The average salary for a Truck Driver in Cleveland is 49,788 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 4,149 $ gross per month and 23.94 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 29,500 $ to 83,556 $. The analysis is based on 28 salary reports from workers and employers in Cleveland. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06/30/2026 | Regional Refrigerated Senior Driver | 40.0 h | 57,500 $ | 57,500 $ | 4,792 $ | 27.64 $ | I work refrigerated regional runs and have over eight years of experience. I'm full-time (40 hours) and handle sensitive cargo requiring careful temperature control and extra checks. |
| 06/18/2026 | Owner-Operator (High Utilization) | 45.0 h | 94,000 $ | 83,556 $ | 6,963 $ | 40.17 $ | I run a high-utilization owner-operator operation hauling national lanes and subcontracting when needed. I typically work about 45 hours a week; reported earnings are gross before business expenses. |
| 03/02/2026 | Specialized Heavy Haul Driver | 44.0 h | 76,000 $ | 69,091 $ | 5,758 $ | 33.22 $ | I handle heavy and oversized loads with specialized permits. I average around 44 hours a week due to escorts and coordination. My skills and certifications drive my higher earnings. |
| 11/11/2025 | Fleet Lead Driver (Large Corporation) | 42.0 h | 70,000 $ | 66,667 $ | 5,556 $ | 32.05 $ | I act as fleet lead for a large corporate logistics operation. I'm on-call sometimes and usually work about 42 hours a week, supervising routes, safety, and training—this leadership adds to my pay. |
| 08/30/2025 | Part-Time CDL Driver | 32.0 h | 26,000 $ | 32,500 $ | 2,708 $ | 15.63 $ | I work part-time (32 hours) doing weekend and evening deliveries for a small business. I have three years' experience and the role fits my schedule, though pay is lower than full-time positions. |
| 05/22/2025 | Interstate Solo Driver (Experienced) | 40.0 h | 65,000 $ | 65,000 $ | 5,417 $ | 31.25 $ | I run solo interstate routes and have been driving professionally for over a decade. I'm full-time (40 hours) and my experience plus consistent miles put me in the upper-mid pay band for the region. |
| 02/13/2025 | Local Pickup & Delivery Driver | 40.0 h | 46,000 $ | 46,000 $ | 3,833 $ | 22.12 $ | I do local pickup and last-mile delivery for a large distribution company. I'm full-time (40 hours) and have five years experience; recent market adjustments raised wages compared with a few years ago. |
| 09/07/2024 | Owner-Operator (Specialized Freight) | 45.0 h | 83,000 $ | 73,778 $ | 6,148 $ | 35.47 $ | I run a one-truck operation focused on higher-paying specialized freight. I usually work about 45 hours a week; gross earnings are higher but I cover all overhead and maintenance costs myself. |
| 04/29/2024 | Hazmat/Tanker Team Lead | 44.0 h | 72,000 $ | 65,455 $ | 5,455 $ | 31.47 $ | I lead a small crew handling hazmat tankers and still drive regularly. I'm working about 44 hours per week and have responsibility for compliance and training, which increases my compensation. |
| 01/18/2024 | Regional Team Driver | 40.0 h | 49,000 $ | 49,000 $ | 4,083 $ | 23.56 $ | I drive regional runs as part of a two-person team. I work 40 hours a week and have four years driving experience. The team setup gives steady miles and consistent pay. |
| 10/01/2023 | Flatbed Senior Driver | 40.0 h | 54,000 $ | 54,000 $ | 4,500 $ | 25.96 $ | I have nine years hauling flatbed with frequent tarping and specialized loading. I'm full-time (40 hours) for a regional freight company and earn a higher rate because of experience and qualifications. |
| 06/12/2023 | Local Logistics Supervisor (Driver Supervisor) | 42.0 h | 60,000 $ | 57,143 $ | 4,762 $ | 27.47 $ | I supervise a small team of drivers and still drive occasional routes. I'm full-time, usually about 42 hours, and responsible for scheduling, safety checks, and mentoring newer drivers at a medium-sized carrier. |
