The average salary for a Truck Driver in Charlotte is 58,531 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 4,878 $ gross per month and 28.14 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 29,867 $ to 97,778 $. The analysis is based on 35 salary reports from workers and employers in Charlotte. Part-time salaries are proportionally converted to 40 weekly hours so the values are comparable.
| Date | Job title | Weekly hours | Reported gross/year | Normalized to 40h/year | Gross/month 40h | Gross/hour 40h | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02/07/2026 | OTR Experienced Driver (2026) | 42.0 h | 86,000 $ | 81,905 $ | 6,825 $ | 39.38 $ | I run OTR lanes primarily in the Eastern U.S. and this is my 2026 gross annual salary. I average about 42 hours per week and have over eight years' experience. |
| 10/01/2025 | OTR Experienced Driver | 42.0 h | 78,000 $ | 74,286 $ | 6,190 $ | 35.71 $ | I'm an experienced OTR driver working for a large regional carrier. My schedule averages 42 hours per week and this is my gross annual pay for 2025. |
| 03/18/2025 | Fleet Manager (Former Driver) | 44.0 h | 98,000 $ | 89,091 $ | 7,424 $ | 42.83 $ | I moved into fleet management from driving and oversee scheduling and safety for a small fleet. I work roughly 44 hours a week in this leadership role. |
| 11/12/2024 | Long‑Haul Team Driver (High‑Earning Team) | 42.0 h | 92,000 $ | 87,619 $ | 7,302 $ | 42.12 $ | I drive as part of a two‑person long‑haul team and we split time on the road. I average 42 hours per week and this is my gross annual pay. |
| 11/26/2023 | Regional Driver (Large Carrier) | 40.0 h | 72,500 $ | 72,500 $ | 6,042 $ | 34.86 $ | I work regionally for a large carrier on dedicated lanes. I'm a senior driver with five years at this company and work a standard 40‑hour schedule. |
| 09/14/2023 | Route Driver (Part‑Time) | 20.0 h | 18,000 $ | 36,000 $ | 3,000 $ | 17.31 $ | I do steady part‑time route runs for a small company, averaging 20 hours per week. I've been in this role about a year and handle deliveries and inventory drops. |
| 04/02/2023 | Regional OTR Driver | 42.0 h | 74,500 $ | 70,952 $ | 5,913 $ | 34.11 $ | I drive regional over‑the‑road routes focusing on the Southeast. I'm a full‑time driver averaging 42 hours per week with seven years' experience. |
| 01/20/2023 | Senior Regional OTR Driver | 40.0 h | 74,000 $ | 74,000 $ | 6,167 $ | 35.58 $ | I work regional OTR lanes for a national carrier, have been here six years, and work a standard 40‑hour schedule with occasional overtime. |
| 10/27/2022 | Flatbed Senior Driver (Supervisor‑Level) | 44.0 h | 80,000 $ | 72,727 $ | 6,061 $ | 34.97 $ | I lead the flatbed crew and still run loads occasionally. In this hybrid supervisory driver role I work about 44 hours a week and have been promoted internally. |
| 08/03/2022 | Flatbed Senior Driver | 45.0 h | 72,000 $ | 64,000 $ | 5,333 $ | 30.77 $ | I move flatbed freight on regional lanes and am a senior driver supervising loading practices. I work longer weeks around 45 hours as part of the role. |
| 05/09/2022 | Hazmat Tanker Senior Driver | 40.0 h | 68,000 $ | 68,000 $ | 5,667 $ | 32.69 $ | I transport specialized liquid freight with hazmat certification. I've been with a large carrier four years and work 40 hours per week. |
| 03/29/2022 | Owner‑Operator (Independent) | 45.0 h | 105,000 $ | 93,333 $ | 7,778 $ | 44.87 $ | As an owner‑operator I run regional and OTR loads; this is the gross revenue before expenses for last year. I average about 45 hours a week between driving and admin. |
| 03/29/2022 | Owner‑Operator (Regional) | 45.0 h | 110,000 $ | 97,778 $ | 8,148 $ | 47.01 $ | As a regional owner‑operator I gross roughly this amount before fuel and maintenance expenses. I average about 45 hours a week combining driving and paperwork. |
| 12/08/2021 | Hazmat Tanker Driver | 40.0 h | 60,000 $ | 60,000 $ | 5,000 $ | 28.85 $ | I transport hazardous liquids and have specialized endorsements. I'm full time (40 hrs/week) and have around six years' experience. |
| 06/01/2021 | Private Contractor (Part‑Time Driver) | 30.0 h | 28,000 $ | 37,333 $ | 3,111 $ | 17.95 $ | I contract with a small logistics firm and work part time as a driver, averaging 30 hours per week. I handle local runs and paperwork myself. |
| 04/12/2021 | Local Driver (Experienced) | 40.0 h | 48,000 $ | 48,000 $ | 4,000 $ | 23.08 $ | I've been an experienced local driver for a regional carrier for several years. This is my full‑time pay and I work a typical 40‑hour week. |
| 04/12/2021 | Local Mid‑Level Driver | 40.0 h | 48,000 $ | 48,000 $ | 4,000 $ | 23.08 $ | I've been driving local freight for five years at a small family‑owned business. This is my full‑time (40 hrs/wk) gross pay. |
| 01/06/2021 | Night Shift Delivery Driver | 36.0 h | 45,000 $ | 50,000 $ | 4,167 $ | 24.04 $ | I run night delivery routes for a regional carrier. I'm full time at 36 hours a week and have been doing nights for four years. |
