What is the best trucking company to work for in 2026?

Based on our analysis of 395 carriers in Illinois, KOTTKE TRUCKING INC ranks #1 overall with a composite score of 79.4 out of 100, combining pay, safety record, employer responsiveness, and driver benefits.

Which trucking company pays the most in Illinois?

ALBA TRANS INC offers the highest average weekly pay at $3,000/week (approximately $156,000/year) based on their current active job listings in Illinois. Top earners there make up to $3,000/week (90th percentile).

Can a truck driver make $100,000 a year in Illinois?

Yes — 15 of the 49 ranked trucking companies in Illinois advertise average weekly pay that works out to $100,000+ per year. KOTTKE TRUCKING INC leads at $104,000/year.

What is the safest trucking company in Illinois?

Great Plains Trucking Inc. has the highest FMCSA safety percentile at the 95th among ranked carriers in Illinois. Safety scores are based on federal inspection and violation data across vehicle maintenance, unsafe driving, and hours-of-service categories.

Which trucking companies offer the best driver benefits in Illinois?

Among the top 49 carriers in Illinois: 47 offer medical insurance, 42 offer 401(k), 35 allow pets, 38 allow riders, 5 offer guaranteed pay, 13 offer dedicated routes. McLeod Express LLC leads with 9 of 9 tracked benefit categories.

Which trucking company responds fastest to driver applications?

Tradewinds Logistics has the highest responsiveness score of 99/100 and carries the Responsive Employer badge, meaning they consistently review and respond to driver applications quickly. Overall, 4 of the 49 ranked companies carry the Responsive Employer badge, meaning they review and respond to applications within 24 hours.

How many trucking jobs are open in Illinois right now?

There are currently 58 open positions across the top 49 carriers in Illinois. H & M TRUCKING INC has the most openings with 4 active listings.

How do you rank trucking companies and how often are rankings updated?

Our rankings use four weighted factors: driver pay at 30% (average weekly earnings from active job listings with outlier removal), safety record at 25% (FMCSA violation percentiles), driver benefits at 25% (medical, 401k, paid time off, dedicated routes, pets/riders policy), and operational quality at 20% (employer responsiveness and fleet size). Rankings are updated continuously as new job listings are posted, reflecting 395 carriers in Illinois.

2026 Rankings

Best Trucking Companies in Illinois

Ranked by pay, safety, responsiveness, and driver benefits from 395 carriers with active job listings.

#1 KOTTKE TRUCKING INC

$2,000/week avg View Profile

Avg Weekly Pay

$1,858

across top 49 carriers

Safety Score

76th

avg FMCSA percentile

Responsive

of 49 respond within 24h

Open Positions

across top 49 carriers

How We Rank Companies

Our rankings are based on real data from active job listings and public safety records. Each company is scored across four categories weighted by driver priority research.

Compensation

30%

Pay percentile from active job listings, plus sign-on bonus, guaranteed pay, and settlement frequency.

Safety Record

25%

Weighted FMCSA safety score — unsafe driving and HOS compliance count double vs other categories.

Benefits

25%

Tiered benefits scoring: medical, 401k, dental, vision, paid time off, and driver lifestyle perks.

Operational

20%

Carrier responsiveness to applications and fleet size relative to other companies in this ranking.

Compensation and safety carry more weight. Rankings update automatically as new jobs are posted.

Safety data sourced from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Safety Measurement System. Our composite scores are independently calculated and may differ from FMCSA's internal percentiles. This ranking is not endorsed or certified by the FMCSA or the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Top 49 Carriers

Sorted by overall

KOTTKE TRUCKING INC

220 drivers DOT 108173

Weekly Pay

$2,000

Safety

77th pctl

Response

54/100

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

JK MOVING & STORAGE INC

265 drivers DOT 1065394

Weekly Pay

$2,200

Safety

88th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Take Truck Home

Riders OK

OTR

Regional

View Company 2 Jobs

Great Plains Trucking Inc.

86 drivers DOT 205160

Weekly Pay

$1,750

Safety

95th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC

110 drivers DOT 2170456

Weekly Pay

$1,750

Avg. +$2,000 sign-on

Safety

88th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

LINDEN BULK TRANSPORTATION LLC

338 drivers DOT 2897186

Weekly Pay

$1,850

Avg. +$10,000 sign-on

Safety

86th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Take Truck Home

Regional

OTR

View Company 2 Jobs

CUSTOM COMMODITIES TRANSPORT

200 drivers DOT 293238

Weekly Pay

$1,750

Safety

93th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Take Truck Home

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

KEN GRAHAM TRUCKING INC

76 drivers DOT 71976

Weekly Pay

$2,000

Safety

83th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Take Truck Home

Regional

View Company 1 Jobs

PREMIER TRANSPORTATION

801 drivers DOT 282577

Weekly Pay

$1,700

Safety

84th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Dedicated

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

Regional

View Company 1 Jobs

GATEWAY DISTRIBUTION

49 drivers DOT 3395433

Weekly Pay

$1,750

Avg. +$2,000 sign-on

Safety

79th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Dedicated

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

Regional

View Company 1 Jobs

#10

Diaz Stone & Pallet Inc.

