Updated September 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Franklin, Tennessee (September 2026)
Franklin, Tennessee's CDL drivers earn $2,494 per week on average, $2,000 median, as of September 2026. Based on 1,671 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 32% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $2,024. Tennessee is a critical national freight crossroads: Memphis hosts the FedEx global air hub and a major trucking interchange on I-40 / I-55, while Nashville-area automotive and manufacturing plants drive dense I-65 / I-24 lane activity.
What changed in September 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
How Franklin, Tennessee compares to Tennessee
| Franklin, Tennessee | Tennessee | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,494 | $2,114 | +18% |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 70% | 65% | +5 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 85% | 76% | +9 pt |
| Regional routes | 13% | 19% | -6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Franklin, Tennessee sits 18% above the Tennessee baseline.
What CDL drivers are earning across Franklin, Tennessee
Across active CDL postings in Franklin, Tennessee 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) | $2,250 | $2,050 | 737 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,563 | $1,500 | 556 |
| Owner Operator | $7,053 | $7,000 | 378 |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
How drivers spend their time on the road in Franklin, Tennessee
Of active CDL postings in Franklin, Tennessee this month, 13% are regional and 85% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 2%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 3% of Franklin, Tennessee postings; dedicated routes at 27%; take-truck-home at 87%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 70% and riders-allowed at 68%.
Driving CDL in Tennessee
Tennessee is a critical national freight crossroads: Memphis hosts the FedEx Express World Hub — one of the world's largest air cargo hubs by tonnage — and a major trucking interchange on I-40 / I-55, with the nightly sort cycle generating enormous regional dispatch demand. Nashville-area automotive (Nissan Smyrna) and manufacturing drive dense I-65 / I-24 lane activity. Cost of living is below the national average; Tennessee has no state income tax on wages. East TN (Chattanooga, Knoxville) is mountain-adjacent — I-40 east through the Smokies and I-24 across Monteagle pass have real winter weight.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Franklin, Tennessee
- Best owner-operator companies in Franklin, Tennessee
- CDL driver salary in Tennessee
How we compile these rankings
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 September 2026.