Updated November 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Knoxville, Tennessee (November 2026)
Knoxville, Tennessee CDL drivers average $2,416 per week, median $2,000, as of November 2026. Pay varies meaningfully by hiring type — the breakdown by W2, owner-op, and 1099 is below. Based on 1,628 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 32% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $2,042. Knoxville sits at the I-40 / I-75 junction in eastern Tennessee, with Oak Ridge National Laboratory logistics, TVA industrial supply chains, and manufacturing distribution in the Tennessee River corridor feeding regional freight.
What changed in November 2026
- average weekly pay fell by 4% ($2,516 → $2,416).
Knoxville, Tennessee vs Tennessee: the numbers that diverge
| Knoxville, Tennessee | Tennessee | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,416 | $2,050 | +18% |
| Take-truck-home | 88% | 82% | +6 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 71% | 65% | +6 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 69% | 63% | +6 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 86% | 76% | +10 pt |
| Regional routes | 13% | 19% | -6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Knoxville, Tennessee sits 18% above the Tennessee baseline.
How CDL pay breaks down in Knoxville, Tennessee
Across active CDL postings in Knoxville, 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) | $2,249 | $2,050 | 746 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,597 | $1,550 | 515 |
| Owner Operator | $7,114 | $7,000 | 367 |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
How drivers spend their time on the road in Knoxville, Tennessee
13% of Knoxville, Tennessee's active CDL postings are regional and 86% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (1%).
Across Knoxville, Tennessee CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 26% dedicated, 88% take-truck-home, 71% pet-friendly, 69% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in Knoxville
Knoxville anchors east Tennessee at the I-40 / I-75 / I-275 cross. Distribution serving the southern Appalachian region, the Tennessee Valley (TVA-related), and University of Tennessee supply chains drive freight. I-75 north through the Jellico mountains and I-40 east through the Pigeon River Gorge into the Smokies are winter operational variables.
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 Knoxville, Tennessee
- Best owner-operator companies in Knoxville, Tennessee
- CDL driver salary in Tennessee
The methodology behind the rankings
Compensation is the largest single weight at 30% — pay percentile, sign-on bonus, guaranteed-pay availability, and settlement cadence. FMCSA safety contributes 25%, built from five SAFER dimensions with unsafe-driving and hours-of-service weighted 2× heavier. Benefits contribute 25%, scored separately for W2 versus owner-operator and 1099 carriers. Operational performance — application responsiveness and fleet scale — contributes 20%. Updated November 2026.