Updated May 2026
Best Trucking Companies in California (May 2026)
400 W2 trucking carriers are currently posting jobs in California as of May 2026. KEEP TRUCKING LLC leads with an average weekly pay of $2,200. True Transport Inc. follows at $2,250/week. California freight is dominated by the Port of LA / Long Beach complex, Central Valley agriculture, and the Inland Empire warehouse cluster along I-10 and I-15.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
California's top trucking carriers right now
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 leads the California market on combined pay and ranking score this month. KEEP TRUCKING LLC pays above the 89th percentile on weekly pay for the California 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.'s weekly pay ranks in the 97th percentile across California. 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 California median.
#3DICK IRVIN INC — $2,250/wk
DICK IRVIN INC's weekly pay ranks in the 97th percentile across California. Strongest FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance — 96th percentile.
Also in the top 10: #4 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/wk, #5 Flexsteel Industries at $2,000/wk, #6 SABUR LLC at $1,850/wk, #7 FRESHPOINT CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INC at $2,500/wk, #8 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #9 DIVINE ENTERPRISES at $1,375/wk, #10 FIVE BELOW INC at $2,250/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in California
The route mix in California this month tilts OTR: 19% regional, 54% OTR, 22% local, 5% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Across California CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 30% dedicated, 58% take-truck-home, 50% pet-friendly, 48% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in California
California is one of the toughest states to drive CDL in the country, and one of the most lucrative for the right setup. CARB clean-truck enforcement is the most aggressive in the US, so newer equipment is effectively required for fleet work — if you're owner-op, plan the truck purchase around it. Drayage out of LA / Long Beach and warehouse-rotation work in the Inland Empire pay near the top of the national scale, but cost of living is brutal. The mountain passes (Cajon, Grapevine, Donner) add real winter complexity that most other Southwest lanes don't. Drivers with serious mountain experience earn it back.
Related guides
- Best owner-operator companies in California
- CDL driver salary in California
- Best trucking companies in the United States
Where this data comes from
Lanefinder's ranking algorithm weights compensation at 30%, FMCSA SAFER safety at 25%, benefits at 25%, and operational performance at 20%. Compensation reflects pay percentile plus sign-on bonus, guaranteed pay, and settlement-frequency adjustments. Benefits scoring is hiring-type-aware. Operational performance comes mostly from how carriers handle real driver applications. Updated May 2026.