The average salary for a Truck Driver in Denver is 57,746 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 4,812 $ gross per month and 27.76 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 32,000 $ to 99,556 $. The analysis is based on 49 salary reports from workers and employers in Denver. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/03/2025 | Fleet Manager (Driving Role) | 45.0 h | 88,000 $ | 78,222 $ | 6,519 $ | 37.61 $ | I manage a small fleet and still drive occasionally. The management responsibilities and continued driving led to a higher full-time salary with longer weekly hours. |
| 01/12/2025 | Senior Fleet Driver | 42.0 h | 79,000 $ | 75,238 $ | 6,270 $ | 36.17 $ | I'm a senior driver with leadership responsibilities and regularly back up scheduling for the fleet. I worked long weeks and reported this as my full-time annual gross. |
| 11/11/2024 | Senior OTR Driver | 42.0 h | 71,000 $ | 67,619 $ | 5,635 $ | 32.51 $ | I'm a senior over-the-road driver with extensive experience and regularly take premium lanes. I reported this after a year of consistent long-haul assignments. |
| 07/29/2024 | Specialty Cargo Driver | 44.0 h | 99,000 $ | 90,000 $ | 7,500 $ | 43.27 $ | I haul specialty high-value cargo and carry extra insurance-related responsibilities. This full-time, higher-responsibility role paid well and required vigilance and experience. |
| 04/12/2024 | Flatbed Lead Driver | 40.0 h | 72,000 $ | 72,000 $ | 6,000 $ | 34.62 $ | I'm the lead flatbed driver coordinating a small crew and still drive regularly. This management-level driving role came with a salary bump and extra responsibilities. |
| 02/20/2024 | Private Contract Driver | 40.0 h | 73,000 $ | 73,000 $ | 6,083 $ | 35.10 $ | I was employed on a private contract hauling specialty goods for a single client. The full-time role had steady pay and required higher attention to scheduling and security. |
| 11/28/2023 | Dedicated Lane Driver | 40.0 h | 66,000 $ | 66,000 $ | 5,500 $ | 31.73 $ | I run dedicated lanes for a regional shipper and have reliable schedules that keep me home most nights. I reported this full-time pay after several years on the lane. |
| 09/09/2023 | Team Driver (Dedicated Route) | 44.0 h | 88,000 $ | 80,000 $ | 6,667 $ | 38.46 $ | I drive as part of a dedicated team on consistent long-haul lanes. The team setup yields higher annual pay and predictable schedules compared to irregular OTR work. |
| 07/21/2023 | Interstate Solo Driver | 44.0 h | 74,000 $ | 67,273 $ | 5,606 $ | 32.34 $ | I run interstate solo OTR lanes and worked long weeks during a busy freight year. Experience and consistent miles drove higher annual pay. |
| 05/02/2023 | Owner-Operator (Experienced) | 45.0 h | 112,000 $ | 99,556 $ | 8,296 $ | 47.86 $ | I've been an owner-operator for over a decade running long-haul contracts. This reported year was busy and I worked extended weeks managing routes and maintenance. |
| 01/19/2023 | Hazmat OTR Driver | 42.0 h | 68,000 $ | 64,762 $ | 5,397 $ | 31.14 $ | I transport hazardous materials on long-haul routes and carry the hazmat endorsement. My role requires additional compliance work and I worked slightly longer weeks. |
| 12/07/2022 | Dedicated Refrigerated Driver | 40.0 h | 68,000 $ | 68,000 $ | 5,667 $ | 32.69 $ | I run dedicated refrigerated routes for a mid-sized food distributor. The full-time job requires precise temperature control and careful scheduling, reflected in pay. |
| 10/10/2022 | Intermodal Driver | 40.0 h | 59,000 $ | 59,000 $ | 4,917 $ | 28.37 $ | I moved containers between rail yards and distribution centers. With several years experience I worked full time for a medium-sized carrier with union-scale adjustments. |
| 08/16/2022 | Regional Linehaul Driver | 41.0 h | 67,000 $ | 65,366 $ | 5,447 $ | 31.43 $ | I worked regional linehaul routes and had several years experience; I often covered additional shifts during peak periods which pushed weekly hours slightly above 40. |
| 06/23/2022 | CDL Trainer / Mentor | 40.0 h | 70,000 $ | 70,000 $ | 5,833 $ | 33.65 $ | I was promoted to trainer and spent half my time instructing new hires and half driving. This full-time position at a mid-sized carrier included a training stipend. |
| 03/30/2022 | Owner-Operator (Referrals & Dedicated Lanes) | 44.0 h | 105,000 $ | 95,455 $ | 7,955 $ | 45.89 $ | I own my truck and run dedicated lanes supplied through broker referrals. I reported income for a busy year where I managed accounting and maintenance in addition to driving. |
