Roadside Assistance Technician · Independent contractor (1099) · Based in Linden, NJ · · Posted September 20, 2026 · Open through 2026-12-31
What a roadside provider does
Roughly half the calls to a towing company are not tows. A battery died in the lot at Rahway station. A tire shredded on Route 22 and the spare is in the trunk. Keys are locked in the car at the Woodbridge Center. The tank ran dry on Route 9 short of the exit. A roadside provider reaches the car with a jump pack, a floor jack and impact gun, damage-free lockout tools and a fuel can, fixes it on the spot, and the customer drives away. If the fix does not solve it, you tell dispatch and the tow is sent from the same call.
Dispatch runs 24 hours a day from Linden. A dispatcher takes the call, quotes the customer one flat price before anything moves, and sends the nearest available truck. You get the pickup, the destination, the vehicle and the customer's number on your phone; you call the customer when you are a few minutes out; you photograph the vehicle before and after; the receipt goes out itemized. No upselling on scene, no surprise fees, and you never quote a price yourself. That is the whole system, and it is why customers call back.
A typical day
Winter mornings start before seven with batteries: driveways in Westfield and Cranford, then the station lots as commuters return at night. Spring is pothole season on Routes 1 & 9 and Route 22, and most of the calls are tire changes with a bent-rim check. Summer is heat-killed batteries in mall lots, flats at speed on I-78 and I-287, and lockouts with a child or a pet inside that go to the front of the line. Fall is the first cold night and the fuel calls on dark commutes. On the Turnpike and Parkway you do not work the shoulder; the Authority's authorized garage brings the car off and you meet it at the exit or the garage's lot.
The territory is the 45-minute circle around Linden: Union County first, then Middlesex, Essex and Hudson, out to Somerset, Morris, Monmouth, Bergen and Passaic. You will learn the Turnpike exits from 9 to 16, the Parkway from 105 to 159, Routes 1 & 9, 22, 27 and 35, I-78, I-280 and I-287, and the local streets in 163 towns. On the Turnpike and Parkway the shoulder belongs to the Authority's authorized garages; our trucks meet those cars at the exit or in the garage's lot and take them from there.
What you bring and what we provide
You bring a reliable vehicle with amber lighting (a magnetic bar is fine), a professional jump pack rated for diesels, a floor jack and impact gun with a full socket and wheel-lock set, a portable inflator, damage-free lockout tools, a marked fuel can, gloves, a vest and a flashlight. We provide the calls, the customer, the pricing, the app, and payment collection. We can advise on equipment if you are starting out.
What you will do
- Respond to dispatched jump-start, tire-change, lockout and fuel-delivery calls inside the quoted window.
- Perform each service safely with professional tools; position your vehicle between the customer and traffic on shoulders.
- Test batteries and alternators after a jump and tell the customer honestly whether the fix will hold.
- Verify ownership before a lockout (license, registration or proof of ownership) and record it in the app.
- Photograph the vehicle before and after; log the job the same day.
- Tell dispatch immediately when a roadside fix will not solve it so the tow is sent from the same call.
- Communicate clearly and courteously with customers who are stranded and stressed.
What you need
- Your own reliable vehicle suitable for roadside work, insured, with current NJ inspection.
- Your own professional tools: jump pack, floor jack, impact gun, sockets and wheel-lock removal set, inflator, lockout kit, fuel can; or the ability to acquire them before your first call.
- Valid driver's license, at least 21 years old, clean motor vehicle record.
- One year or more of roadside, towing or automotive service experience preferred; strong mechanical aptitude required.
- Working knowledge of vehicle batteries, tires, TPMS, and door and lock systems, including smart keys.
- Able to lift 50 pounds and work outdoors in all weather.
- Registered as a sole proprietor or business able to receive weekly settlements; W-9 on file.
- Smartphone for the dispatch app; able to pass a background check.
Nice to have
- Mobile battery replacement capability
- EV 12-volt experience
- Spanish, Portuguese or Polish
- Living in or near Union or Middlesex County for the fastest calls
Pay and schedule
Paid per completed call, settled weekly, at rates set out in writing before your first job. Each roadside service is a flat price to the customer; your share is fixed per service type. Your vehicle, fuel, tools and taxes are yours as an independent contractor.
You choose the days and hours you are available. The heaviest roadside demand is early mornings in winter (dead batteries), evenings at the commuter lots, and summer weekends; providers who cover those windows earn the most.
What we provide
- Dispatched calls 24/7 across 163 towns
- Fixed per-service pay, settled weekly
- Customer payment collection
- Dispatch app with photos and job history
- Equipment advice and a written provider agreement
How to apply
Two ways. Call or text (908) 444-0129 and ask for hiring; the dispatcher takes your details and hiring calls you back, usually the same day. Or use the form below and we call you.
The NJ Towing Service is an equal opportunity employer. We consider every qualified applicant without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, marital or familial status, pregnancy, veteran or military status, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, New Jersey or local law. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities. Hiring decisions are based on qualifications, driving record, and the needs of the dispatch board.