Columbus, OH
Looking for local CDL-A work around Columbus? Here's the pay, the home time, and a fast way to get matched with carriers hiring right now.
Columbus sits within a one-day truck drive of nearly half the U.S. population, with the Rickenbacker air-rail-truck logistics complex and a dense ring of warehouses making it a major Midwest overnight-delivery hub.
Short-radius runs within a metro or nearby area, often paid hourly with daily home time, lower miles, and more frequent stops. For CDL-A drivers based in Columbus and nearby communities like Groveport, Obetz, Grove City, that translates to steady freight and local runs you can actually build a schedule around.
Local CDL-A pay in this market typically runs about $68k to $78k a year for company drivers, before sign-on bonuses, detention, and per diem. The number that matters most is weekly miles times your rate — a strong rate on thin miles loses to a steady seat every time.
Most local CDL-A work here moves dry van and reefer for the region's retail, grocery, and manufacturing shippers, with flatbed and tanker available for drivers who want a pay premium and have the endorsements.
Ohio rates run about 3% below the national average for the same freight, which is baked into the numbers below. Local work around Columbus is typically hourly with overtime after 40 — figures below assume a normal 48-hour week.
| Experience | Hourly rate | Weekly gross | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 years | $26/hr | $1,352 | $67,600 |
| 2–5 years | $28/hr | $1,456 | $72,800 |
| 5+ years | $30/hr | $1,560 | $78,000 |
From the CDL Lane pay model — cents-per-mile researched across 100+ carriers (how we calculate), adjusted for Ohio. Run your own numbers in the pay calculator.
Tell us your experience, freight, and schedule. We'll line up local carriers hiring near Columbus — free, fast, no obligation.
Get matched →Local CDL-A drivers in the Columbus market typically earn $68k–$78k a year, with the exact number driven by experience, weekly miles, and freight type — the table above breaks it down by experience band.
Yes — that's the defining feature. The trade-off is lower gross than OTR and more physical work (more stops, sometimes touch freight). Hourly pay with overtime protects your paycheck when docks run slow.
A valid CDL-A and a reasonably clean driving record cover most openings. Tell CDL Lane your experience, preferred freight, and home base and we'll match you with carriers hiring near Columbus — including Groveport, Obetz, Grove City.