Updated September 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Appleton, Wisconsin (September 2026)
Appleton, Wisconsin's W2 trucking market includes 326 active carriers as of September 2026. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC leads with an average weekly pay of $1,700 and an average $5,000 sign-on bonus. South East Carriers INC follows at $1,800/week. Wisconsin freight moves on I-90 / I-94 through Milwaukee and Madison, with dairy and food processing as the dominant outbound commodity and paper and packaging manufacturing in the Fox River Valley generating consistent industrial loads.
What changed in September 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
The trucking companies leading Appleton, Wisconsin this month
The top of the list is WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC at $1,700/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC — $1,700/wk
WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC tops the Appleton, Wisconsin ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC's top FMCSA dimension is driver fitness, in the 93rd percentile. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Appleton, Wisconsin median.
#2South East Carriers INC — $1,800/wk
South East Carriers INC's top FMCSA dimension is driver fitness, in the 93rd percentile. South East Carriers INC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Appleton, Wisconsin median.
#3PREMIER TRANSPORTATION — $1,950/wk
PREMIER TRANSPORTATION pays above the 83rd percentile on weekly pay for the Appleton, Wisconsin market. On driver fitness, the carrier ranks in the 98th percentile per FMCSA SAFER data.
Also in the top 10: #4 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/wk, #5 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/wk, #6 TDR TRANSPORT at $2,200/wk, #7 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #8 Badger Express LLC at $1,700/wk, #9 Diaz Stone & Pallet Inc. at $1,750/wk, #10 True Transport Inc. at $2,250/wk.
What Appleton, Wisconsin drivers actually run
19% of Appleton, Wisconsin's active CDL postings are regional and 75% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (6%).
Across Appleton, Wisconsin CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 25% dedicated, 80% take-truck-home, 66% pet-friendly, 67% riders-allowed.
Appleton, Wisconsin vs Wisconsin: the numbers that diverge
| Appleton, Wisconsin | Wisconsin top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sign-on bonus rate | 42% | 37% | +5 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 80% | 73% | +7 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 72% | 67% | +5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
Among the figures above, riders-allowed policies is where Appleton, Wisconsin differs most from Wisconsin — 7 points above statewide.
Driving CDL in Wisconsin
Wisconsin freight moves on I-90 / I-94 through Milwaukee and Madison. Dairy and food processing are dominant outbound commodities — Wisconsin's reefer freight is a national-scale segment. Paper and packaging manufacturing in the Fox River Valley generates consistent industrial loads. Great Lakes ports at Green Bay and Superior handle bulk cargo. Cost of living is moderate. Wisconsin has a high graduated state income tax. Winter is severe — lake-effect snow off Lake Michigan affects the eastern third of the state; ice and salt corrosion eat equipment faster than southern states.
Related guides
- Best owner-operator companies in Appleton, Wisconsin
- CDL driver salary in Appleton, Wisconsin
- Best trucking companies in Wisconsin
How we compile these rankings
The composite score is 30% compensation, 25% FMCSA safety, 25% benefits, and 20% operational performance. Pay percentiles are computed against carriers currently hiring in each market; FMCSA percentiles come from SAFER and weight unsafe-driving and hours-of-service violations 2× heavier than the other three dimensions. Updated September 2026.