Updated May 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Savannah, Georgia (May 2026)
Savannah, Georgia CDL drivers average $2,632 per week, median $2,000, as of May 2026. Pay varies meaningfully by hiring type — the breakdown by W2, owner-op, and 1099 is below. Based on 1,550 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $2,050. Savannah hosts the Port of Savannah — among the fastest-growing US container ports and second-busiest on the East Coast — with I-95 / I-16 corridors connecting it to Southeast automotive, retail, and manufacturing supply chains.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
How Savannah, Georgia compares to Georgia
| Savannah, Georgia | Georgia | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,632 | $2,237 | +18% |
| Take-truck-home | 89% | 83% | +6 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 68% | 63% | +5 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 85% | 76% | +9 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Savannah, Georgia sits 18% above the Georgia baseline.
What CDL drivers are earning across Savannah, Georgia
Across active CDL postings in Savannah, Georgia 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) | $2,131 | $2,000 | 723 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,603 | $1,550 | 448 |
| Owner Operator | $7,106 | $7,000 | 379 |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Lane mix and benefits across Savannah, Georgia
The route mix in Savannah, Georgia this month tilts OTR: 13% regional, 85% OTR, 1% local, 1% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Across Savannah, Georgia CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 27% dedicated, 89% take-truck-home, 69% pet-friendly, 68% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in Georgia
Georgia anchors the Southeast freight network through the Port of Savannah (a top-tier East Coast container gateway) and the Atlanta intermodal crossroads at I-75 / I-85 / I-20. Atlanta traffic is consistently top-tier US congestion — drivers based here either learn the off-peak windows or take a real income hit. Outside the metro, Georgia is one of the easier driving states: flat, mostly forgiving weather, no real mountain work. Reefer pulling poultry out of north-central Georgia is a steady regional segment. State income tax is moderate; cost of living statewide is below the national average. The Port of Savannah lanes are a steady driver-pay segment.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Savannah, Georgia
- Best owner-operator companies in Savannah, Georgia
- CDL driver salary in Georgia
How we compile these rankings
Compensation, FMCSA safety, benefits, and operational performance — weighted 30, 25, 25, and 20 percent respectively. Compensation extends beyond headline pay to include sign-on bonus tier and settlement cadence. Benefits scoring differs by hiring type because the perks that matter to a W2 driver and a contractor are not the same. Updated May 2026.