The average salary for a Truck Driver in Portland is 67,855 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 5,655 $ gross per month and 32.62 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 36,500 $ to 106,667 $. The analysis is based on 34 salary reports from workers and employers in Portland. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06/12/2026 | Fleet Lead / Driver (Small Business) | 42.0 h | 105,000 $ | 100,000 $ | 8,333 $ | 48.08 $ | I manage a small fleet and still drive regularly. This management-plus-driving role requires extra hours overseeing scheduling, maintenance, and training. |
| 03/02/2026 | Team Lead Driver (Senior) | 40.0 h | 98,000 $ | 98,000 $ | 8,167 $ | 47.12 $ | I act as team lead on high-value lanes and coordinate junior drivers. This is a full-time senior role with increased responsibility and compensation. |
| 10/07/2025 | Part-time Specialized Driver | 20.0 h | 40,000 $ | 80,000 $ | 6,667 $ | 38.46 $ | I work part-time on specialized runs that require extra certifications. The hourly rate is higher than normal, so 20 hours a week results in a relatively high annual gross. |
| 07/19/2025 | Owner-Operator (Highway Specialist) | 45.0 h | 115,000 $ | 102,222 $ | 8,519 $ | 49.15 $ | I operate as an owner-operator focusing on interstate lanes. With strong utilization in 2025, my gross income rose significantly before operating costs. |
| 02/23/2025 | Senior Over-the-Road Driver | 40.0 h | 90,000 $ | 90,000 $ | 7,500 $ | 43.27 $ | I run long-haul OTR lanes and have over a decade of experience. This full-time senior position reflects higher pay and steady hours. |
| 11/04/2024 | Senior Regional Driver | 40.0 h | 88,000 $ | 88,000 $ | 7,333 $ | 42.31 $ | I manage regional lanes and serve as the senior driver for my shift. It's a full-time role with responsibilities for load coordination and safety compliance. |
| 06/11/2024 | Part-time Tanker Driver (Specialized) | 34.0 h | 58,300 $ | 68,588 $ | 5,716 $ | 32.98 $ | I work part-time driving tanker runs that require special endorsements. Even at 34 hours a week, pay per hour is higher due to the specialized nature of the job. |
| 01/29/2024 | Regional Driver (Senior) | 40.0 h | 78,500 $ | 78,500 $ | 6,542 $ | 37.74 $ | I'm a senior regional driver at a mid-size firm. I handle longer lanes and occasionally mentor junior drivers; this is a full-time position. |
| 12/18/2023 | Owner-Operator (Specialized Loads) | 45.0 h | 120,000 $ | 106,667 $ | 8,889 $ | 51.28 $ | I run specialized, time-sensitive loads as an owner-operator. Gross earnings were high in 2023 due to demand and niche contracts before expenses. |
| 09/02/2023 | Lead Heavy Haul Driver | 42.0 h | 83,000 $ | 79,048 $ | 6,587 $ | 38.00 $ | I lead heavy haul operations and mentor less experienced drivers. This leadership role requires extra hours managing loads and safety protocols. |
| 03/21/2023 | Regional Driver (Experienced) | 40.0 h | 76,000 $ | 76,000 $ | 6,333 $ | 36.54 $ | I've been a regional freight driver for ten years. This full-time role pays well due to consistent lanes and higher rates post-2022. |
| 12/12/2022 | Local Route Driver (Large Carrier) | 40.0 h | 72,000 $ | 72,000 $ | 6,000 $ | 34.62 $ | I drive a local route for a large national carrier; it's a full-time position with benefits and fairly predictable hours. My pay increased as the company raised regional rates. |
| 10/30/2022 | Part-time Route Driver | 20.0 h | 30,000 $ | 60,000 $ | 5,000 $ | 28.85 $ | I work part-time on a fixed city route. The schedule fits my other commitments; I've been in this role for two years and average about 20 hours per week. |
| 05/07/2022 | Owner-Operator (High Utilization) | 45.0 h | 110,000 $ | 97,778 $ | 8,148 $ | 47.01 $ | I'm an owner-operator running high-demand lanes with full scheduling control. 2022 was a strong year for gross revenue before truck and operating expenses. |
| 02/18/2022 | Regional Class A Driver | 40.0 h | 68,500 $ | 68,500 $ | 5,708 $ | 32.93 $ | I've been running regional routes out of Portland for eight years. This full-time role with a large carrier has seen steady pay increases through 2022. |
| 11/29/2021 | Flatbed Driver (Senior) | 40.0 h | 64,000 $ | 64,000 $ | 5,333 $ | 30.77 $ | I handle flatbed and secured loads, often with complex tarping and ties. Full-time senior driver role at a medium-sized contractor with about nine years of experience. |
| 09/14/2021 | Team Driver (Long-Haul) | 45.0 h | 85,000 $ | 75,556 $ | 6,296 $ | 36.32 $ | I drive as part of a team on long-haul lanes; we cover more miles and split driving. This is a full-time arrangement and we consistently log higher gross earnings. |
