Updated November 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Costa Mesa, California (November 2026)
For W2 company drivers in Costa Mesa, California, Lanefinder tracks 255 carriers as of November 2026. Herrington Transportation Inc. leads with an average weekly pay of $2,000. HIGH MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT LLC follows at $1,700/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 #2 and Mountain States L.P. Gas at #5 are new to the top 50 in Costa Mesa, California. Biggest climb: Herrington Transportation Inc. (#22 → #1). Biggest fall: REISCH TRUCKING INC (#30 → #46). Elsewhere in the top 50, 2 carriers joined, 4 left, and 38 changed rank.
All changes since October 2026
The trucking companies leading Costa Mesa, California this month
The top of the list is Herrington Transportation Inc. at $2,000/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1Herrington Transportation Inc. — $2,000/wk
Herrington Transportation Inc. is number-one in Costa Mesa, California this month on the composite ranking. The carrier ranks in the 90th percentile for weekly pay in Costa Mesa, California. Herrington Transportation Inc. tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
#2HIGH MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT LLC — $1,700/wk
HIGH MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT LLC debuts in the Costa Mesa, California top 50 this month — it wasn't tracked here last month. Top FMCSA dimension here is driver fitness, in the 93rd percentile. HIGH MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT LLC tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
#3Flexsteel Industries — $2,000/wk
Flexsteel Industries's weekly pay ranks in the 90th percentile across Costa Mesa, California. Flexsteel Industries's top FMCSA dimension is unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 88th percentile.
For sign-on cash, Flexsteel Industries posts the largest bonus in Costa Mesa, California's top 10 at $10,000.
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 FRESHPOINT CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INC at $2,500/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 Costa Mesa, California
Of active CDL postings in Costa Mesa, California this month, 17% are regional and 68% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 15%.
Across Costa Mesa, California CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 32% dedicated, 67% take-truck-home, 59% pet-friendly, 57% riders-allowed.
Costa Mesa, California vs California: the numbers that diverge
| Costa Mesa, California | California top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sign-on bonus rate | 34% | 42% | -8 pt |
| Take-truck-home | 80% | 72% | +8 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 42% | 36% | +6 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 72% | 66% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
Costa Mesa, California's biggest divergence from California is on sign-on bonus availability, 8 points below 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 Costa Mesa, California
- CDL driver salary in Costa Mesa, California
- Best trucking companies in California
Where this data comes from
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 November 2026.