Regional CDL-A Position Dedicated Automotive
Northeast Regional CDL-A Automotive Parts Driver — Elizabeth, NJ
Hiring Area: Elizabeth, NJ • Terminal: Elizabeth, NJ
Elizabeth, NJ Northeast Regional 2022–2025
Dedicated Northeast regional automotive parts runs from Elizabeth with weekly home time and $1,450–$1,900 typical weekly gross. Estimated annual gross $88,400 based on a representative $1,700 weekly figure.
Typical Weekly Gross
$1,450–$1,900
Estimated Annual Gross: $88,400
Sign-On Bonus Up to $1,250
Home Time Weekly
Driver Type Company Driver
Weekly Miles 2,000–2,800
Freight Type Automotive Parts
Structured regional cycles move production-sensitive automotive freight between suppliers, cross-docks and manufacturing plants.
- Positions trailers and verifies seals before departure.
- Completes pre-trip and post-trip inspections daily.
- Reports delays to dispatch before appointments are missed.
- Reviews BOL and POD for shortages or mismatches.
- Operates through manufacturing yards and crowded customer lots.
- Confirms remaining HOS before accepting any reload.
Pay is structured around compensated operating time, with a representative base rate of $26–$33 per hour. Weekly gross typically falls between $1,450 and $1,900 depending on hours worked, route assignments, qualifying detention and applicable incentives. A representative week at approximately $30/hour and 55–56 compensated hours produces about $1,650–$1,680 before additional premiums. The $88,400 estimated annual gross is calculated from a representative $1,700 weekly figure × 52 weeks and excludes sign-on and safety bonuses.
Weekly Gross Range $1,450–$1,900
Hourly Rate $26–$33/hour
Representative Weekly for Annual $1,700
Estimated Annual Gross $88,400
Sign-On Bonus Up to $1,250 staged ($500 / $375 / $375)
Safety Incentive Up to $1,500 annually
Payroll Frequency Weekly
Detention Documented support when qualifying
Home Time Weekly (approx. 34–48 hours)
Operating Area NJ, PA, MD, VA + selected OH lanes
Base Terminal Elizabeth, NJ
Average Weekly Miles 2,000–2,800
Typical Daily Miles 400–650
Cycle Start Sunday or Monday
Tractor Models Volvo VNL sleepers
Model Years Primarily 2022–2025
Transmission Automatic
Safety Systems Collision mitigation, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise where equipped
ELD / Telematics Omnitracs
Trailers 53-ft dry vans, approx. 3–7 years old, swing doors
Trailer Features Logistics interiors, load-lock/load-bar capability, selected tracking
Assignment Assigned when practical; slip-seating or temporary equipment possible
Scheduled maintenance is coordinated around terminal returns; roadside vendor support is used when the truck is away from Elizabeth.
Palletized automotive components—engine and drivetrain parts, electrical assemblies, molded pieces, production supplies and service parts—move no-touch or low-touch between suppliers and plants.
- Elizabeth, NJ → Allentown, PA via I-78
- Elizabeth, NJ → Harrisburg, PA via I-78 / I-81
- Elizabeth, NJ → Baltimore, MD via I-95
- Elizabeth, NJ → Richmond, VA via I-95
- Elizabeth, NJ → Carlisle, PA via I-78 / I-81 / I-76
- Elizabeth, NJ → Columbus, OH via I-78 / I-76 / I-70
- Typical mix approximately 50–60% drop-and-hook, 20–30% live load, 20–30% live unload
- Sunday or Monday departure from Elizabeth terminal or nearby yard after pre-trip.
- Dispatch issues first load, appointment details and trailer instructions.
- Delivery completed by drop-and-hook or live unload at plant or distribution center.
- Next reload is frequently planned while the current trip is still underway.
- Example cycle: Elizabeth → Allentown → Harrisburg → Elizabeth.
- Return toward the Elizabeth area at end of cycle for weekly home reset.
- Overnight parking planned around remaining HOS at truck stops or permitted yards.
