Updated May 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Ann Arbor, Michigan (May 2026)
383 carriers in Ann Arbor, Michigan are actively recruiting W2 company drivers as of May 2026. Each is scored on a composite of compensation, FMCSA safety, benefits, and operational performance. KEEP TRUCKING LLC leads with an average weekly pay of $2,200. True Transport Inc. follows at $2,250/week. Michigan is the US automotive manufacturing heartland, with Detroit and the I-94 / I-75 corridor carrying dense parts-and-assembly flows and Great Lakes ports at Detroit, Muskegon, and Sault Ste. Marie handling bulk commodities.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Where CDL pay is strongest in Ann Arbor, Michigan this month
The top of the list is KEEP TRUCKING LLC at $2,200/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1KEEP TRUCKING LLC — $2,200/wk
KEEP TRUCKING LLC is number-one in Ann Arbor, Michigan this month on the composite ranking. Weekly pay here lands in the 96th percentile across Ann Arbor, Michigan. Strongest FMCSA dimension is controlled-substances compliance — 88th percentile. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
#2True Transport Inc. — $2,250/wk
True Transport Inc. sits in the 97th percentile for weekly pay among Ann Arbor, Michigan carriers. Top FMCSA dimension here is unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 99th percentile. True Transport Inc. tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
Despite ranking below #1, True Transport Inc. outpays the leader on weekly average — $2,250/week.
#3JK MOVING & STORAGE INC — $2,200/wk
JK MOVING & STORAGE INC sits in the 96th percentile for weekly pay among Ann Arbor, Michigan carriers. JK MOVING & STORAGE INC's top FMCSA dimension is unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 94th percentile.
Also in the top 10: #4 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/wk, #5 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #6 Priority Waste LLC at $2,000/wk, #7 PREMIER TRANSPORTATION at $1,700/wk, #8 ECM ENERGY SERVICES INC at $1,950/wk, #9 KEN GRAHAM TRUCKING INC at $2,000/wk, #10 Badger Express LLC at $1,700/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Ann Arbor, Michigan
The route mix in Ann Arbor, Michigan this month tilts OTR: 23% regional, 67% OTR, 8% local, 1% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Ann Arbor, Michigan postings; dedicated routes at 26%; take-truck-home at 73%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 61% and riders-allowed at 61%.
Where Ann Arbor, Michigan differs from the Michigan baseline
| Ann Arbor, Michigan | Michigan top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated routes | 29% | 37% | -8 pt |
| Take-truck-home | 90% | 82% | +8 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 67% | 61% | +6 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 73% | 67% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Ann Arbor, Michigan's biggest divergence from Michigan is on dedicated routes, 8 points below the state baseline.
Driving CDL in Michigan
Michigan is the US automotive heartland — a huge share of CDL work in the state is tied to auto-parts inbound or finished-vehicle outbound. Detroit / Dearborn / Flint lanes have a distinctive operational rhythm that follows plant production schedules, including layoff weeks where freight volume drops significantly. Winter is the dominant operational variable: lake-effect snow off Lake Michigan can shut down west-side runs, and the freeze-thaw cycle on I-94, I-75, and I-96 means road surfaces are rough year-round. State income tax is flat and moderate. The Upper Peninsula is genuinely remote — long stretches with no fuel stops or services — and most newer drivers shouldn't take UP loads until they've learned the territory.
Related guides
- Best owner-operator companies in Ann Arbor, Michigan
- CDL driver salary in Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Best trucking companies in Michigan
How we compile these rankings
Four weighted components. Compensation carries 30% and includes pay percentile, sign-on bonus tier, guaranteed-pay availability, and settlement frequency. FMCSA safety carries 25%, built from five SAFER dimensions. Benefits carry 25%, scored separately for W2 versus owner-operator carriers. Operational performance carries 20%, measuring application responsiveness and fleet scale. Updated May 2026.