Updated November 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Chico, California (November 2026)
Through November 2026, 207 carriers in Chico, California employ W2 company drivers across the lanes Lanefinder tracks. Leggett & Platt Inc. leads with an average weekly pay of $2,175 and an average $1,998 sign-on bonus. Herrington Transportation Inc. follows at $2,000/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 November 2026
HIGH MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT LLC at #3 and Mountain States L.P. Gas at #5 are new to the top 50 in Chico, California. Biggest climb: Herrington Transportation Inc. (#19 → #2). Biggest fall: REISCH TRUCKING INC (#27 → #43). Elsewhere in the top 50, 2 carriers joined, 4 left, and 37 changed rank.
All changes since October 2026
The trucking companies leading Chico, California this month
The top of the list is Leggett & Platt Inc. at $2,175/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1Leggett & Platt Inc. — $2,175/wk
Leggett & Platt Inc. tops the Chico, California ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. Leggett & Platt Inc. sits in the 91st percentile for weekly pay among Chico, California carriers. Leggett & Platt Inc.'s FMCSA score is strongest on unsafe-driving avoidance — 89th percentile. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Chico, California.
#2Herrington Transportation Inc. — $2,000/wk
Herrington Transportation Inc. is up from #19 last month, one of the largest jumps in the Chico, California ranking. Herrington Transportation Inc. pays above the 83rd percentile on weekly pay for the Chico, California market. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Chico, California.
#3HIGH MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT LLC — $1,700/wk
HIGH MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT LLC is new to the Chico, California top 50 this month — first appearance in this ranking. On driver fitness, the carrier ranks in the 93rd percentile per FMCSA SAFER data. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Chico, California.
Also in the top 10: #4 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/wk, #5 Mountain States L.P. Gas at $2,000/wk, #6 REEVE TRUCKING COMPANY at $1,900/wk, #7 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #8 Dillard Trucking at $2,200/wk, #9 G-DIAMOND TRANSPORT INC at $2,045/wk, #10 ELBERTA LOGISTICS INTERNATIONAL LLC at $2,000/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Chico, California
18% of Chico, California's active CDL postings are regional and 81% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (1%).
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Chico, California postings; dedicated routes at 30%; take-truck-home at 74%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 66% and riders-allowed at 63%.
Chico, California vs California: the numbers that diverge
| Chico, California | California top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take-truck-home | 80% | 72% | +8 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 74% | 66% | +8 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 68% | 62% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
Chico, California's biggest divergence from California is on take-truck-home, 8 points above the state baseline.
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 emissions rules are the strictest in the US, so engine year and compliance matter for fleet work — if you're owner-op, check current CARB rules before buying a truck. Drayage out of LA / Long Beach and warehouse-rotation work in the Inland Empire pay above the national average, but cost of living is brutal. The mountain passes (Grapevine, Donner, plus high winds on Cajon) 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 Chico, California
- CDL driver salary in Chico, California
- Best trucking companies in California
How we compile these rankings
Rankings combine four signals: compensation (30%) including pay percentile, sign-on bonuses, guaranteed pay, and settlement frequency; FMCSA safety (25%); benefits (25%) scored differently for W2 vs owner-operator carriers; and operational performance (20%) measuring employer responsiveness and fleet scale. Recomputed monthly from real active job postings. Updated November 2026.