| 11/04/2021 | Local Delivery Driver | 40.0 h | 50,000 $ | 50,000 $ | 4,167 $ | 24.04 $ | I handle high-volume local deliveries for a large grocery distributor. I've been full time for four years and the job includes early mornings and consistent overtime opportunities. |
| 09/14/2021 | Owner-Operator (Lease on) | 44.0 h | 95,000 $ | 86,364 $ | 7,197 $ | 41.52 $ | I was an owner-operator leasing onto a large carrier and ran regional lanes. I handled business expenses and scheduling; income reflects gross earnings before truck costs. |
| 06/29/2021 | Part-Time CDL Driver | 30.0 h | 24,000 $ | 32,000 $ | 2,667 $ | 15.38 $ | I work part-time as a CDL driver doing evening runs and average about 30 hours per week. My role is stable but intentionally limited to part-time hours. |
| 03/08/2021 | Local Shuttle Driver | 40.0 h | 47,000 $ | 47,000 $ | 3,917 $ | 22.60 $ | I shuttle freight between Denver terminals for a large logistics company. I worked full time with predictable schedules and overtime occasionally. |
| 02/11/2021 | Regional Driver - Night Shift | 40.0 h | 46,500 $ | 46,500 $ | 3,875 $ | 22.36 $ | I worked night regional routes out of Denver for a large trucking firm. I had about four years experience and the night shift paid a small premium. |
| 11/17/2020 | Cross-Border Driver | 40.0 h | 58,000 $ | 58,000 $ | 4,833 $ | 27.88 $ | I did cross-border runs and handled customs paperwork frequently. I had specialized experience and the job was full-time for a mid-sized carrier. |
| 09/30/2020 | Interstate Team Driver | 44.0 h | 76,000 $ | 69,091 $ | 5,758 $ | 33.22 $ | I ran as part of a two-person team on long-haul interstate routes. My partner and I split driving and I reported this as my personal annual gross; hours are high due to continuous schedules. |
| 08/05/2020 | Cross-Dock Driver | 40.0 h | 49,000 $ | 49,000 $ | 4,083 $ | 23.56 $ | I work cross-dock shifts moving freight between trailers and handle short runs. This full-time position at a large distribution hub was steady and safety-focused. |
| 06/10/2020 | Class A OTR Driver | 40.0 h | 49,500 $ | 49,500 $ | 4,125 $ | 23.80 $ | I drove over-the-road routes out of Denver and had about five years experience. I worked full time for a national carrier and received modest bonuses tied to on-time delivery. |
| 05/14/2020 | Driver/Dispatcher Hybrid | 40.0 h | 61,000 $ | 61,000 $ | 5,083 $ | 29.33 $ | I split responsibilities between driving and dispatch duties at a small company. This hybrid full-time role increased my overall pay compared to pure driving positions. |
| 01/25/2020 | Interstate Driver | 40.0 h | 63,000 $ | 63,000 $ | 5,250 $ | 30.29 $ | I do interstate runs and had about seven years of experience at the time. This full-time role at a national company included mile-based pay and some bonuses. |
| 11/21/2019 | Flatbed Driver | 40.0 h | 54,000 $ | 54,000 $ | 4,500 $ | 25.96 $ | I handle flatbed loads including tarping and securing freight. With seven years of experience I worked full time for a mid-sized carrier and earned a bit above average for specialized work. |
| 08/27/2019 | Long-Haul Driver | 42.0 h | 48,000 $ | 45,714 $ | 3,810 $ | 21.98 $ | I was a long-haul driver doing interstate freight and generally worked longer weeks. At the time I had six years of experience and a small carrier; the extra hours were typical for long runs. |
| 07/06/2019 | Class A Driver - Night Shift Part-Time | 25.0 h | 26,000 $ | 41,600 $ | 3,467 $ | 20.00 $ | I work part time on the night shift doing regional routes. I averaged about 25 hours a week while pursuing other work during the day. |
| 04/18/2019 | Local Delivery Driver | 38.0 h | 41,000 $ | 43,158 $ | 3,596 $ | 20.75 $ | I do local straight truck deliveries in Denver for a large retail distribution center. I've been full time here three years doing consistent daytime shifts. |
| 03/15/2019 | Short-Haul Driver | 40.0 h | 52,000 $ | 52,000 $ | 4,333 $ | 25.00 $ | I operate short-haul routes around the Denver metro area with frequent stops. I reported this salary as a full-time driver for a regional carrier after five years on the job. |
| 02/28/2019 | Day Cab Regional Driver | 40.0 h | 54,000 $ | 54,000 $ | 4,500 $ | 25.96 $ | I ran regional day cab routes out of Denver for a national firm. I was mid-level and home most nights, which influenced the steady full-time pay. |
| 01/10/2019 | Entry-Level Night Shuttle | 38.0 h | 37,000 $ | 38,947 $ | 3,246 $ | 18.72 $ | I was in an entry-level night shuttle position moving pallets between local sites. The work was full time with predictable hours and basic benefits. |
