Updated November 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Chesapeake, Virginia (November 2026)
Chesapeake, Virginia's CDL drivers earn $2,711 per week on average, $2,100 median, as of November 2026. Based on 1,364 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 30% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,931. 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 November 2026
- average weekly pay fell by 4.8% ($2,849 → $2,711).
- median weekly pay fell by 2.3% ($2,150 → $2,100).
- average sign-on bonus rose by 1.8% ($1,897 → $1,931).
Where Chesapeake, Virginia differs from the Virginia baseline
| Chesapeake, Virginia | Virginia | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,711 | $2,275 | +19% |
| Take-truck-home | 89% | 83% | +6 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 70% | 65% | +5 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 68% | 63% | +5 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 88% | 77% | +11 pt |
| Regional routes | 11% | 18% | -7 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Chesapeake, Virginia sits 19% 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) | $2,277 | $2,100 | 643 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,633 | $1,600 | 391 |
| Owner Operator | $7,286 | $7,500 | 330 |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
Lane mix and benefits across Chesapeake, Virginia
11% of Chesapeake, Virginia's active CDL postings are regional and 88% 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 28%; take-truck-home at 89%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 70% and riders-allowed at 68%.
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 November 2026.