| 11/19/2020 | Intermodal Terminal Driver | 40.0 h | 49,500 $ | 49,500 $ | 4,125 $ | 23.80 $ | I work at an intermodal yard moving trailers and containers locally. I'm a full‑time employee with four years' experience and this is my gross annual amount. |
| 11/19/2020 | Intermodal Local Driver (38.5 hrs) | 38.5 h | 52,000 $ | 54,026 $ | 4,502 $ | 25.97 $ | I work for a medium‑sized terminal moving containers locally. I'm full time and average about 38.5 hours per week; I've been here three years. |
| 09/30/2020 | Hazmat Certified Driver | 40.0 h | 54,000 $ | 54,000 $ | 4,500 $ | 25.96 $ | I hold hazmat endorsements and handle specialized freight. I've worked here two years full time (40 hrs/wk) and the pay reflects the extra certification. |
| 06/02/2020 | Local Delivery Driver (Full‑Time, 35 hrs) | 35.0 h | 40,500 $ | 46,286 $ | 3,857 $ | 22.25 $ | I work full time (35 hours/week) doing local deliveries for a small business. I've been here three years and handle heavy lifting and route planning. |
| 02/14/2020 | Municipal/Public Works Truck Driver | 40.0 h | 49,000 $ | 49,000 $ | 4,083 $ | 23.56 $ | I drive municipal trucks for public works. I'm a full‑time employee with four years' service and work 40 hours per week with steady benefits. |
| 11/11/2019 | Long‑Haul Over‑the‑Road (OTR) Driver | 40.0 h | 62,000 $ | 62,000 $ | 5,167 $ | 29.81 $ | I've been an OTR driver for about seven years, running cross‑country lanes. This is my full‑time (40 hrs/wk) gross annual pay. |
| 08/23/2019 | CDL A Trainer / Senior Driver | 40.0 h | 58,000 $ | 58,000 $ | 4,833 $ | 27.88 $ | I train new hires in addition to driving routes; I'm a senior driver at a mid‑sized carrier and work 40 hours per week. |
| 06/17/2019 | Owner‑Operator (Tractor‑Trailer) | 45.0 h | 78,000 $ | 69,333 $ | 5,778 $ | 33.33 $ | I'm self‑employed as an owner‑operator running long routes. This is the gross revenue I earned last year and I average about 45 hours a week running loads and handling admin. |
| 03/05/2019 | Senior Driver / Driver Supervisor | 40.0 h | 68,500 $ | 68,500 $ | 5,708 $ | 32.93 $ | I supervise a small group of drivers while still running shifts occasionally. I'm full time (40 hrs/wk) and have been promoted into this hybrid role. |
| 10/16/2018 | Delivery Driver (Small Business) | 40.0 h | 38,500 $ | 38,500 $ | 3,208 $ | 18.51 $ | I work full time for a small local distributor handling same‑day deliveries. I've been with the owner‑operator business three years and average 40 hours weekly. |
| 07/30/2018 | Regional Team Driver | 40.0 h | 56,000 $ | 56,000 $ | 4,667 $ | 26.92 $ | I drive as part of a two‑person team on regional routes. I work full time (40 hrs/week) and have six years' driving experience. |
| 02/24/2018 | Tank Truck Driver (CDL A) | 40.0 h | 46,200 $ | 46,200 $ | 3,850 $ | 22.21 $ | I'm a tanker driver handling bulk liquids. I've been in the role five years at a medium‑sized carrier and work 40 hours per week. |
| 09/08/2017 | Shuttle/Passenger Shuttle Driver | 35.0 h | 34,000 $ | 38,857 $ | 3,238 $ | 18.68 $ | I drive a shuttle for a small local operator, working a stable 35 hours a week as a full‑time employee; I've been with them two years. |
| 07/19/2017 | Intermodal Local Driver | 40.0 h | 39,000 $ | 39,000 $ | 3,250 $ | 18.75 $ | I drive intermodal containers locally for a regional logistics company. I'm a mid‑level driver with about four years' experience and work 40 hours per week. |
| 12/03/2016 | Waste/Dump Truck Driver | 30.0 h | 22,400 $ | 29,867 $ | 2,489 $ | 14.36 $ | I work part time operating a dump truck for municipal contracts, averaging 30 hours weekly. I've been doing this for three years and do not manage others. |
| 08/12/2016 | Part‑Time Local Delivery Driver | 25.0 h | 20,500 $ | 32,800 $ | 2,733 $ | 15.77 $ | I work part time delivering small freight around Charlotte. I've been here a year and average 25 hours per week; I don't supervise anyone. |
| 07/20/2016 | Entry‑Level CDL A Driver | 40.0 h | 31,200 $ | 31,200 $ | 2,600 $ | 15.00 $ | I was hired as an entry‑level CDL A driver and have been driving local routes for six months full time (40 hrs/wk). I'm paid hourly and this is my annual gross. |
Charlotte, North Carolina is widely viewed as a logistics and distribution hub for the Carolinas and the broader Southeast. The city sits at the crossroads of I-85 and I-77, has a full beltway via I-485, and is served by major railroads. Norfolk Southern operates the Charlotte Regional Intermodal Facility at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, which connects truck freight to rail and air cargo. This infrastructure, combined with rapid population and business growth in the metro area, helps sustain steady demand for professional truck drivers across local, regional, and over-the-road roles.