| 03/30/2023 | Owner-Operator (Independent) | 45.0 h | 68,000 $ | 60,444 $ | 5,037 $ | 29.06 $ | I'm an independent owner-operator hauling nationwide loads. I typically work about 45 hours a week and manage logistics myself. These are gross earnings before truck payments and fuel expenses. |
| 11/27/2022 | Long-Haul Specialty Load Driver | 45.0 h | 58,500 $ | 52,000 $ | 4,333 $ | 25.00 $ | I specialize in oversized loads and long-haul routes. I'm experienced and usually work around 45 hours a week due to longer transit times and escort coordination. The specialty loads increase pay noticeably. |
| 07/09/2022 | Tanker Driver (Senior) | 40.0 h | 52,000 $ | 52,000 $ | 4,333 $ | 25.00 $ | I have over ten years driving tankers with hazmat endorsements. I work full-time (40 hours) for a large regional carrier and train newer drivers occasionally, which is reflected in my pay. |
| 02/18/2022 | Part-Time Local Driver | 30.0 h | 24,000 $ | 32,000 $ | 2,667 $ | 15.38 $ | I work part-time (30 hours) doing local appliance deliveries for a small shop. I've been here two years and prefer the shorter shifts; pay is pro-rated for hours and includes occasional weekend work. |
| 11/03/2021 | Regional Refrigerated Truck Driver | 40.0 h | 47,000 $ | 47,000 $ | 3,917 $ | 22.60 $ | I haul refrigerated freight regionally for a mid-sized cold chain operator. I'm full-time (40 hours) and have eight years experience; specialized handling and equipment maintenance are part of my duties. |
| 05/20/2021 | City Dump Truck Driver | 40.0 h | 42,000 $ | 42,000 $ | 3,500 $ | 20.19 $ | I drive a municipal dump truck and have five years with the city. I'm full-time (40 hours) and the role includes early mornings and manual loading at times; union benefits are part of the compensation. |
| 12/04/2020 | Class A Team Driver | 45.0 h | 62,000 $ | 55,111 $ | 4,593 $ | 26.50 $ | I was part of a two-person team running coast-to-coast loads. I worked about 45 hours of driving per week and had seven years' experience. Team operations allowed higher annual pay due to continuous routing. |
| 09/16/2020 | Local Delivery Driver (Full-time) | 40.0 h | 37,500 $ | 37,500 $ | 3,125 $ | 18.03 $ | I work full-time as a local delivery driver for a large distribution center. I have six years' experience and my routes are consistent; benefits are included and I do standard 40-hour weeks. |
| 03/07/2020 | Owner-Operator (Small Fleet) | 45.0 h | 54,000 $ | 48,000 $ | 4,000 $ | 23.08 $ | I'm an owner-operator running my own small truck with one subcontracted helper. I typically work about 45 hours a week and handle long-haul contracts. These are gross earnings before truck expenses. |
| 08/11/2019 | Local Shuttle Driver | 36.0 h | 35,000 $ | 38,889 $ | 3,241 $ | 18.70 $ | I work as a shuttle/yard driver for a medium-sized industrial client. I'm full-time but typically scheduled around 36 hours a week with some overtime. I handle frequent short runs and yard duties. |
| 02/28/2019 | Tanker Driver (Mid-level) | 40.0 h | 41,000 $ | 41,000 $ | 3,417 $ | 19.71 $ | I was a tanker driver with hazardous material endorsement and three years' experience. I worked full-time (40 hours) for a regional fuel distributor and the hazmat pay bump helped my salary. |
| 10/14/2018 | Flatbed Truck Driver | 40.0 h | 36,500 $ | 36,500 $ | 3,042 $ | 17.55 $ | I drive flatbed loads and had around five years of experience at the time. I'm full-time (40 hours) for a small hauling company and handle more manual loading and tarping which raised my pay slightly. |
| 06/05/2018 | Local Part-Time Driver | 25.0 h | 22,000 $ | 35,200 $ | 2,933 $ | 16.92 $ | I worked part-time (about 25 hours a week) doing local deliveries for a small construction supplier. This was a second job for me; I've been at the role for 1.5 years and don't do overnight trips. |
| 11/21/2017 | Long-Haul Driver | 45.0 h | 38,500 $ | 34,222 $ | 2,852 $ | 16.45 $ | I was working long-haul routes and often put in longer weeks, about 45 hours on average. I had four years of experience and drove interstate loads—this was a demanding schedule but paid more than local runs. |
