The average salary for a Truck Driver in Indianapolis is 57,165 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 4,764 $ gross per month and 27.48 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 37,333 $ to 106,667 $. The analysis is based on 32 salary reports from workers and employers in Indianapolis. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06/28/2026 | Dedicated Route Driver | 40.0 h | 56,000 $ | 56,000 $ | 4,667 $ | 26.92 $ | I run a single dedicated commercial route for a large retail customer. This is my 2026 gross and I work a predictable 40-hour schedule with occasional weekend pickups. |
| 05/19/2026 | Warehouse Shuttle/Driver (Entry-Level) | 35.0 h | 33,000 $ | 37,714 $ | 3,143 $ | 18.13 $ | I entered trucking through warehouse shuttle driving and reported this 2026 pay. I'm working full-time at 35 hours/week while getting my CDL and learning longer routes. |
| 02/11/2026 | Owner-Operator (Team Operations) | 45.0 h | 120,000 $ | 106,667 $ | 8,889 $ | 51.28 $ | I run a two-driver owner-operator operation and reported this 2026 gross. We keep trucks moving nearly constantly and I handle scheduling, compliance, and driving, averaging 45 hours/week. |
| 08/06/2025 | Specialty Equipment Operator (Oversize Loads) | 42.0 h | 93,000 $ | 88,571 $ | 7,381 $ | 42.58 $ | In 2025 I operated oversize and heavy-haul equipment requiring escorts and permits. I work around 42 hours/week due to additional planning and supervision duties. |
| 03/29/2025 | Private Fleet Long-Haul Driver | 40.0 h | 68,000 $ | 68,000 $ | 5,667 $ | 32.69 $ | I'm a long-haul driver for a large private fleet and reported this 2025 salary. I work a consistent 40 hours/week and receive good stability and benefits from the employer. |
| 10/15/2024 | Part-Time Shuttle Driver | 30.0 h | 29,500 $ | 39,333 $ | 3,278 $ | 18.91 $ | I work part-time moving trailers around a large yard and reported this 2024 gross. I average 30 hours/week and it's steady but limited in overtime opportunities. |
| 07/03/2024 | Short-Haul Expedited Driver | 38.0 h | 54,000 $ | 56,842 $ | 4,737 $ | 27.33 $ | I do short-haul expedited freight with tight delivery windows and reported this 2024 pay. I average 38 hours/week and receive bonuses tied to on-time performance. |
| 04/21/2024 | Driver Trainer | 40.0 h | 65,000 $ | 65,000 $ | 5,417 $ | 31.25 $ | I train new drivers for a regional carrier and report this 2024 salary. I'm full-time at 40 hours/week and have mixed driving and classroom responsibilities. |
| 01/12/2024 | Local Waste Hauler | 40.0 h | 48,000 $ | 48,000 $ | 4,000 $ | 23.08 $ | I work full-time collecting commercial waste and recycling for a municipal contractor. This is my 2024 gross and I handle heavy-duty routing at 40 hours/week. |
| 09/08/2023 | Owner-Operator (Dry Van, High Utilization) | 45.0 h | 110,000 $ | 97,778 $ | 8,148 $ | 47.01 $ | I own and operate a dry-van rig and had a very busy 2023 with consistent contracts; I typically work 45 hours/week including admin and maintenance, which increased my gross earnings. |
| 06/30/2023 | Team Driver (Dedicated Lane) | 40.0 h | 75,000 $ | 75,000 $ | 6,250 $ | 36.06 $ | In 2023 I worked a dedicated regional team lane and reported this pay. I was full-time at 40 hours/week and our lane had consistent high-mileage opportunities. |
| 02/14/2023 | Interstate Reefer Driver | 40.0 h | 62,000 $ | 62,000 $ | 5,167 $ | 29.81 $ | I drove refrigerated freight interstate and reported this 2023 salary as a mid-level driver with about five years of refrigerated experience. I worked a standard 40-hour schedule on paper. |
| 09/19/2022 | Local Parcel Driver (Part-Time) | 32.0 h | 30,000 $ | 37,500 $ | 3,125 $ | 18.03 $ | I do part-time parcel route work at 32 hours/week and reported this 2022 gross. It's steady seasonal work and the schedule allows me to balance other responsibilities. |
| 04/05/2022 | Flatbed Owner-Operator | 45.0 h | 82,000 $ | 72,889 $ | 6,074 $ | 35.04 $ | As a flatbed owner-operator I reported this 2022 gross after several large regional contracts. I usually work around 45 hours weekly including negotiations and maintenance. |
| 11/10/2021 | Logistics Supervisor (Driver Supervisor) | 42.0 h | 72,000 $ | 68,571 $ | 5,714 $ | 32.97 $ | I supervise a small fleet of drivers and still drive occasionally. This managerial role paid $72,000 in 2021; I typically worked about 42 hours/week handling scheduling and compliance. |
| 08/27/2021 | Dock-to-Dock Driver | 35.0 h | 45,000 $ | 51,429 $ | 4,286 $ | 24.73 $ | I work as a dock-to-dock driver moving freight within a 200-mile radius. I'm full-time at 35 hours/week and reported this 2021 salary as a mid-level driver. |
