Updated July 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Chicago, Illinois (July 2026)
Through July 2026, 456 carriers in Chicago, Illinois employ W2 company drivers across the lanes Lanefinder tracks. True Transport Inc. leads with an average weekly pay of $2,250. Forest Brook Trucking LLC follows at $1,600/week. Chicago is the largest US intermodal rail hub, feeding regional truckload across I-80, I-90, and I-55. Local last-mile freight is dense across the western suburbs, with manufacturing and cold-chain loads in the greater metro.
What changed in July 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Chicago, Illinois's top trucking carriers right now
The top of the list is True Transport Inc. at $2,250/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1True Transport Inc. — $2,250/wk
True Transport Inc. is number-one in Chicago, Illinois this month on the composite ranking. True Transport Inc. sits in the 96th percentile for weekly pay among Chicago, Illinois carriers. True Transport Inc.'s FMCSA score is strongest on unsafe-driving avoidance — 99th percentile. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Chicago, Illinois.
#2Forest Brook Trucking LLC — $1,600/wk
Forest Brook Trucking LLC's top FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance, in the 97th percentile. Forest Brook Trucking LLC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Chicago, Illinois median.
#3PREMIER TRANSPORTATION — $1,950/wk
PREMIER TRANSPORTATION sits in the 88th percentile for weekly pay among Chicago, Illinois carriers. On driver fitness, the carrier ranks in the 97th percentile per FMCSA SAFER data.
Also in the top 10: #4 CARGORX DRY CAPACITY at $1,900/wk, #5 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/wk, #6 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/wk, #7 OMAHA TRACK INC at $2,000/wk, #8 Great Plains Trucking Inc. at $1,750/wk, #9 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #10 McLeod Express LLC at $1,550/wk.
What Chicago, Illinois drivers actually run
The route mix in Chicago, Illinois this month tilts OTR: 24% regional, 63% OTR, 10% local, 3% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Across Chicago, Illinois CDL postings: 3% with guaranteed pay, 27% dedicated, 73% take-truck-home, 59% pet-friendly, 58% riders-allowed.
Chicago, Illinois vs Illinois: the numbers that diverge
| Chicago, Illinois | Illinois top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sign-on bonus rate | 33% | 40% | -7 pt |
| Take-truck-home | 88% | 83% | +5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, July 2026
Chicago, Illinois's biggest divergence from Illinois is on sign-on bonus availability, 7 points below the state baseline.
Driving CDL in Illinois
Illinois is one of the most strategically located CDL states — Chicago is the largest US intermodal rail hub, so a huge percentage of national freight passes through. The metro lanes pay well but congestion on I-80, I-90, and I-294 is consistent enough to be a real income variable. Outside the Chicago metro, downstate Illinois looks much more like Iowa or Indiana — agricultural freight, less density, easier driving. State income tax is moderate. The winter operational profile is severe: lake-effect snow, road salt, and the freezing-thawing cycle eat equipment faster than most southern states.
Related guides
- Best owner-operator companies in Chicago, Illinois
- CDL driver salary in Chicago, Illinois
- Best trucking companies in Illinois
The methodology behind the rankings
Compensation, FMCSA safety, benefits, and operational performance — weighted 30, 25, 25, and 20 percent respectively. Compensation extends beyond headline pay to include sign-on bonus tier and settlement cadence. Benefits scoring differs by hiring type because the perks that matter to a W2 driver and a contractor are not the same. Updated July 2026.