| 03/15/2017 | Regional CDL-A Driver | 40.0 h | 33,000 $ | 33,000 $ | 2,750 $ | 15.87 $ | I'm a regional CDL-A driver with about two years' experience when I reported this. I worked full-time (40 hours) for a mid-sized logistics company running multi-state routes but returning home weekly. |
| 09/12/2016 | Local Delivery Driver (Entry-level) | 40.0 h | 29,500 $ | 29,500 $ | 2,458 $ | 14.18 $ | I started here as an entry-level local driver at a small family-run delivery outfit. I'm full-time and work 40 hours a week delivering within the metro area. I've been here 10 months and mainly handle short-haul routes and loading/unloading. |
Cleveland, Ohio sits at the crossroads of Midwest freight. Interstates I-71, I-77, and I-90 converge in the city, with I-480 and the Ohio Turnpike (I-80) providing fast east–west connections. Add the Port of Cleveland on Lake Erie, heavy rail service from CSX and Norfolk Southern, and nightly air cargo operations at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, and it is easy to see why trucking remains essential here. Employers across the Cleveland–Elyria metro often report steady demand for CDL drivers in local, regional, and over-the-road roles.
The job outlook for truck drivers in Cleveland is generally positive. Manufacturing, metals, construction materials, and e-commerce distribution all generate freight that needs to move by truck. Seasonal patterns matter: construction and retail peaks boost loads in spring–summer and late fall, while winter brings unique demand for road salt and challenges related to lake-effect snow. Employers typically seek safe, professional drivers who can navigate urban traffic, winter roadway conditions, and busy industrial corridors.
The Cleveland labor market for drivers is shaped by its multimodal logistics footprint and diverse freight base:
Hiring demand in the metro often includes:
Cleveland also has a strong training pipeline. Programs such as Cuyahoga Community College’s Truck Driving Academy and Great Lakes Truck Driving School in the western suburbs prepare new drivers, while OhioMeansJobs and workforce boards frequently connect candidates with local employers. For port or rail-accessed work, a TWIC credential and intermodal experience can help.
Many well-known carriers and shippers operate in the Cleveland area and regularly hire CDL drivers:
Truck drivers in Cleveland can choose among home-daily city P&D positions, regional multi-day routes, or long-haul OTR assignments. New drivers often start in entry-level van or dedicated routes and then move into higher-skill niches such as flatbed steel, tanker/HazMat, or intermodal drayage. Endorsements for Tanker and HazMat typically open doors with fuel and chemical carriers, while experience with ELDs, dock operations, and forklift/pallet jack work is valued in LTL and food-service delivery.
Because the metro’s freight is diverse, drivers can build specialized careers without leaving the region. Those who enjoy consistent schedules may gravitate toward unionized or scheduled LTL linehaul work; others may prefer customer-facing city P&D roles, intermodal drayage tied to the Port of Cleveland and rail ramps, or dedicated routes for manufacturers and retailers. Winter operations are a reality here, so employers frequently seek professionals comfortable with snow and ice, route planning around lake-effect storms, and safe driving on steep grades south of the city.
Overall, Cleveland’s integrated logistics network and resilient manufacturing base generally translate into a stable market for qualified CDL drivers. With reputable carriers, shipper private fleets, and intermodal players all active locally, drivers can typically find multiple pathways to build skills and advance their trucking careers in Northeast Ohio.
The average salary for a Truck Driver in Cleveland is 49,788 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 4,149 $ 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 Cleveland. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.
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