restaurants, schools and institutions. Expect to handle 60–120 cases per stop.
What are the typical start times?
Shifts begin between 3:00 AM and 6:00 AM to align with early morning receiving windows at foodservice customers.
Are trucks assigned or slip-seated?
Drivers are assigned dedicated day cab units based on route characteristics and seniority. Automatic transmission Freightliner M2 trucks.
How is overtime handled?
Overtime is paid after 40 hours. Additional earnings come from detention, extra stops and peak season volume.
Are weekends required?
Standard schedule is Monday–Friday with occasional Saturday work during holidays or high-demand periods.
💼 Career Opportunities
This Local CDL-A Foodservice Delivery Driver position in Elizabeth, NJ provides hands-on experience in high-volume urban and suburban distribution. Drivers develop strong multi-stop route management skills, temperature-controlled freight handling expertise, and customer-facing dock delivery proficiency across diverse foodservice environments. The role builds deep knowledge of Northern New Jersey and New York metro receiving procedures, appointment systems, and tight urban navigation patterns. Many drivers progress internally to dedicated route specialists, relief dispatch support roles, or safety committee positions within the operation. Experience with reefer equipment, liftgate operations, and high-stop-count routes transfers well into other local and regional grocery or retail distribution opportunities. The stable foodservice segment offers consistent year-round freight demand with seasonal peaks that support reliable earnings and schedule predictability.
🔗 Local CDL-A Foodservice Delivery Driver – Elizabeth, NJ
Elizabeth, New Jersey serves as a strategic logistics hub for foodservice distribution throughout Northern New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area. This Local CDL-A Foodservice Delivery Driver role focuses on delivering refrigerated and dry goods from regional distribution centers to restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals and independent grocers. Drivers operate modern Freightliner M2 straight trucks and refrigerated trailers equipped with liftgates on daily routes that typically include 8–15 stops. The position offers $30–$34 per hour with weekly earnings of $1,450–$1,900 based on variable hours driven by delivery volume and traffic conditions. Home daily scheduling with early morning departures supports strong work-life balance while maintaining high earnings potential through overtime, safety bonuses and peak season opportunities. The operation runs temperature-sensitive freight with strict compliance protocols and utilizes Geotab systems for route optimization. Northern New Jersey’s dense customer base and proximity to major corridors like the NJ Turnpike and I-95 create steady daily freight cycles with minimal deadhead miles. Drivers return to the Elizabeth terminal each evening after completing their assigned deliveries.
🚀 Apply for This CDL-A Position
Complete the form below to apply for Local CDL-A Foodservice Delivery Driver in Elizabeth, NJ.