| 06/20/2021 | Part-time Relief Driver | 28.0 h | 36,000 $ | 51,429 $ | 4,286 $ | 24.73 $ | I'm a part-time relief driver covering routes and filling in shifts. I've been in this position since 2020 and average around 28 hours a week. |
| 03/05/2021 | Company Truck Driver | 40.0 h | 61,000 $ | 61,000 $ | 5,083 $ | 29.33 $ | I'm a full-time company driver with about eight years on the road. The carrier is mid-size and offered better pay and benefits starting in 2021. |
| 12/15/2020 | Lead Driver / Trainer | 42.0 h | 82,000 $ | 78,095 $ | 6,508 $ | 37.55 $ | I lead a small driver team and train new hires; this is a leadership role at a regional carrier so I work more than a standard shift and oversee scheduling. |
| 11/30/2020 | Owner-Operator (Independent) | 45.0 h | 90,000 $ | 80,000 $ | 6,667 $ | 38.46 $ | I operate my own tractor and run interstate loads. 2020 had high freight rates so my gross income was substantially higher that year before expenses. |
| 08/11/2020 | Part-time Shuttle Driver | 25.0 h | 32,500 $ | 52,000 $ | 4,333 $ | 25.00 $ | I work part-time running a shuttle route between distribution sites. Been in this role since early 2020; hours average about 25 per week and pay rose a bit during the pandemic. |
| 04/22/2020 | Over-the-Road Driver (Experienced) | 40.0 h | 55,000 $ | 55,000 $ | 4,583 $ | 26.44 $ | I run OTR routes for a national carrier and have been doing long-haul driving for six years. This is a full-time position and pay increased in 2020 due to demand. |
| 12/18/2019 | Delivery Driver (Small Business) | 40.0 h | 49,500 $ | 49,500 $ | 4,125 $ | 23.80 $ | I work full-time delivering for a small logistics company. I handle both driving and some customer-facing duties; I've been with them four years. |
| 10/04/2019 | Heavy Haul Driver (Experienced) | 40.0 h | 58,000 $ | 58,000 $ | 4,833 $ | 27.88 $ | I haul oversized heavy equipment and have specialized endorsements. I'm a full-time driver with about seven years in this niche role for a small contractor. |
| 07/25/2019 | Owner-Operator (Regional) | 45.0 h | 75,000 $ | 66,667 $ | 5,556 $ | 32.05 $ | As an owner-operator I handle regional freight and subcontract occasionally. I run a high-utilization schedule and report my gross earnings before truck expenses. |
| 03/17/2019 | Regional Driver (Mid-level) | 40.0 h | 50,000 $ | 50,000 $ | 4,167 $ | 24.04 $ | I've been a regional driver for a mid-size carrier for five years. This is a full-time role with consistent lanes and predictable weekly hours. |
| 12/30/2018 | Part-time City Route Driver | 30.0 h | 28,000 $ | 37,333 $ | 3,111 $ | 17.95 $ | I work part-time delivering to urban retailers. I've been doing this for about a year; schedule is steady but limited to about 30 hours per week. |
| 08/09/2018 | Long-Haul Driver (Senior) | 40.0 h | 47,500 $ | 47,500 $ | 3,958 $ | 22.84 $ | I run long-haul freight lanes and have nine years of experience. This is a full-time position with a regional carrier and I do occasional training but don't supervise staff. |
| 02/27/2018 | Local Route Driver (Mid-level) | 40.0 h | 42,500 $ | 42,500 $ | 3,542 $ | 20.43 $ | I drive a box truck on a daily local route and handle loading/unloading. I've been in this full-time role for about three years at a small logistics firm. |
| 11/20/2017 | Owner-Operator (Independent) | 45.0 h | 68,000 $ | 60,444 $ | 5,037 $ | 29.06 $ | I run my own truck as an owner-operator and handle long regional runs. I manage my own bookings and maintenance; in 2017 my gross take-home before expenses was around this amount. |
| 06/15/2017 | Over-the-Road Driver (Mid-level) | 40.0 h | 38,800 $ | 38,800 $ | 3,233 $ | 18.65 $ | I'm an OTR driver working long-haul routes out of Portland. I have about four years' experience and this is a full-time company driver role for a medium-sized firm. |
| 12/03/2016 | Part-time Relief Driver | 22.0 h | 20,600 $ | 37,455 $ | 3,121 $ | 18.01 $ | I work part-time driving short residential routes during the week; been in this relief role about three years and the schedule is variable but averages 22 hours per week. |
| 08/14/2016 | Local Delivery Driver (Entry-level) | 40.0 h | 36,500 $ | 36,500 $ | 3,042 $ | 17.55 $ | I deliver parcels and store restocks on a local route. I started here straight out of school two years ago; it's a full-time position at a small regional carrier and I do not supervise anyone. |