| 12/04/2018 | Specialized Transport Driver | 40.0 h | 62,000 $ | 62,000 $ | 5,167 $ | 29.81 $ | I move oversized and specialized equipment and have certifications for escort procedures. I reported this as a full-time driver for a small specialty carrier with six years experience. |
| 10/15/2018 | Owner-Operator (Solo) | 45.0 h | 82,000 $ | 72,889 $ | 6,074 $ | 35.04 $ | I'm an owner-operator running my own truck on regional lanes. I've been self-employed for eight years; this reported year I worked long weeks managing my own contracts, maintenance and expenses. |
| 07/09/2018 | Hazmat Certified Driver | 40.0 h | 58,000 $ | 58,000 $ | 4,833 $ | 27.88 $ | I hold a hazmat endorsement and handle specialized freight for a regional carrier. With six years experience I worked full time and received differential pay for hazardous loads. |
| 05/07/2018 | Freight Hauler - Small Business | 40.0 h | 53,000 $ | 53,000 $ | 4,417 $ | 25.48 $ | I work for a small freight company in Denver as a full-time hauler. I have four years experience and the owner runs tight routes; benefits are limited but pay is steady. |
| 03/19/2018 | Reefer (Refrigerated) Driver | 40.0 h | 45,000 $ | 45,000 $ | 3,750 $ | 21.63 $ | I drove refrigerated trailers on regional runs and had specialized training. I'm mid-level with four years' experience and worked full time for a regional company; the pay included some per-diem adjustments. |
| 01/07/2018 | Owner-Operator (Start-Up Year) | 45.0 h | 48,000 $ | 42,667 $ | 3,556 $ | 20.51 $ | This was my first year as an owner-operator; I worked long hours to build a customer base and the gross earnings were lower as I reinvested in equipment and repairs. |
| 12/05/2017 | Driver Supervisor | 42.0 h | 65,000 $ | 61,905 $ | 5,159 $ | 29.76 $ | I'm a driver supervisor overseeing a small group of drivers in Denver. I still drive sometimes but my role involves scheduling and mentoring; I reported this after five years in the company. |
| 10/01/2017 | Class B Straight Truck Driver | 38.0 h | 46,000 $ | 48,421 $ | 4,035 $ | 23.28 $ | I drive a straight truck in urban Denver routes and work slightly shorter full-time weeks. I reported this after three years in the job at a small local carrier. |
| 08/22/2017 | Local Part-Time Driver | 25.0 h | 21,000 $ | 33,600 $ | 2,800 $ | 16.15 $ | I work part time doing local deliveries, averaging about 25 hours a week. I reported this income while balancing another job; route volume is seasonal. |
| 05/03/2017 | Regional CDL A Driver | 40.0 h | 42,000 $ | 42,000 $ | 3,500 $ | 20.19 $ | I was hired as a regional driver doing multi-state hauls out of Denver. I had about three years' experience when I reported this and worked full time for a mid-sized carrier. Pay reflected more miles but longer days. |
| 04/26/2017 | Weekend Part-Time Driver | 15.0 h | 15,000 $ | 40,000 $ | 3,333 $ | 19.23 $ | I pick up weekend shifts only, averaging about 15 hours a week while I pursue other work on weekdays. This part-time income is supplemental for me. |
| 12/29/2016 | Part-Time Warehouse/Driver | 22.0 h | 18,000 $ | 32,727 $ | 2,727 $ | 15.73 $ | I split time between warehouse work and short delivery runs as a part-time employee. I averaged roughly 22 hours a week while finishing a certificate program. |
| 11/02/2016 | Local Part-Time Driver | 20.0 h | 16,000 $ | 32,000 $ | 2,667 $ | 15.38 $ | I worked part time doing local deliveries in Denver while going to school. I was paid hourly and averaged about 20 hours a week for a small delivery operation. |
| 09/12/2016 | Local Delivery Driver | 40.0 h | 38,000 $ | 38,000 $ | 3,167 $ | 18.27 $ | I'm an entry-level driver delivering for local routes in Denver. I've been here two years in a full-time role for a small logistics outfit and handle last-mile deliveries, loading and unloading. Hours are steady and benefits are basic. |
| 08/18/2016 | Entry-Level Truck Driver | 40.0 h | 35,000 $ | 35,000 $ | 2,917 $ | 16.83 $ | I was brand new to driving with under a year of experience and was in a full-time training position. Pay was entry-level while I built hours toward more qualified routes. |
Denver sits at the crossroads of the Mountain West, and truck drivers are central to how the region moves goods. The metro area connects I-25 (north–south) with I-70 and I-76 (east–west), tying Colorado manufacturers, food distributors, construction suppliers, and e-commerce warehouses to the rest of the country. Because of this location, hiring demand for CDL drivers in Denver is often steady across long-haul, regional, and local routes.
