Updated July 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Maine (July 2026)
Maine's CDL drivers earn $2,982 per week on average, $2,150 median, as of July 2026. Based on 1,143 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,896. Maine freight runs up the I-95 corridor to the Port of Portland and beyond, with paper and forest-products loads, lobster and seafood cold-chain, and cross-border trade to Atlantic Canada shaping the lane mix.
What changed in July 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Maine CDL salary by hiring type
Across active CDL postings in Maine 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) | $2,322 | $2,100 | 519 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,588 | $1,550 | 322 |
| Owner Operator | $7,442 | $7,500 | 302 |
Source: Lanefinder index, July 2026
What Maine drivers actually run
Of active CDL postings in Maine this month, 9% are regional and 89% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 2%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Maine postings; dedicated routes at 28%; take-truck-home at 87%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 70% and riders-allowed at 67%.
Driving CDL in Maine
Maine CDL work runs up I-95 to the Port of Portland and beyond, with paper and forest-products loads (less than in past decades but still meaningful), lobster and seafood cold-chain headed south, and cross-border trade to Atlantic Canada through Houlton and Calais. The state is large and sparsely populated — long lanes between population centers. Winter is severe and long; coastal Maine adds saltwater corrosion concerns. Maine has a high graduated state income tax. Most carriers running Maine have done so for decades; route knowledge matters.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Maine
- Best owner-operator companies in Maine
- CDL driver salary in the United States
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 July 2026.