| 03/02/2021 | Team Driver (Cross-Country) | 40.0 h | 68,000 $ | 68,000 $ | 5,667 $ | 32.69 $ | In 2021 I was part of a two-person team running coast-to-coast loads. I worked a 40-hour reported schedule and the higher pay reflects continuous mileage and team premiums. |
| 12/15/2020 | In-House Logistics Driver | 40.0 h | 43,000 $ | 43,000 $ | 3,583 $ | 20.67 $ | I drove for a medium-sized private fleet moving goods between distribution centers. This 2020 pay reflects a full-time 40-hour schedule and steady benefits. |
| 09/23/2020 | Local Grocery Route Driver | 38.0 h | 41,000 $ | 43,158 $ | 3,596 $ | 20.75 $ | I work full-time delivering groceries to stores on a consistent route; this is my 2020 gross and I average 38 hours per week with weekend rotations. |
| 06/11/2020 | Regional Tanker Driver | 40.0 h | 47,000 $ | 47,000 $ | 3,917 $ | 22.60 $ | I drove tanker loads regionally and reported this 2020 salary. I'm full-time at 40 hours/week with hazardous materials endorsement and extra safety training included. |
| 02/28/2020 | Owner-Operator (Specialized/Heavy) | 45.0 h | 90,000 $ | 80,000 $ | 6,667 $ | 38.46 $ | I am an owner-operator handling specialized heavy loads and reported this 2020 gross after a busy year. I work about 45 hours a week coordinating loads and permits, which increases earnings. |
| 11/05/2019 | Part-Time Delivery Driver | 30.0 h | 28,000 $ | 37,333 $ | 3,111 $ | 17.95 $ | I do part-time delivery for a retail logistics provider, averaging 30 hours per week. The 2019 pay reflects a stable part-time schedule and tips are minimal. |
| 07/16/2019 | Interstate Linehaul Driver | 40.0 h | 52,000 $ | 52,000 $ | 4,333 $ | 25.00 $ | I reported this in 2019 after moving from regional to interstate linehaul routes. I'm full-time at 40 hours/week and received higher mileage pay compared with regional work. |
| 04/22/2019 | Flatbed Senior Driver | 40.0 h | 48,000 $ | 48,000 $ | 4,000 $ | 23.08 $ | In 2019 I was a senior flatbed driver with about seven years of experience. I worked 40 hours/week, handled complex loads, and trained newer drivers informally. |
| 09/03/2018 | Local Shuttle Driver | 35.0 h | 34,000 $ | 38,857 $ | 3,238 $ | 18.68 $ | I work local warehouse-to-store shuttle shifts at 35 hours per week. This is my 2018 gross pay; I'm a mid-level driver with three years experience at this employer size (small regional). |
| 06/14/2018 | Owner-Operator (Dry Van) | 45.0 h | 72,000 $ | 64,000 $ | 5,333 $ | 30.77 $ | I'm an owner-operator and reported this 2018 income after my second year owning a single truck doing regional dry-van. I typically worked 45 hours/week including loading/unloading and paperwork. |
| 12/30/2017 | Team Driver (Long-Haul) | 40.0 h | 60,000 $ | 60,000 $ | 5,000 $ | 28.85 $ | In 2017 I was driving team runs with another driver and we ran cross-country hauls. I averaged 40 hours on paper but actual time on duty was higher; this is the gross pay I received. |
| 10/09/2017 | Regional OTR Driver | 40.0 h | 45,000 $ | 45,000 $ | 3,750 $ | 21.63 $ | I reported this in 2017 after two years driving regional OTR routes. I was full-time at 40 hours/week and had steady mileage pay plus bonuses that are included in the annual pay. |
| 05/18/2017 | Private Fleet Driver | 40.0 h | 39,500 $ | 39,500 $ | 3,292 $ | 18.99 $ | I've been with a private fleet for three years as of my report in 2017. I did scheduled local runs and worked a steady 40-hour week as a union-like benefit employee. |
| 11/20/2016 | Long-Haul Truck Driver | 40.0 h | 42,000 $ | 42,000 $ | 3,500 $ | 20.19 $ | I was an entry-level long-haul driver in 2016 with about one year of experience. I ran interstate routes and worked a standard 40-hour schedule with occasional overtime paid separately. |
| 08/02/2016 | Flatbed Driver | 38.0 h | 37,000 $ | 38,947 $ | 3,246 $ | 18.72 $ | I drove flatbed loads regionally starting in 2016. I worked full time at 38 hours/week and handled tarping and securement duties; experience level was entry to mid-level. |
| 03/12/2016 | Local Delivery Driver | 25.0 h | 32,000 $ | 51,200 $ | 4,267 $ | 24.62 $ | I've worked part-time for a local delivery contractor for two years doing neighborhood deliveries and light freight. I average about 25 hours a week and I cover my own fuel card for some shifts. |
Indianapolis is widely known as the Crossroads of America, and that nickname is more than a slogan for truck drivers. With Interstates 65, 69, 70, and 74 intersecting and the I-465 beltway circling the city, the metro area functions as a natural hub for regional and long-haul freight. For truck drivers in Indianapolis, Indiana, this translates into steady freight flows, diverse route options, and a broad mix of employers from national carriers to local distributors.