25 drivers DOT 1185121

Weekly Pay

$1,750

Avg. +$5,000 sign-on

Safety

92th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Take Truck Home

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#11

Badger Express LLC

50 drivers DOT 451877

Weekly Pay

$1,700

Avg. +$5,000 sign-on

Safety

92th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#12

JS HELWIG & SON LLC

477 drivers DOT 185183

Weekly Pay

$1,850

Safety

84th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#13

G & C FOOD DISTRIBUTORS & BROKERS INC

171 drivers DOT 328883

Weekly Pay

$1,650

Avg. +$7,000 sign-on

Safety

91th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

Regional

View Company 1 Jobs

#14

McLeod Express LLC

291 drivers DOT 992986

Weekly Pay

$1,550

Avg. +$1,833 sign-on

Safety

88th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Guaranteed Pay

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Dedicated

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

Regional

OTR

View Company 3 Jobs

#15

C & G TRANSPORTATION INC

53 drivers DOT 683537

Weekly Pay

$2,000

Safety

82th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#16

True Transport Inc.

25 drivers DOT 86876

Weekly Pay

$2,250

Safety

92th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#17

BRADY TRUCKING INC

130 drivers DOT 569493

Weekly Pay

$1,750

Avg. +$3,000 sign-on

Safety

90th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Dedicated

Take Truck Home

Riders OK

Regional

OTR

View Company 2 Jobs

#18

H & M TRUCKING INC

270 drivers DOT 290983

Weekly Pay

$1,750

Safety

85th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Holidays

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 4 Jobs

#19

ALBA TRANS INC

22 drivers DOT 2843762

Weekly Pay

$3,000

Avg. +$10,000 sign-on

Safety

72th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Guaranteed Pay

Medical

401k

Dental

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Dedicated

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#20

MC CARRIER LLC

120 drivers DOT 2400167

Weekly Pay

$1,700

Safety

84th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#21

CYCLE LOGISTICS INC

45 drivers DOT 601578

Weekly Pay

$2,050

Safety

80th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Local

View Company 1 Jobs

#22

ELBERTA LOGISTICS INTERNATIONAL LLC

80 drivers DOT 2817441

Weekly Pay

$2,000

Avg. +$1,000 sign-on

Safety

69th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#23

SUMMERFORD TRUCK LINE INC

81 drivers DOT 97879

Weekly Pay

$1,700

Safety

74th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Guaranteed Pay

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#24

HOLLAND ENTERPRISES INC

322 drivers DOT 507308

Weekly Pay

$1,650

Safety

85th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#25

NEIER INC

60 drivers DOT 394563

Weekly Pay

$1,750

Avg. +$500 sign-on

Safety

93th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Pets OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#26

Bountiful Trucking LLC

Responsive

10 drivers DOT 2416881

Weekly Pay

$1,650

Safety

69th pctl

Response

98/100

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Paid Vacation

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 2 Jobs

#27

LUCKY WORLD INC

Responsive

65 drivers DOT 2597317

Weekly Pay

$2,150

Safety

72th pctl

Response

95/100

Open Jobs

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#28

RIVER CITY TRANSPORT INC

15 drivers DOT 3437344

Weekly Pay

$1,652

Safety

78th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Guaranteed Pay

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Dedicated

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#29

KAISER TRANSPORT INC

42 drivers DOT 637350

Weekly Pay

$1,855

Safety

77th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#30

PASCAL CARRIER INC

25 drivers DOT 2250349

Weekly Pay

$1,750

Avg. +$2,000 sign-on

Safety

78th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Take Truck Home

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#31

Alco Transportation Inc

98 drivers DOT 525677

Weekly Pay

$1,800

Safety

82th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Take Truck Home

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#32

BARTELS TRUCK LINE INC

50 drivers DOT 522095

Weekly Pay

$1,750

Avg. +$3,000 sign-on

Safety

71th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#33

A & H INC

35 drivers DOT 46339

Weekly Pay

$1,750

Avg. +$3,000 sign-on

Safety

72th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Dedicated

Take Truck Home

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#34

AN ENTERPRISE INC

110 drivers DOT 1750906

Weekly Pay

$1,750

Safety

77th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#35

AFC Transport, Inc

140 drivers DOT 2405573

Weekly Pay

$1,750

Safety

76th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#36

EA EXPRESS LLC

18 drivers DOT 3079580

Weekly Pay

$1,900

Avg. +$2,000 sign-on

Safety

50th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Dedicated

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

Regional

View Company 1 Jobs

#37

Roadlink Express

Responsive

36 drivers DOT 1418734

Weekly Pay

$1,700

Safety

79th pctl

Response

85/100

Open Jobs

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Take Truck Home

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#38

Bertch Cabinet LLC

15 drivers DOT 230549

Weekly Pay

$2,000

Avg. +$5,000 sign-on

Safety

50th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Dedicated

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#39

Herrington Transportation Inc.

