Updated November 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Dothan, Alabama (November 2026)
In Dothan, Alabama as of November 2026, the typical CDL driver brings home $2,595 per week (median $2,015). Based on 1,440 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,955. Alabama trucking is anchored by the Port of Mobile and the I-65 / I-20 / I-10 corridors, with significant automotive and Tier-1 supplier traffic feeding Honda, Hyundai, and Mercedes-Benz plants.
What changed in November 2026
- average weekly pay fell by 3.3% ($2,684 → $2,595).
- median weekly pay fell by 1.7% ($2,050 → $2,015).
How Dothan, Alabama compares to Alabama
| Dothan, Alabama | Alabama | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,595 | $2,287 | +13% |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 71% | 65% | +6 pt |
| Take-truck-home | 90% | 85% | +5 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 88% | 80% | +8 pt |
| Regional routes | 11% | 16% | -5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
Dothan, Alabama's biggest divergence from Alabama is on average weekly pay, 13% above the state baseline.
What CDL drivers are earning across Dothan, Alabama
Across active CDL postings in Dothan, Alabama 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) | $2,261 | $2,050 | 688 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,609 | $1,575 | 405 |
| Owner Operator | $7,148 | $7,000 | 347 |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
How drivers spend their time on the road in Dothan, Alabama
Of active CDL postings in Dothan, Alabama this month, 11% are regional and 88% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 1%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Dothan, Alabama postings; dedicated routes at 26%; take-truck-home at 90%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 71% and riders-allowed at 68%.
Driving CDL in Alabama
Alabama trucking centers on the I-65 / I-20 / I-10 grid, with Hyundai (Montgomery), Honda (Lincoln), and Mercedes-Benz (Tuscaloosa) automotive plants driving heavy Tier-1 supplier freight on tight just-in-time schedules. The Port of Mobile handles bulk cargo at the southern end. Cost of living runs below the national average, which makes the headline pay math work better than it does in the Northeast. Summer heat and humidity on the Gulf Coast affect equipment and load-securing differently than inland. Alabama has a low graduated state income tax.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Dothan, Alabama
- Best owner-operator companies in Dothan, Alabama
- CDL driver salary in Alabama
How we compile these rankings
Pay carriers in the same market against each other (30% of the score). Add a five-dimension FMCSA safety percentile from SAFER (25%). Score benefits based on whether the carrier hires W2 drivers or contractors (25%). Layer on employer responsiveness and fleet scale (20%). The weights are fixed and public. Updated November 2026.