The region’s logistics ecosystem is anchored by Indianapolis International Airport (IND), which handles substantial cargo volumes and hosts one of FedEx Express’s largest hubs. On the ground, large distribution parks cluster on the west and southwest sides near the airport (Plainfield and Avon), and along growth corridors in Whitestown/Lebanon to the northwest, Greenwood/Whiteland to the south, and Mount Comfort/Greenfield to the east. This geography typically creates consistent hiring for CDL-A and CDL-B drivers in local, regional, and dedicated roles.
Hiring demand for truck drivers in Indianapolis is often supported by three forces: e-commerce fulfillment, manufacturing, and food and beverage distribution. Warehousing and 3PL operations around the airport and along I-70 and I-65 regularly need drivers for local shuttles, yard moves, and final-mile delivery, while national carriers recruit for regional and OTR runs that can reach Chicago, Detroit, Columbus, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Louisville in a single day. LTL carriers maintain busy service centers around the I-465 loop, offering both daytime pickup-and-delivery and nighttime linehaul opportunities.
Intermodal and rail connections add another layer of freight. The CSX Avon Yard on the west side and Norfolk Southern operations in the metro provide rail access, and the Indiana Rail Road’s Senate Avenue intermodal terminal links Indianapolis to broader North American rail networks. Drayage and container work from these facilities can create additional openings for CDL drivers with experience in chassis and yard operations.
Endorsements can help candidates stand out. Many Indianapolis employers value HAZMAT, tanker, and doubles/triples, especially for fuel hauling, chemicals, and LTL linehaul. Airport-adjacent roles may require additional security clearances, and some intermodal or specialized sites can request TWIC or other credentials. Entry pathways typically include private CDL schools and carrier-sponsored training, while experienced drivers often move into dedicated accounts or specialized equipment to stabilize schedules and home time.
Truck drivers in Indianapolis, Indiana, can pursue roles with a wide range of national and regional employers. Examples include:
Indianapolis offers a full spectrum of driving roles. Newer drivers often start in OTR or dedicated regional routes and then transition to local positions as experience grows. LTL carriers provide structured schedules, with P&D routes during the day and linehaul runs at night. Drivers who pursue endorsements can move into tanker and HAZMAT, fuel delivery, or specialized chemicals. Intermodal drayage, flatbed for construction materials, and seasonal agriculture hauling are additional options. Construction and paving seasons generally boost demand for dump and lowboy drivers, while winter can bring opportunities for snow operations with public agencies and contractors.
Training and upskilling are accessible through private schools and workforce programs, such as Roadmaster Drivers School in Indianapolis, as well as employer-sponsored training offered by many national carriers. Over time, experienced drivers can advance into roles such as driver trainer, dispatcher, safety specialist, or fleet supervisor, or explore owner-operator and lease-on opportunities with regional carriers serving the rail ramps, airport, and major distribution parks.
Overall, the outlook for truck drivers in Indianapolis, Indiana, remains positive. The city’s central location, extensive interstate network, strong cargo airport, and dense cluster of warehouses and manufacturing sites typically support a healthy pipeline of job postings across local, regional, and OTR segments. Candidates who maintain clean records, build time behind the wheel, and add relevant endorsements are well positioned to find steady work in the Indy metro.
The average salary for a Truck Driver in Indianapolis is 57,165 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 4,764 $ 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 Indianapolis. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.
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