Updated May 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Appleton, Wisconsin (May 2026)
Appleton, Wisconsin's W2 trucking market includes 332 active carriers as of May 2026. KEEP TRUCKING LLC leads with an average weekly pay of $2,200. True Transport Inc. follows at $2,250/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 May 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 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 Appleton, Wisconsin this month on the composite ranking. Pay sits above the 90th percentile in the Appleton, Wisconsin market. KEEP TRUCKING LLC's top FMCSA dimension is controlled-substances compliance, in the 88th percentile. Lanefinder's application data flags KEEP TRUCKING LLC as a responsive employer.
#2True Transport Inc. — $2,250/wk
True Transport Inc. pays above the 92nd percentile on weekly pay for the Appleton, Wisconsin market. On unsafe-driving avoidance, the carrier ranks in the 99th percentile per FMCSA SAFER data. True Transport Inc. responds to driver applications more reliably than the Appleton, Wisconsin median.
True Transport Inc. actually pays more weekly than the top-ranked carrier — $2,250/week.
#3JK MOVING & STORAGE INC — $2,200/wk
JK MOVING & STORAGE INC's weekly pay ranks in the 95th percentile across Appleton, Wisconsin. JK MOVING & STORAGE INC ranks in the 94th percentile for unsafe-driving avoidance on FMCSA SAFER data.
Also in the top 10: #4 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/wk, #5 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #6 PREMIER TRANSPORTATION at $1,700/wk, #7 KEN GRAHAM TRUCKING INC at $2,000/wk, #8 Badger Express LLC at $1,700/wk, #9 Diaz Stone & Pallet Inc. at $1,750/wk, #10 DIVINE ENTERPRISES at $1,375/wk.
What Appleton, Wisconsin drivers actually run
19% of Appleton, Wisconsin's active CDL postings are regional and 76% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (5%).
Across Appleton, Wisconsin CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 25% dedicated, 80% take-truck-home, 65% pet-friendly, 66% riders-allowed.
Appleton, Wisconsin vs Wisconsin: the numbers that diverge
| Appleton, Wisconsin | Wisconsin top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated routes | 36% | 31% | +5 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 78% | 73% | +5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Among the figures above, dedicated routes is where Appleton, Wisconsin differs most from Wisconsin — 5 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 May 2026.