About the Carrier
Timed movement of automotive components between suppliers, cross-docks and assembly plants keeps production lines running across the Mid-Atlantic. A mid-sized regional carrier consolidates that freight at an Elizabeth base and operates dedicated lanes built around plant receiving windows. The focus stays on appointment discipline and trailer exchanges rather than maximizing empty highway miles, so manufacturing schedules continue without interruption from late freight.
Medical, Dental, Vision Available options
Retirement 401(k) with company match
Paid Time Off Paid vacation and selected holidays
Life Insurance Basic options available
Account Support Plant orientation, JIT training, detention documentation assistance
Driver Support Paid orientation, terminal parking, roadside maintenance coordination
- Valid Class A CDL, minimum age 21, interstate eligible
- 1 year regional tractor-trailer experience preferred; dry-van strongly preferred
- Clean acceptable MVR; no major preventable or disqualifying violations
- Valid DOT medical certification
- Able to couple/uncouple, perform inspections and maneuver in industrial yards
- North Jersey Turnpike and I-78 congestion or incidents
- Customer production incomplete or paperwork delayed
- Dock or yard congestion at manufacturing facilities
- Winter weather on Pennsylvania and Ohio lanes
- Trailer availability shifts caused by other delayed drivers
- Typical wait 30–90 minutes; longer delays possible in peak periods
1
Application
Submit CDL-A application with contact and history
2
Recruiter Screening
Initial call within one business day
3
Qualification Review
MVR, employment, Clearinghouse, drug screen
4
Orientation & First Dispatch
Paid orientation then first load assignment
Q: How are appointments handled on automotive freight? ▼
Most facilities use scheduled receiving windows. Drivers arrive inside the window, check in, position the trailer and wait for door assignment or trailer exchange. Dispatch is contacted early if traffic or production threatens the window.
Q: Is the freight no-touch? ▼
Generally no-touch or low-touch. Drivers handle trailer positioning, documentation and seal verification rather than unloading components.
Q: What happens if a trailer is not ready at the supplier? ▼
Notify dispatch, document the delay and wait for revised instructions. Leaving without authorization does not release the load.
Q: How is overtime treated? ▼
Overtime eligibility depends on the driver’s duties, employer and applicable federal or state rules. Drivers should confirm the company’s overtime policy during recruiting.
Q: Can routes change during the week? ▼
Yes. Production priorities, trailer availability and remaining HOS can resequence loads same-day. Dispatch manages customer priority while keeping the operation legal and safe.
Q: How long does the hiring process usually take? ▼
Typically 5–10 business days depending on MVR, employment verification, drug screening and orientation scheduling.
Elizabeth sits inside one of the densest CDL-A hiring markets in the Northeast. Port and intermodal carriers, LTL terminals, regional dry-van fleets, dedicated retail accounts, foodservice distributors and specialized industrial operations all compete for drivers inside the same North Jersey corridor. Port Newark–Elizabeth, Newark Liberty Airport, extensive warehousing and multiple interstate corridors sustain year-round demand across local, regional and dedicated categories. Experienced drivers with clean records and Northeast regional backgrounds remain the most sought-after candidates because congestion and appointment-driven freight reward reliability over pure mileage accumulation. High employer density forces carriers to differentiate on home time, equipment condition, detention practices and dispatch support rather than a single pay figure.
The Port Newark–Elizabeth complex anchors a major industrial and freight gateway that combines marine terminals, auto preparation and storage facilities, public warehousing, rail connections and direct access to the New Jersey Turnpike and I-78. Surrounding North Jersey industrial districts generate continuous movement of manufacturing materials, components and service parts. Primary corridors include I-78 into Pennsylvania, I-80/I-76 toward central Pennsylvania and Ohio, and I-95 south toward Baltimore and Virginia. Automotive suppliers and production customers clustered around Allentown/Bethlehem, Harrisburg, Carlisle, Baltimore, Richmond and Columbus create recurring regional freight that benefits from Elizabeth’s central staging position. Congestion on the Turnpike and I-78 introduces schedule variation, yet the density of warehouses, cross-docks and plant networks keeps component freight flowing year-round.