Updated May 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Charlottesville, Virginia (May 2026)
Active CDL job postings in Charlottesville, Virginia pay $2,693/week on average (median $2,000) through May 2026. Based on 1,429 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 30% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $2,053. Virginia freight is anchored by the Port of Virginia at Norfolk and Hampton Roads, the deepest commercial harbor on the East Coast (55 ft after the Gateway dredging program), with I-95 / I-64 / I-81 truck corridors connecting it to the mid-Atlantic and Southeast markets.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Where Charlottesville, Virginia differs from the Virginia baseline
| Charlottesville, Virginia | Virginia | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,693 | $2,269 | +19% |
| Take-truck-home | 89% | 83% | +6 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 71% | 66% | +5 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 88% | 78% | +10 pt |
| Regional routes | 11% | 17% | -6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Charlottesville, Virginia differs most from Virginia — 19% above statewide.
How CDL pay breaks down in Charlottesville, Virginia
Across active CDL postings in Charlottesville, Virginia this month, pay varies meaningfully by hiring type. The breakdown below shows the average and median weekly pay for each.
| Hiring type | Avg/wk | Median/wk | Active postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent Contractor (1099) | $2,179 | $2,000 | 651 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,608 | $1,600 | 424 |
| Owner Operator | $7,203 | $7,000 | 354 |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
How drivers spend their time on the road in Charlottesville, Virginia
The route mix in Charlottesville, Virginia this month tilts OTR: 11% regional, 88% OTR, 0% local, 1% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Across Charlottesville, Virginia CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 27% dedicated, 89% take-truck-home, 71% pet-friendly, 68% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in Virginia
Virginia freight is anchored by the Port of Virginia at Norfolk and Hampton Roads — the deepest commercial harbor on the East Coast and a top-tier US container gateway. The I-95 / I-64 / I-81 truck corridors connect Norfolk to mid-Atlantic and Southeast markets, with I-81 north-south through the Shenandoah Valley a major regional freight spine. Cost of living varies widely (high in Northern Virginia, moderate elsewhere). Virginia has a moderate graduated state income tax. Northern Virginia (DC suburbs) congestion is consistently top-tier; central and western VA is generally easier driving.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Charlottesville, Virginia
- Best owner-operator companies in Charlottesville, Virginia
- CDL driver salary in Virginia
The methodology behind the rankings
Compensation is the largest single weight at 30% — pay percentile, sign-on bonus, guaranteed-pay availability, and settlement cadence. FMCSA safety contributes 25%, built from five SAFER dimensions with unsafe-driving and hours-of-service weighted 2× heavier. Benefits contribute 25%, scored separately for W2 versus owner-operator and 1099 carriers. Operational performance — application responsiveness and fleet scale — contributes 20%. Updated May 2026.