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NY · Year-Round

Food Service & Grocery Delivery Jobs in New York

New York City is the most complex food service delivery market in the country. The city's 27,000+ restaurants, dense population, and challenging logistics (no parking, narrow streets, walk-ups) demand experienced drivers who can navigate urban obstacles. Pay reflects the difficulty — NYC food service drivers earn the highest wages in the sector nationally. Upstate New York adds institutional and grocery delivery work from DCs in Syracuse, Albany, and Buffalo.

NY Industry Pay

$65,000 - $100,000

Top Employers

5 Companies

National Growth

+6% through 2028

Food Service & Grocery Delivery in New York

New York City is the most complex food service delivery market in the country. The city's 27,000+ restaurants, dense population, and challenging logistics (no parking, narrow streets, walk-ups) demand experienced drivers who can navigate urban obstacles. Pay reflects the difficulty — NYC food service drivers earn the highest wages in the sector nationally. Upstate New York adds institutional and grocery delivery work from DCs in Syracuse, Albany, and Buffalo.

Top Food Service & Grocery Delivery Employers in New York

1

Baldor Specialty Foods (NYC)

Food Service & Grocery Delivery · New York

2

Sysco Metro NY

Food Service & Grocery Delivery · New York

3

US Foods (multiple DCs)

Food Service & Grocery Delivery · New York

4

Restaurant Depot

Food Service & Grocery Delivery · New York

5

S. Katzman Produce (Hunts Point)

Food Service & Grocery Delivery · New York

Requirements for Food Service & Grocery Delivery in NY

CDL-A (most positions) or CDL-B (some metro routes)
Physical ability to hand-unload 30,000-50,000 lbs per shift
Ability to work early morning shifts (midnight-4 AM start)
Food safety awareness and cold chain handling knowledge
Clean MVR and ability to pass DOT physical

Equipment Used in New York

Refrigerated trailers (reefer)Multi-temperature trailersDry van trailersStraight trucks (26 ft)Side-load beverage trucksHand trucks and dollies

Trucking in New York

State CDL Avg

$52,000 - $82,000

Key Industries

Consumer goods distribution (NYC metro), Financial services logistics, Agriculture (dairy, apples, wine)

Major Cities

New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse

Top Corridors

I-87 (NYC to Albany, Thruway), I-90 (Albany to Buffalo, Thruway)

Start Your Food Service & Grocery Delivery Career in New York

Apply now and get matched with top food service & grocery delivery employers hiring in New York.

Food Service & Grocery Delivery in New York — FAQ

How much do food service drivers make in New York City?

NYC food service drivers earn $70,000-$100,000+, the highest in the nation. Baldor Specialty Foods drivers serving Manhattan restaurants can earn $85,000-$100,000 with overtime. The premium reflects the extreme difficulty of urban delivery logistics.

What is the Hunts Point Market and how does it affect trucking?

The Hunts Point Food Distribution Center in the Bronx is the world's largest food distribution center, handling $7 billion in produce, meat, and fish annually. Hundreds of trucks arrive and depart daily, making it a major employment hub for food service drivers in the tristate area.

Is food service delivery in NYC different from other cities?

Dramatically. NYC drivers deal with double-parking, hand-trucking deliveries through narrow doorways, navigating basement stairs with cases, and strict delivery windows enforced by restaurants. Many deliveries happen between 2-6 AM when streets are clearest. It requires exceptional skill and physical fitness.