59 drivers DOT 540627

Weekly Pay

$2,000

Safety

71th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#40

HUTCHINSON TRUCKING LLC

36 drivers DOT 1341547

Weekly Pay

$1,887

Avg. +$1,000 sign-on

Safety

68th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Dedicated

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#41

RAPID RESPONSE, INC.

76 drivers DOT 1551707

Weekly Pay

$1,770

Safety

73th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#42

GURTLER INDUSTRIES INC

5 drivers DOT 3724761

Weekly Pay

$2,250

Safety

50th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Dedicated

Pets OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#43

Tradewinds Logistics

Responsive

20 drivers DOT 2266216

Weekly Pay

$1,350

Safety

73th pctl

Response

99/100

Open Jobs

Medical

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

Regional

View Company 1 Jobs

#44

CTK LOGISTICS LLC

15 drivers DOT 3093642

Weekly Pay

$2,200

Safety

66th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Guaranteed Pay

Medical

Dental

Vision

Dedicated

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#45

CJC CARRIER LLC

20 drivers DOT 3141478

Weekly Pay

$2,150

Safety

64th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#46

JL LOGISTICS INC

17 drivers DOT 2640592

Weekly Pay

$1,750

Avg. +$2,500 sign-on

Safety

65th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Dedicated

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#47

SEMO EXPRESS LLC

73 drivers DOT 1651615

Weekly Pay

$1,700

Safety

50th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k + Match

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#48

Bakers Express

60 drivers DOT 2575270

Weekly Pay

$1,950

Safety

50th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Take Truck Home

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

#49

EAGLE EYE TRUCK LINES LLC

60 drivers DOT 2254336

Weekly Pay

$1,732

Avg. +$2,000 sign-on

Safety

50th pctl

Response

—

Open Jobs

Medical

401k

Dental

Vision

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Take Truck Home

Pets OK

Riders OK

OTR

View Company 1 Jobs

Frequently Asked Questions

Best Trucking Companies by City in Illinois

Best Owner Operator Companies in Illinois CDL Salary Insights in Illinois Browse CDL Jobs in Illinois

Best Trucking Companies in Illinois

How We Rank Companies

Top 49 Carriers

KOTTKE TRUCKING INC

JK MOVING & STORAGE INC

Great Plains Trucking Inc.

PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC

LINDEN BULK TRANSPORTATION LLC

CUSTOM COMMODITIES TRANSPORT

KEN GRAHAM TRUCKING INC

PREMIER TRANSPORTATION

GATEWAY DISTRIBUTION

Diaz Stone & Pallet Inc.

Badger Express LLC

JS HELWIG & SON LLC

G & C FOOD DISTRIBUTORS & BROKERS INC

McLeod Express LLC

C & G TRANSPORTATION INC

True Transport Inc.

BRADY TRUCKING INC

H & M TRUCKING INC

ALBA TRANS INC

MC CARRIER LLC

CYCLE LOGISTICS INC

ELBERTA LOGISTICS INTERNATIONAL LLC

SUMMERFORD TRUCK LINE INC

HOLLAND ENTERPRISES INC

NEIER INC

Bountiful Trucking LLC

LUCKY WORLD INC

RIVER CITY TRANSPORT INC

KAISER TRANSPORT INC

PASCAL CARRIER INC

Alco Transportation Inc

BARTELS TRUCK LINE INC

A & H INC

AN ENTERPRISE INC

AFC Transport, Inc

EA EXPRESS LLC

Roadlink Express

Bertch Cabinet LLC

Herrington Transportation Inc.

HUTCHINSON TRUCKING LLC

RAPID RESPONSE, INC.

GURTLER INDUSTRIES INC

Tradewinds Logistics

CTK LOGISTICS LLC

CJC CARRIER LLC

JL LOGISTICS INC

SEMO EXPRESS LLC

Bakers Express

EAGLE EYE TRUCK LINES LLC

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best trucking company to work for in 2026?

Which trucking company pays the most in Illinois?

Can a truck driver make $100,000 a year in Illinois?

What is the safest trucking company in Illinois?

Which trucking companies offer the best driver benefits in Illinois?

Which trucking company responds fastest to driver applications?

How many trucking jobs are open in Illinois right now?

How do you rank trucking companies and how often are rankings updated?

Best Trucking Companies by City in Illinois

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