Truck Driver Salary in Ohio (2026): BLS OEWS Data, Top Metros & Carriers

Truck Driver Salary in Ohio (2026): BLS OEWS Data, Top Metros & Carriers

Last verified: 2026-04-19 against BLS OEWS 53-3032 May 2024 release, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services labor market data, and carrier-published pay bands as of this date.

Ohio sits at the geographic and logistical center of the U.S. Midwest trucking economy. I-70 runs east-west through the state; I-75 runs north-south; I-80 / Ohio Turnpike runs across the top; I-71 links Cleveland to Columbus to Cincinnati. Three of the largest metropolitan distribution hubs in the country — Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland — anchor different ends of the state, and Ohio is home to one of the largest auto-manufacturing footprints in the U.S. (Honda's Marysville / East Liberty / Anna complex, Ford Lorain / Cleveland, GM Lordstown / Parma / Moraine historical, Jeep/Stellantis Toledo). This guide extracts BLS OEWS data for Ohio, names the metros and carriers, and contextualizes the pay picture against the national $57,440 median for heavy and tractor-trailer drivers (SOC 53-3032) as of May 2024.¹

Key Takeaways

• BLS OEWS 53-3032, May 2024 — U.S. median annual wage: $57,440.¹ Truck transportation industry median: $59,570.²
• Ohio state annual mean wage tracks close to the national mean, with Columbus MSA posting above state mean on distribution density and Cincinnati/Cleveland tracking near state mean.
• Top paying Ohio metros: Columbus, Cleveland–Elyria, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo.
• Distinguishing features: Auto-industry freight (Honda / Ford / Jeep / GM supply chains), three-interstate corridor convergence, major LTL regional hub density (Estes, Saia, XPO, Old Dominion all treat Ohio as a core state), Ohio Turnpike truck-stop network.
• Dominant freight segments: auto-manufacturing parts (JIT supply chains), e-commerce distribution (Columbus is one of the top Amazon / Target / Home Depot distribution hubs in the U.S.), steel / industrial (Cleveland / Mahoning Valley), LTL linehaul (statewide), fuel and chemical tanker (Toledo, Cleveland).
• Near-national cost of living per BEA Regional Price Parities — Ohio delivers competitive real purchasing power at near-national nominal wages.³
• Cross-reference: Ohio CDL process is covered in the Ohio CDL Requirements guide.

Ohio Truck Driver Wages — BLS OEWS 53-3032 State Data

BLS publishes Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) at the state and MSA level. The table below reflects the May 2024 reference period for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (SOC 53-3032) in Ohio. Verify exact current figures at the BLS Ohio state profile: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_oh.htm.⁴

Figures presented as verified-pattern ranges from BLS state OEWS tables for the May 2024 reference period; OEWS estimates revise with each annual release — verify specific cell values at the BLS Ohio table before using for any final decision.

How Ohio Compares to the National Median

Ohio state mean tracks near the national median of $57,440.¹ Ohio's distinctive economic shape:

• Auto-industry freight density produces a stable dedicated auto-haul lane (Jack Cooper, Cassens, United Road) and a dense JIT parts supply chain.
• Distribution hub concentration in Columbus is among the top few in the U.S. — Amazon, Home Depot, Lowe's, Target, Kroger (HQ Cincinnati) all operate major Ohio DCs.
• LTL density at the I-70/I-71/I-75/I-80 convergence.
• BEA Regional Price Parities for Ohio track at or slightly below the national index, making Ohio's real purchasing power competitive.³

Top Ohio Metros for Truck Drivers

Columbus MSA

Central Ohio's distribution megahub: - Amazon, Home Depot, Target, Walmart, Lowe's, FedEx, UPS all operate massive Columbus-area distribution centers. - Rickenbacker International Airport cargo — major air freight ground distribution. - Intel Ohio (Licking County) — emerging semiconductor freight (under construction + ramping). - Three-interstate convergence (I-70 east-west, I-71 NE-SW, I-270 Outer Belt).

Columbus MSA OEWS typically posts above state mean. Data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_18140.htm.⁵

Cleveland–Elyria MSA

Northeast Ohio industrial + Great Lakes shipping: - Port of Cleveland — modest container volume but significant bulk (steel, cement, iron ore). - Steel / industrial freight — ArcelorMittal Cleveland + related. - Healthcare / Cleveland Clinic supply chain — one of the largest medical complexes in the U.S. - I-80 / I-90 corridor — east-west across the state.

Cleveland MSA data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_17460.htm.⁵

Cincinnati MSA

Southwest Ohio distribution + Kroger HQ: - Kroger (HQ Cincinnati) — major regional grocery supply chain; driver fleet + dedicated contractors. - Amazon CVG Air Hub (Northern Kentucky airport) — largest Amazon Air hub in the U.S., adjacent ground freight. - CVG regional freight — deep distribution + food manufacturing. - I-75 / I-71 / I-74 corridor convergence.

Cincinnati MSA data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_17140.htm.⁵

Dayton MSA

• Wright-Patterson AFB logistics + regional defense supply chain.
• I-75 corridor north-south — major trucking backbone.
• Dayton Freight Lines (HQ Dayton) — major regional LTL carrier headquartered in the state.

Dayton MSA data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_19430.htm.⁵

Toledo MSA

• Jeep (Stellantis) Toledo North + Toledo South — auto manufacturing.
• Port of Toledo — Great Lakes bulk.
• I-80 / I-75 intersection — auto and general freight.

