Updated May 2026
CDL Driver Salary in North Little Rock, Arkansas (May 2026)
$2,625/week — that's the average CDL driver wage in North Little Rock, Arkansas as of May 2026. Median weekly pay sits at $2,000, computed against active postings in Lanefinder's index. Based on 1,484 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $2,078. 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 May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
North Little Rock, Arkansas vs Arkansas: the numbers that diverge
| North Little Rock, Arkansas | Arkansas | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,625 | $2,284 | +15% |
| Take-truck-home | 90% | 85% | +5 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 71% | 66% | +5 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 89% | 83% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where North Little Rock, Arkansas differs most from Arkansas — 15% above statewide.
North Little Rock, Arkansas CDL salary by hiring type
Across active CDL postings in North Little Rock, 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) | $2,221 | $2,000 | 666 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,607 | $1,585 | 456 |
| Owner Operator | $7,164 | $7,000 | 362 |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
How drivers spend their time on the road in North Little Rock, Arkansas
10% of North Little Rock, Arkansas's active CDL postings are regional and 89% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (1%).
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of North Little Rock, Arkansas postings; dedicated routes at 26%; take-truck-home at 90%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 73% and riders-allowed at 71%.
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 the largest distribution-and-retail logistics flow in the state. Poultry and soybean reefer/dry-van freight is a steady segment from the Ozark region. 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 North Little Rock, Arkansas
- Best owner-operator companies in North Little Rock, Arkansas
- CDL driver salary in Arkansas
Where this data comes from
Four weighted components. Compensation carries 30% and includes pay percentile, sign-on bonus tier, guaranteed-pay availability, and settlement frequency. FMCSA safety carries 25%, built from five SAFER dimensions. Benefits carry 25%, scored separately for W2 versus owner-operator carriers. Operational performance carries 20%, measuring application responsiveness and fleet scale. Updated May 2026.