Regional CDL-A Position Dry Van

Regional CDL-A Dry Van Driver – Elizabeth, New Jersey

Hiring Area: Northern New Jersey • Terminal: Elizabeth / Northern New Jersey

Elizabeth, NJ Northeast Regional Late-Model Volvo VNL

Haul palletized retail, CPG and e-commerce freight on Northeast regional lanes from Elizabeth. Weekly home time, $1,400–$1,850 weekly range and 2,200–2,800 typical operating miles.

Weekly Gross
$1,400–$1,850
Estimated Annual: $72,800–$96,200
Sign-On Bonus Up to $1,250
Home Time Weekly
Driver Type Regional
Weekly Miles 2,200–2,800
Freight Type Dry Van / Palletized

Position Overview

Northeast regional dry-van work out of Elizabeth combines longer corridor moves with shorter reloads so drivers stay inside the Northeast without multi-week OTR cycles.

  • Confirm trailer numbers, seals and shipping paperwork before leaving the dock.
  • Back trailers safely and complete required yard and gate procedures.
  • Record arrival, door assignment and release times for detention tracking.
  • Alert dispatch early when traffic or warehouse delays threaten the next window.
  • Follow each facility’s PPE, speed-limit and seal rules exactly.
  • Balance available HOS against appointment schedules and planned reloads.

Pay & Compensation Breakdown

Drivers are paid on an hourly basis at $26–$32 per hour with overtime after 40 hours. Detention and other eligible pay can raise weekly totals. The advertised $1,400–$1,850 range reflects normal regional weeks that include regular hours plus overtime and any qualifying detention. Weekly mileage figures are an operating-range indicator only; pay is not calculated by CPM.

Weekly Gross Range $1,400–$1,850
Hourly Rate $26–$32
Typical Target Week Approximately $1,650
Annual Gross Range $72,800–$96,200
Sign-On Bonus Up to $1,250 staged ($500 / $250 / $500) subject to active employment and safety/attendance standards
Detention $30 per hour after 2 hours when properly documented
Safety Bonus Up to $1,500 annually based on safety performance criteria
Referral Bonus $1,000 per qualified referral subject to program eligibility and retention requirements
Payroll Weekly direct deposit

Schedule, Home Time & Routes

Home Time Weekly (typically 34–48 hours)
Work Days 5–6 days
Operating Area NJ, PA, NY, CT, MA, MD
Base Elizabeth / Northern New Jersey
Weekly Miles 2,200–2,800 (operating range, not a pay guarantee)
Dispatch Window Often 4:00–8:00 AM for daytime assignments
Active Day Length Approximately 10–14 hours subject to HOS and appointments

Equipment & Cabin Specs

Tractors Volvo VNL sleepers, primarily 2–5 years old
Transmission Automatic
APU APU on equipped tractors
Trailers 53-ft dry vans (late-model with some older units still in service)
ELD / Telematics Omnitracs
Safety Systems Collision-mitigation, lane-departure warning and adaptive cruise on equipped units
Assignment Primarily assigned; temporary slip-seating may occur during maintenance or volume peaks

The fleet follows a normal replacement cycle with an average-age target near three years. Load-lock equipment is supplied where customers require it. Routine maintenance is handled through company resources and approved outside vendors; roadside breakdowns are coordinated by operations and maintenance.

Real Routes & Freight

Palletized dry freight moves from Northern New Jersey distribution centers, cross-docks and warehouses that support the broader Port Newark–Elizabeth supply chain. Drivers do not normally pull containers directly from marine terminals. Routes may include New York State and the greater NYC metro area depending on customer freight; this is not a dedicated NYC-only position.

  • Elizabeth, NJ → Harrisburg, PA primarily via I-78 / I-81
  • Elizabeth, NJ → Allentown / Lehigh Valley, PA on I-78
  • Elizabeth, NJ → Baltimore, MD southbound on I-95 / New Jersey Turnpike
  • Elizabeth, NJ → Albany, NY via I-287 / I-87
  • Elizabeth, NJ → Hartford, CT and Boston, MA on the I-95 New England corridor
  • Cross and return movements among Harrisburg, Allentown, Baltimore, Albany and Connecticut warehouse markets
  • Approximate mix: 55–60 % drop-and-hook, 40–45 % live load or unload

Typical Week & Daily Workflow

  • Load information is normally provided before the driver arrives at the first pickup.
  • Common origin points include Elizabeth, Newark, Linden and Carteret facilities.
  • Monday often begins with an outbound retail or CPG load toward Pennsylvania or New York.
  • Reload instructions are usually issued before the current delivery is completed.
  • Mid-week can shift to a longer New England run or a southern Maryland trip.
  • Overnight parking is planned before the end of the available driving window.
  • Fuel stops are scheduled around the company network and remaining HOS.
  • The week is built to return the driver to the Elizabeth area for the planned home period.

About the Carrier

Steady outbound retail, consumer packaged goods and e-commerce freight leaves the dense warehouse network around the Port Newark–Elizabeth complex every day and must reach destinations across Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maryland on reliable schedules. This regional operation matches available trailers and appointment windows with drivers who remain inside the Northeast corridor. The focus is on continuous equipment utilization through a mix of drop-and-hook and live facilities while reducing empty miles through active reload planning. Drivers return to the Northern New Jersey base each week so the same freight density can be worked again on the following cycle rather than committing to multi-week OTR tours.

