Updated November 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Fayetteville, Arkansas (November 2026)
Fayetteville, Arkansas CDL drivers: $2,545 average weekly pay, $2,000 median (November 2026). Based on 1,492 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 32% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,880. Arkansas freight runs on I-40 east-west and I-55 / I-30 corridors, with massive retail distribution demand driven by Walmart's Bentonville headquarters and heavy agricultural shipments of rice, poultry, and soybeans.
What changed in November 2026
No major rank changes this month — the top carriers have held their positions since October 2026.
Fayetteville, Arkansas vs Arkansas: the numbers that diverge
| Fayetteville, Arkansas | Arkansas | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,545 | $2,257 | +13% |
| Take-truck-home | 90% | 85% | +5 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 72% | 67% | +5 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 90% | 83% | +7 pt |
| Regional routes | 9% | 15% | -6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
Fayetteville, Arkansas's biggest divergence from Arkansas is on average weekly pay, 13% above the state baseline.
Fayetteville, Arkansas CDL salary by hiring type
Across active CDL postings in Fayetteville, Arkansas 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) | $2,282 | $2,100 | 689 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,606 | $1,585 | 455 |
| Owner Operator | $7,161 | $7,250 | 348 |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
Lane mix and benefits across Fayetteville, Arkansas
9% of Fayetteville, Arkansas's active CDL postings are regional and 90% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (1%).
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Fayetteville, Arkansas postings; dedicated routes at 26%; take-truck-home at 90%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 72% and riders-allowed at 69%.
Driving CDL in Arkansas
Arkansas freight runs on I-40 east-west and the I-30 / I-55 corridors, with Walmart's Bentonville headquarters anchoring a major distribution-and-retail logistics flow in the state. Poultry reefer freight from the Ozarks and row-crop freight from the Delta are steady segments. Cost of living is among the lowest in the country, which makes the comp math work well for drivers based here. Arkansas has a low graduated state income tax. I-40 between Memphis and Little Rock is one of the busier mid-South freight lanes.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Fayetteville, Arkansas
- Best owner-operator companies in Fayetteville, Arkansas
- CDL driver salary in Arkansas
Where this data comes from
Compensation (30%): pay percentile + sign-on bonus + guaranteed pay + settlement frequency. FMCSA safety (25%): weighted percentile across vehicle maintenance, unsafe driving, hours-of-service, driver fitness, and controlled substances. Benefits (25%): hiring-type-aware. Operational (20%): driver-application responsiveness, modulated by fleet scale. Updated November 2026.