Updated July 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Chesapeake, Virginia (July 2026)
Chesapeake, Virginia's CDL drivers earn $2,685 per week on average, $2,050 median, as of July 2026. Based on 1,328 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 30% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,902. 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 July 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Where Chesapeake, Virginia differs from the Virginia baseline
| Chesapeake, Virginia | Virginia | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,685 | $2,266 | +18% |
| Take-truck-home | 89% | 83% | +6 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 71% | 66% | +5 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 69% | 64% | +5 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 89% | 78% | +11 pt |
| Regional routes | 10% | 17% | -7 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, July 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Chesapeake, Virginia sits 18% above the Virginia baseline.
Chesapeake, Virginia CDL salary by hiring type
Across active CDL postings in Chesapeake, 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) | $2,241 | $2,050 | 622 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,623 | $1,585 | 381 |
| Owner Operator | $7,308 | $7,500 | 325 |
Source: Lanefinder index, July 2026
Lane mix and benefits across Chesapeake, Virginia
10% of Chesapeake, Virginia's active CDL postings are regional and 89% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (1%).
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Chesapeake, Virginia postings; dedicated routes at 27%; take-truck-home at 89%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 71% and riders-allowed at 69%.
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 Chesapeake, Virginia
- Best owner-operator companies in Chesapeake, Virginia
- CDL driver salary in Virginia
Where this data comes from
Carriers are scored against carriers in their own market. The composite is 30% compensation (pay + bonus + guaranteed pay + settlement cadence), 25% FMCSA safety, 25% benefits (W2 vs owner-op scoring), and 20% operational performance (responsiveness + fleet scale). No paid placement — the weights are the same for every carrier in the index. Updated July 2026.