Updated July 2026
CDL Driver Salary in Trenton, New Jersey (July 2026)
Trenton, New Jersey CDL drivers: $2,641 average weekly pay, $2,000 median (July 2026). Based on 1,385 active CDL postings in Lanefinder's index. 31% of postings include a sign-on bonus, averaging $1,972. New Jersey is the primary Northeast freight gateway through Port Newark / Elizabeth — the busiest container port on the East Coast — with the NJ Turnpike (I-95) and dense intermodal facilities serving the New York metro market.
What changed in July 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Where Trenton, New Jersey differs from the New Jersey baseline
| Trenton, New Jersey | New Jersey | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $2,641 | $2,380 | +11% |
| Take-truck-home | 83% | 78% | +5 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 67% | 62% | +5 pt |
| OTR (long-haul) routes | 83% | 74% | +9 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, July 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Trenton, New Jersey sits 11% above the New Jersey baseline.
Trenton, New Jersey CDL salary by hiring type
Across active CDL postings in Trenton, New Jersey 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) | $2,241 | $2,050 | 626 |
| Company Driver (W2) | $1,583 | $1,500 | 432 |
| Owner Operator | $7,319 | $7,500 | 327 |
Source: Lanefinder index, July 2026
How drivers spend their time on the road in Trenton, New Jersey
12% of Trenton, New Jersey's active CDL postings are regional and 83% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (5%).
Across Trenton, New Jersey CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 29% dedicated, 83% take-truck-home, 67% pet-friendly, 64% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in New Jersey
New Jersey is the primary Northeast freight gateway through Port Newark-Elizabeth — the busiest container port on the East Coast — with the NJ Turnpike (I-95) and dense intermodal facilities feeding the New York metro market. Drayage out of the port is the largest single CDL segment. Cost of living is high; New Jersey state income tax is high and graduated (peaks above 10%). Bridge tolls and truck-route restrictions on the Garden State Parkway (no trucks allowed) and certain Hudson crossings add planning overhead. NJ Turnpike traffic is consistently in the worst US tier.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Trenton, New Jersey
- Best owner-operator companies in Trenton, New Jersey
- CDL driver salary in New Jersey
Where this data comes from
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 July 2026.