Trucking in Charlotte typically supports retail distribution, e-commerce, manufacturing, building materials, food and beverage, and automotive suppliers. The metro includes Mecklenburg County and extends into Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Union, and York County, SC—creating a dense network of distribution centers and cross-docks that rely on CDL drivers. Because Charlotte is within a day’s run of ports such as Charleston and Savannah and major markets like Atlanta and the Triad, the city often serves as a staging point for both inbound and outbound freight.
Local hiring activity in Charlotte is usually robust. Employers post frequent openings for CDL-A drivers in regional and OTR routes, and there is consistent need for local city drivers to handle LTL pickup and delivery, intermodal drayage from the rail ramp, and shuttle moves between warehouses. Foodservice and beverage distributors also recruit for physically demanding, customer-facing delivery roles, while flatbed carriers look for drivers comfortable with securing and hauling building materials for the area’s ongoing construction projects.
Endorsements can expand opportunities. Hazmat and tanker are commonly valued for fuel, chemical, and bulk liquid deliveries in the region, and doubles/triples endorsements are helpful for LTL linehaul. New graduates can often find trainee paths with national carriers or enter local roles that provide structured training, while experienced drivers may qualify for dedicated accounts with consistent routes and home time. Seasonal peaks are typical: construction and beverage volumes often rise in warmer months, and retail and parcel traffic increase around the holidays. Charlotte’s relatively mild winters can reduce weather disruptions compared with colder markets, but drivers still navigate heavy congestion on I-77 and I-85, so off-peak and night shifts are common.
Compliance and safety are central across the market. Employers generally emphasize clean MVRs, strong safety records, ELD proficiency, and familiarity with Hours of Service. Many companies also value customer-service skills for store delivery, residential freight, and white-glove work tied to the region’s rapid residential growth.
Truck drivers in Charlotte can pursue roles with a mix of national carriers, LTL companies, 3PLs, distributors, and private fleets. Real employers that frequently recruit in the area include:
In addition, many specialized carriers managing fuel, chemicals, building materials, and refrigerated loads operate in the Charlotte region and periodically add drivers as accounts grow.
Charlotte’s freight mix supports multiple career paths. Drivers can start in local P&D or yard/hostler roles and move into linehaul, regional, or OTR assignments. Others transition from OTR into dedicated routes for retailers or manufacturers as they seek predictable schedules. Foodservice and beverage delivery can be a fit for drivers who prefer customer interaction and steady, year-round work. Those with the right endorsements may move into tanker, hazmat, or specialty hauling, while flatbed roles suit drivers comfortable with load securement and frequent stops at construction sites.
Owner-operators and small fleets also find opportunities in intermodal drayage, regional lanes to the ports, and power-only moves for 3PLs. Because the Charlotte metro links to fast-growing suburban and industrial areas, short-haul freight between nearby counties can provide consistent volume without long overnight runs. Drivers who keep credentials current, maintain strong safety records, and build familiarity with local receivers and traffic patterns generally have a competitive edge in this market.
Overall, the job outlook for truck drivers in Charlotte remains favorable. The city’s role as a Southeast logistics hub, its intermodal connections, and ongoing industrial and residential growth all contribute to steady hiring demand and a wide range of driving options for both new and experienced professionals.
The average salary for a Truck Driver in Charlotte is 58,531 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 4,878 $ gross per month.
Part-time and full-time reports are normalized to a 40-hour workweek so salary reports can be compared fairly.
You can find more comparisons on the profession overview for Truck Driver and the city overview for Charlotte. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.
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