Portland is a freight crossroads for the Pacific Northwest, sitting at the junction of I-5 and I-84 with access to the Columbia and Willamette rivers and Portland International Airport (PDX). That mix of interstate corridors, maritime terminals, rail yards, and distribution parks in places like Rivergate, Swan Island, Gresham/Troutdale, Tualatin, Clackamas, and Hillsboro creates steady need for commercial drivers. Local routes move groceries, beverages, and parcels through dense neighborhoods, while regional and long-haul runs connect Portland to Seattle, California, and the Mountain West.
Hiring demand for truck drivers in Portland is often supported by e-commerce growth, food and beverage distribution, construction activity, and intermodal freight. Seasonal peaks typically occur around harvest and the winter holidays, and many employers seek CDL-A drivers with clean records, good customer service skills, and flexibility for early morning or night shifts. While national freight cycles can tighten or loosen opportunities, the Portland metro’s role as a distribution hub generally keeps openings available across local, regional, and linehaul work.
Portland also stands out for innovation in trucking. Daimler Truck North America is headquartered on Swan Island, and its collaboration with Portland General Electric created the Electric Island charging site for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, signaling a gradual shift toward lower-emission fleets. Drivers who are comfortable with new technology and telematics may find expanding opportunities as fleets pilot electric tractors on short-haul routes.
In Oregon, state workforce agencies and industry groups often cite heavy and tractor-trailer truck driving as an occupation with many annual openings, driven by retirements, turnover, and freight volume. Portland employers typically hire for a mix of:
Endorsements like doubles/triples, tanker, and HazMat can widen options, as can a TWIC card for port access. Oregon’s unique weight-mile tax means carriers pay based on vehicle weight and miles traveled, and drivers are often expected to follow specific routing and compliance procedures. Weather is another local factor: high winds in the Columbia River Gorge and occasional snow and ice can require careful planning and chain-ups, particularly on I-84.
Union representation is common at many parcel and LTL carriers in the metro area. Teamsters locals in Portland, such as Local 162, represent drivers at some employers, and these roles can emphasize safety, seniority bidding, and scheduled routes.
Real-world hiring for truck drivers in the Portland area typically includes a mix of national carriers, LTL service centers, and private fleets. Examples include:
Intermodal and port-related work is also present. BNSF Railway’s Rivergate intermodal facility and activity at the Port of Portland’s marine terminals support ongoing drayage needs. Air cargo at PDX further contributes to time-sensitive local and regional runs.
Truck drivers in Portland can build careers across several pathways. Many start in local P&D or grocery/foodservice delivery to be home daily, then move into LTL linehaul, regional OTR, or specialized segments like flatbed, tanker, and hazmat. Construction growth in the metro often supports steady demand for dump and mixer operators. Experience with liftgates, pallet jacks, and tight urban deliveries is highly valued in city routes, while regional roles emphasize time management and safe mountain and winter driving.
Professional growth can include becoming a driver trainer, yard hostler/spotter, dispatcher, safety coordinator, or moving into shop, warehouse, or terminal operations. Portland-area training options typically include community colleges and private schools—such as programs at Portland Community College, Elite Truck School, and IITR in Clackamas—helping new drivers earn a CDL and endorsements.
Looking ahead, sustainability initiatives and technology adoption may gradually reshape local routes, with early electric truck deployments focused on short-haul and return-to-base operations. Drivers who stay current on equipment, ELDs, and alternative-fuel procedures can be well-positioned as fleets modernize. Overall, Portland’s diversified freight base and strategic location generally sustain a healthy pipeline of opportunities for qualified truck drivers.
The average salary for a Truck Driver in Portland is 67,855 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 5,655 $ 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 Portland. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.
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