Updated May 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Gardena, California (May 2026)
Lanefinder's index counts 250 active W2 trucking carriers in Gardena, California this May 2026. JK MOVING & STORAGE INC leads with an average weekly pay of $2,200. FRESHPOINT CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INC follows at $2,500/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.
Where CDL pay is strongest in Gardena, California this month
The top of the list is JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1JK MOVING & STORAGE INC — $2,200/wk
JK MOVING & STORAGE INC is number-one in Gardena, California this month on the composite ranking. Pay sits above the 90th percentile in the Gardena, California market. JK MOVING & STORAGE INC's FMCSA score is strongest on unsafe-driving avoidance — 94th percentile.
#2FRESHPOINT CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INC — $2,500/wk
FRESHPOINT CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INC pays above the 93rd percentile on weekly pay for the Gardena, California market. FRESHPOINT CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INC ranks in the 96th percentile for unsafe-driving avoidance on FMCSA SAFER data.
Despite ranking below #1, FRESHPOINT CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INC outpays the leader on weekly average — $2,500/week.
#3PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC — $1,750/wk
PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC ranks in the 98th percentile for unsafe-driving avoidance on FMCSA SAFER data.
Also in the top 10: #4 DIVINE ENTERPRISES at $1,375/wk, #5 OAK HARBOR FREIGHT LINES INC at $1,750/wk, #6 Sika Corporation at $1,750/wk, #7 Dillard Trucking at $2,200/wk, #8 G-DIAMOND TRANSPORT INC at $2,045/wk, #9 ELBERTA LOGISTICS INTERNATIONAL LLC at $2,000/wk, #10 BRADY TRUCKING INC at $1,750/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Gardena, California
The route mix in Gardena, California this month tilts OTR: 16% regional, 69% OTR, 12% local, 3% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Gardena, California postings; dedicated routes at 32%; take-truck-home at 66%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 57% and riders-allowed at 56%.
How Gardena, California compares to California
| Gardena, California | California top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $1,885 | $1,935 | -3% |
| Take-truck-home | 82% | 74% | +8 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 41% | 34% | +7 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Gardena, 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 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 Gardena, California
- CDL driver salary in Gardena, California
- Best trucking companies in California
Where this data comes from
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 May 2026.