Updated November 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Owensboro, Kentucky (November 2026)
Owensboro, Kentucky, November 2026: CDL drivers average $2,418/week (median $2,000). Based on 1,614 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,990. Kentucky is home to UPS Worldport in Louisville, the world's largest automated package handling facility, with I-65 / I-71 / I-75 truck corridors feeding automotive assembly plants and a major bourbon-export manufacturing cluster.
What changed in November 2026
- average weekly pay fell by 3.9% ($2,517 → $2,418).
How Owensboro, Kentucky compares to Kentucky
| Owensboro, Kentucky | Kentucky | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,418 | $2,133 | +13% |
| Take-truck-home | 89% | 82% | +7 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 70% | 65% | +5 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 86% | 75% | +11 pt |
| Regional routes | 13% | 19% | -6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Owensboro, Kentucky differs most from Kentucky — 13% above statewide.
How CDL pay breaks down in Owensboro, Kentucky
Across active CDL postings in Owensboro, Kentucky 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) | $2,261 | $2,100 | 734 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,579 | $1,527 | 514 |
| Owner Operator | $7,115 | $7,000 | 366 |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
What Owensboro, Kentucky drivers actually run
Of active CDL postings in Owensboro, Kentucky this month, 13% are regional and 86% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 1%.
Across Owensboro, Kentucky CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 27% dedicated, 89% take-truck-home, 70% pet-friendly, 68% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in Kentucky
Kentucky is home to UPS Worldport in Louisville, the world's largest automated package handling facility, which generates enormous regional trucking demand around the nightly sort cycle. The I-65 / I-71 / I-75 corridors feed automotive assembly (Toyota Georgetown, Ford Louisville) and bourbon distillery distribution. Coal freight from eastern KY mines moves by rail and truck to power plants. Cost of living is below the national average. Kentucky has a low flat state income tax. I-75 through the eastern KY mountains in winter is no joke.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Owensboro, Kentucky
- Best owner-operator companies in Owensboro, Kentucky
- CDL driver salary in Kentucky
The methodology behind the rankings
Pay carriers against each other within the same market (30%). Layer a weighted FMCSA SAFER safety percentile on top (25%). Score the benefits package against what actually matters for the hiring type — W2 health/financial benefits or owner-op operational perks (25%). Finish with operational performance: responsiveness to driver applications plus fleet scale (20%). All percentiles are recomputed monthly. Updated November 2026.