Distribution has expanded along the I-70 corridor east of downtown and around Denver International Airport, where large logistics parks support frequent inbound and outbound freight. Seasonal peaks typically occur before the winter holidays, but many employers in the Denver area recruit year-round to keep fleets staffed and to backfill retirements or route changes. Winter weather and mountain travel also shape the market: companies frequently look for drivers with safe winter driving records and experience on grades and passes.
The Denver–Aurora–Lakewood metro acts as a hub for freight flowing between the Front Range, the High Plains, and the Rockies. In addition to interstate access, the region has active rail intermodal yards operated by BNSF and Union Pacific, which creates drayage and local haul opportunities. Air cargo at Denver International Airport supports time-sensitive freight and linehaul moves to nearby consolidation points. Warehousing clusters in Aurora’s Majestic Commercenter and Prologis Park 70, as well as facilities around Commerce City and Thornton, generate consistent pickup-and-delivery traffic.
Industry mix helps diversify demand. Food and beverage distribution is significant, construction and building materials remain active, and consumer goods tied to outdoor recreation move through Denver to mountain towns. Tanker work supporting fuel distribution around the Suncor Energy refinery in Commerce City can offer specialized routes for drivers with HAZMAT and tanker endorsements. Because Colorado enforces a chain law on I-70 during winter conditions, motor carriers commonly prioritize candidates comfortable with mountain operations and proper equipment use.
Entry points for new drivers generally include CDL schools and employer-sponsored training. The metro area hosts programs such as CDL College (Henderson) and United States Truck Driving School (Denver/Wheat Ridge), which can help new entrants meet federal training requirements. Employers typically screen for clean motor vehicle records, medical certification, and drug and alcohol compliance under DOT regulations.
Many well-known carriers and distributors operate in the Denver area and regularly hire truck drivers for local delivery, linehaul, or OTR positions. Examples include:
Public agencies also employ CDL holders. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) hires highway maintenance workers who operate plows and heavy equipment, and the City and County of Denver periodically recruits CDL drivers for public works roles.
Truck drivers in Denver can choose among several paths. Local routes with foodservice, beverage, and retail distributors offer home-daily schedules but often involve early start times and physical unloading. LTL carriers provide city P&D work and dock-to-driver or combo roles, with opportunities to move into regional and nightly linehaul as seniority grows. Regional and OTR carriers based in or recruiting through Denver run I-25 and I-70 corridors to the West Coast, Southwest, and Midwest, which can appeal to drivers seeking longer miles.
Endorsements expand options. Tanker and HAZMAT are valuable for fuel and chemical hauling; doubles/triples can help with LTL linehaul bids; and a clean safety record is essential for intermodal and airport-adjacent work, which may require site-specific security badging. Some drivers transition into owner-operator or small-carrier roles, serving rail intermodal ramps or dedicated regional contracts. Others advance into driver trainer, safety, dispatch, or operations positions within carriers and shippers.
Overall, the Denver market generally supports consistent hiring for experienced CDL-A drivers and a healthy pipeline for new entrants who complete quality training. Candidates who bring safe mountain driving skills, strong customer service, and flexibility with schedules often find the broadest set of opportunities across the metro area and the greater Front Range.
The average salary for a Truck Driver in Denver is 57,746 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 4,812 $ 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 Denver. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.
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