Updated September 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia (September 2026)
343 W2 trucking carriers are currently posting jobs in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia 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. JK MOVING & STORAGE INC follows at $2,200/week. Georgia freight is anchored by the Port of Savannah — a top-tier US container gateway — and the Atlanta intermodal crossroads at I-75 / I-85 / I-20, making it the dominant Southeast distribution hub.
What changed in September 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Athens-Clarke County, Georgia's top trucking carriers right now
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 is number-one in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia this month on the composite ranking. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC's FMCSA score is strongest on driver fitness — 93rd percentile. Lanefinder's application data flags WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC as a responsive employer.
#2JK MOVING & STORAGE INC — $2,200/wk
JK MOVING & STORAGE INC pays above the 90th percentile on weekly pay for the Athens-Clarke County, Georgia market. Strongest FMCSA dimension is unsafe-driving avoidance — 93rd percentile.
Despite ranking below #1, JK MOVING & STORAGE INC outpays the leader on weekly average — $2,200/week.
#3Covenant Transport Inc — $1,762/wk
Covenant Transport Inc's FMCSA score is strongest on driver fitness — 99th percentile.
Also in the top 10: #4 IMPERIAL EXPRESS LLC at $1,500/wk, #5 TDR TRANSPORT at $2,200/wk, #6 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #7 Maumee Express, Inc. at $1,925/wk, #8 South East Carriers INC at $1,600/wk, #9 Diaz Stone & Pallet Inc. at $1,750/wk, #10 JS HELWIG & SON LLC at $1,850/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia
23% of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia's active CDL postings are regional and 73% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (4%).
Across Athens-Clarke County, Georgia CDL postings: 3% with guaranteed pay, 26% dedicated, 81% take-truck-home, 67% pet-friendly, 68% riders-allowed.
Where Athens-Clarke County, Georgia differs from the Georgia baseline
| Athens-Clarke County, Georgia | Georgia top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated routes | 26% | 36% | -10 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 78% | 70% | +8 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
Among the figures above, dedicated routes is where Athens-Clarke County, Georgia differs most from Georgia — 10 points below statewide.
Driving CDL in Georgia
Georgia anchors the Southeast freight network through the Port of Savannah (a top-tier East Coast container gateway) and the Atlanta intermodal crossroads at I-75 / I-85 / I-20. Atlanta traffic is consistently top-tier US congestion — drivers based here either learn the off-peak windows or take a real income hit. Outside the metro, Georgia is one of the easier driving states: flat, mostly forgiving weather, no real mountain work. Reefer pulling poultry out of north-central Georgia is a steady regional segment. State income tax is moderate; cost of living statewide is below the national average. The Port of Savannah lanes are a steady driver-pay segment.
Related guides
- Best owner-operator companies in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia
- CDL driver salary in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia
- Best trucking companies in Georgia
How we compile these rankings
Pay carriers against each other within the same market (30%). Layer a weighted FMCSA SAFER safety percentile on top (25%). Score the benefits package against what actually matters for the hiring type — W2 health/financial benefits or owner-op operational perks (25%). Finish with operational performance: responsiveness to driver applications plus fleet scale (20%). All percentiles are recomputed monthly. Updated September 2026.