Benefits & Healthcare Coverage

Health Coverage Medical, dental and vision options
Retirement 401(k) with company contribution/match according to plan eligibility
Time Off Paid time off after eligibility requirements; paid holidays per company policy
Orientation & Training Paid orientation, safety and equipment training
Additional Support Company-provided ELD, APU on equipped tractors, terminal parking for approved drivers, roadside breakdown coordination, paid DOT physical renewal, PPE support when required

Driver Qualification Requirements

  • Valid Class A CDL
  • 6 months of CDL-A experience preferred; regional or OTR experience strongly preferred
  • Minimum age 21
  • Clean and acceptable MVR with no major disqualifying violations
  • Must meet DOT requirements and pass company Clearinghouse query
  • Able to couple/uncouple, climb steps, back to docks and perform pre-/post-trip inspections
  • No endorsements required

Operational Delays

  • Dock congestion and extended dwell times during retail and e-commerce peaks
  • Morning traffic around Newark, Elizabeth and New York metropolitan approaches
  • Winter weather effects on I-78, I-81 and I-95
  • Construction-related lane restrictions in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania
  • Temporary shortages of empty trailers at high-volume facilities
  • Appointment adjustments when a prior delivery runs late

Hiring Process

1
Initial Contact
Recruiter outreach after application
2
Qualification Review
CDL, MVR, employment history, Clearinghouse
3
Screening
DOT drug screen and background checks
4
Orientation
Paid orientation at the Elizabeth-area location

Typical hiring timelines may vary based on verification, screening and onboarding requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much does a regional CDL-A driver typically make in this Elizabeth position? ▼
The advertised weekly range is $1,400–$1,850 based on hourly pay of $26–$32 plus overtime after 40 hours and any eligible detention. A normal target week is approximately $1,650.
Q: Is this position home weekly? ▼
Yes. Drivers normally work 5–6 days and return to the Elizabeth / Northern New Jersey area for a weekly home period, typically 34–48 hours.
Q: What states do Elizabeth regional drivers cover? ▼
Primary operating area is New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maryland, with occasional extensions when freight and HOS allow.
Q: Is this a dry van or reefer position? ▼
Dry van only. Freight is palletized retail merchandise, consumer packaged goods, e-commerce inventory and packaged industrial supplies.
Q: Are any endorsements required? ▼
No. HazMat, Tanker or Doubles/Triples endorsements are not required for this position.
Q: What experience is required? ▼
Six months of CDL-A experience is preferred. Regional or OTR tractor-trailer experience is strongly preferred. Recent graduates may be considered selectively with solid training and safety history.
Q: Are automatic tractors available? ▼
Yes. The fleet uses automatic transmissions on Volvo VNL sleeper tractors.
Q: What highways are commonly used? ▼
Primary corridors include the New Jersey Turnpike / I-95, I-78, I-287, I-87 and I-81.
Q: How many miles per week are typical? ▼
Approximately 2,200–2,800 miles. This is an operating-range indicator; drivers are paid hourly, not by the mile.
Q: Does the job involve NYC driving? ▼
Routes may include New York State and the greater NYC metro area depending on customer freight. This is not a dedicated NYC-only position.
Q: Is detention pay available? ▼
Yes. Detention is paid at $30 per hour after two hours when the delay is properly documented and qualifies under the customer’s rules.
Q: Can drivers take the truck home? ▼
Approved drivers whose residence and parking location meet company requirements may be permitted to take the tractor home during the weekly reset. Terminal parking is preferred when available.

CDL Job Market – Northern New Jersey

Northern New Jersey is one of the densest CDL-A hiring markets in the Northeast. Port-related intermodal, LTL terminals, dedicated retail fleets, food distribution and regional dry-van carriers all compete for experienced drivers. Candidates with clean MVRs and Northeast regional or local experience often have multiple options that emphasize weekly or daily home time. Demand remains relatively consistent year-round because of continuous import volume, large warehouse clusters and steady outbound retail and e-commerce freight. Newer drivers frequently begin in regional dry van or dedicated accounts before advancing into specialized or higher-paying local roles. Reliability and familiarity with Northeast traffic patterns are valued more highly than pure OTR mileage.

Location & Freight Market – Elizabeth / North Jersey

Elizabeth forms part of the larger Newark–Elizabeth logistics complex that channels import containers, domestic retail goods and industrial products into the New York metropolitan market and outward across the Northeast. Direct access to the New Jersey Turnpike, I-78, I-95 and I-287 allows freight to move efficiently toward Pennsylvania warehouses, upstate New York, Connecticut and New England. Nearby industrial parks focus on transloading, palletizing, cross-docking and e-commerce fulfillment, generating dense outbound and backhaul opportunities. Fall retail peaks raise warehouse volume, while year-round consumer demand and industrial activity sustain high trailer utilization. The combination of port-related logistics and regional distribution centers creates continuous demand for dry-van capacity originating in this area.

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