Toledo MSA data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_45780.htm.⁵

Other notable corridors

• Ohio Turnpike — premium truck-stop network; high LTL linehaul throughput.
• Mahoning Valley (Youngstown / Warren) — steel, industrial, and auto-parts freight.
• Akron MSA — Goodyear, polymer industry, LTL terminal density.

Major Freight Industries Driving Ohio Pay

Major Carriers Hiring in Ohio

• Regional LTL (Ohio-strong): Dayton Freight Lines (HQ Dayton — one of the largest regional LTLs in the U.S.), Estes Express (major Ohio terminal density), Saia, XPO Logistics, Old Dominion, FedEx Freight, TForce Freight, R+L Carriers (HQ Wilmington, Ohio — major Ohio-based LTL).
• Mega OTR / Regional: Schneider, Werner, CR England, Knight-Swift, Heartland Express, Stevens Transport.
• Auto-haul specialty: Jack Cooper (Honda Marysville + other OEM contracts), Cassens Transport, United Road — Ohio auto-haul is a significant dedicated niche.
• Dedicated / private fleet: Walmart Private Fleet (multiple OH DCs), Kroger dedicated (HQ Cincinnati), Amazon Freight, FedEx Ground linehaul, Home Depot dedicated, Target dedicated, Sysco, Pepsi, Coca-Cola.
• Tanker: Kenan Advantage (HQ North Canton, Ohio — one of the largest tanker carriers in the U.S.), Groendyke, Trimac, Highway Transport.
• Specialty: Pitt Ohio (HQ Pittsburgh; significant Ohio operations), various Ohio-specific grocery and food-service dedicated.

R+L Carriers (HQ Wilmington, OH) and Dayton Freight Lines (HQ Dayton) are worth specific mention for Ohio drivers — both are Ohio-headquartered regional LTL carriers with strong driver retention and competitive pay bands. Kenan Advantage Group (HQ North Canton, OH) is the largest tanker carrier in the U.S. and headquartered in Ohio.

Pay by Route Type Within Ohio

• OTR from Ohio origin: $60–$82k; central location means strong outbound freight to all directions.
• Regional (OH/PA/IN/MI/KY/WV): $65–$90k.
• Local / home-daily: $48–$80k; LTL P&D in Columbus/Cleveland/Cincinnati at upper end.
• Dedicated: $58–$88k; Honda-dedicated auto-haul and Kroger dedicated at upper end.
• LTL linehaul: $78–$105k+ experienced with OT; dense Ohio corridor drives steady hours.

Ohio CDL and Licensing

Getting a CDL in Ohio is covered in depth in the dedicated guide: Ohio CDL Requirements. Key Ohio specifics:

• Issuing agency: Ohio BMV (Bureau of Motor Vehicles) within Ohio Department of Public Safety.
• Core fees: ~$15 endorsement fee; CDL issuance fees by class.
• FMCSA ELDT required via registered Training Provider Registry provider.
• Ohio-specific commercial skills test locations and scheduling.

FAQs

How much does a truck driver make in Ohio in 2026? Ohio state annual mean for heavy and tractor-trailer drivers (SOC 53-3032) tracks near the national mean at $54,000–$58,000 based on BLS OEWS May 2024 patterns.¹⁴ Experienced LTL linehaul drivers commonly exceed $85,000–$105,000 with OT. Auto-haul dedicated and specialty tanker push into the $80,000–$95,000+ range.

What is the highest-paying trucking job in Ohio? Senior LTL linehaul at Old Dominion, Saia, Dayton Freight, or R+L Carriers with regular overtime. Specialty X-endorsed tanker at Kenan Advantage Group (HQ North Canton OH) or dedicated auto-haul at Jack Cooper / Cassens. $85,000–$110,000+ is achievable for experienced drivers.

Where in Ohio do truck drivers get paid the most? Columbus MSA typically leads on nominal due to distribution density. Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Dayton track near state mean. Toledo posts solid pay due to auto-manufacturing concentration.

Is Ohio a good state for truck drivers? Yes — Ohio combines a central geographic position, deep freight base (auto manufacturing + distribution megahubs + LTL density), below-national cost of living, and multiple major carriers headquartered in-state (R+L, Dayton Freight, Kenan Advantage). It's particularly strong for drivers targeting auto-haul dedicated or LTL linehaul.

How does Ohio compare to Pennsylvania? Both states have dense LTL corridors and similar state means near the national median. Pennsylvania has stronger e-commerce warehouse density in Lehigh Valley and ABF Teamster presence. Ohio has stronger auto-manufacturing freight and Kenan Advantage tanker HQ. Cost of living in both is near national average.

What are the largest carriers hiring in Ohio in 2026? Based on public recruiting activity: R+L Carriers (HQ Wilmington OH), Dayton Freight (HQ Dayton), Old Dominion, Saia, Estes, FedEx Freight, Schneider, Werner, Jack Cooper, Kenan Advantage Group (HQ North Canton), Kroger dedicated, Walmart Private Fleet, Amazon Freight.

Does Ohio's auto-manufacturing concentration really affect driver pay? Yes. Dedicated auto-haul (Jack Cooper, Cassens, United Road on Honda / Ford / Jeep / GM contracts) and JIT parts supply-chain dedicated fleets create a meaningful upper-tail of $75,000–$95,000+ experienced driver pay. These are specialty lanes with tight scheduling demands but strong pay and benefits.

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