Job Snapshot
Weekly Pay Target $1,350
Hourly Rate $28–$32 / Hr
Weekly Hours 45–55 Hours
Home Frequency Home Daily
Equipment Day Cab Tractors + Container Chassis
Freight Touch Level Container Handling / Inspections
Run Territory Northern NJ / Port Area / Eastern PA
Endorsements TWIC Required
Position Overview
This local drayage opportunity is available with a confidential mid-sized regional carrier operating in the Port of New York & New Jersey. Drivers handle container moves between marine terminals, rail facilities, distribution centers, and customer locations throughout northern New Jersey and nearby areas.
Work centers on the busy Port Newark and Elizabeth terminals. Drivers navigate gate appointments, chassis interchanges, and metropolitan traffic while moving import and export freight. Most shifts start and end at the Newark terminal, providing true home daily operations.
Primary activity focuses on container drayage along I-95, I-78, and local port access roads, with steady volume from one of the East Coast’s largest container gateways.
Typical Day
Shifts usually begin between 5:00 AM and 7:00 AM at the Newark terminal. Drivers complete a pre-trip inspection on their assigned day cab tractor, review container assignments, and head to Port Newark or Maher Terminal after confirming gate appointments.
Most days involve two to four container moves. This includes picking up loaded containers at the port, delivering to warehouses in Secaucus, Edison, or Cranbury, then reloading or returning empties. Terminal wait times vary with vessel activity and congestion. Dispatch adjusts loads throughout the day via the Samsara system.
Drivers return to the terminal at shift end for post-trip inspection and paperwork submission. Weekend work rotates based on port schedules.
Route Coverage & Operations
Active Driving Territory: Northern New Jersey, Port of NY/NJ, Eastern PA
Average Trip Distance: Local / Short-Haul (20–100 miles one way)
Route Type: Local Drayage
Primary Corridors & Highways: I-95 NJ Turnpike, I-78, I-287, Route 1&9, Route 440
Core Delivery Areas: Secaucus, Edison, Jersey City, Cranbury, Bethlehem PA, Allentown PA
Freight Specifications
Primary Commodities: Retail merchandise, consumer goods, food products, household items, industrial machinery, building materials in containers
Cargo Type: Import and export dry containers
Load Profile: Container moves with chassis
Typical Moves Per Day: 2–4 container turns
Operations & Container Handling
Drop & Hook Percentage: ~25% Drop & Hook
Live Moves: ~75% Live container pickups/deliveries
Terminal Wait Times: 30 minutes to 2+ hours during peak
Key Tasks: Chassis inspection, seal verification, gate coordination
Hiring Area
Priority hiring for drivers living within a reasonable commute to the Newark terminal. This supports home daily resets and quick response to port schedules.
Primary Hiring Radius: Within 50 miles of Newark, NJ
Equipment
Tractors: 2020–2024 Freightliner Cascadia, Kenworth T680, Volvo VNR Day Cabs
Transmission: Automatic
Safety Tech: Forward collision mitigation, lane departure, adaptive cruise (newer units)
ELD & Cameras: Samsara ELD with inward-facing cameras
Assignment: Primarily assigned tractors with occasional slip seating
Accessorial Pay
Detention: After 90 minutes
Additional: Chassis split, stop pay, port congestion, breakdown
Bonuses: Quarterly safety and performance bonuses
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the home time on this position? A: Home Daily from the Newark terminal
Q: Is a TWIC card required? A: Yes, or ability to obtain one promptly
Q: What does a typical day look like? A: 2–4 container moves between port terminals and local warehouses
Q: What equipment will I drive? A: Late-model day cab tractors pulling container chassis
Q: How is pay structured? A: Hourly with overtime and accessorial pay for detention and extra stops
Local Drayage Market — Port of New York & New Jersey
The Port of New York & New Jersey continues to drive strong demand for experienced local drayage drivers. Newark serves as a major gateway for import retail goods, consumer products, and export freight moving into distribution centers across northern New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania.
Drivers familiar with I-95, I-78, port gate procedures, and chassis management find consistent work here. Terminal congestion and vessel schedules create a dynamic but steady environment for CDL-A professionals who can handle appointment-based container work and urban traffic.
