Updated May 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Hawthorne, California (May 2026)
In Hawthorne, California as of May 2026, 247 carriers are actively hiring W2 company drivers. 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 Hawthorne, 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 leads the Hawthorne, California market on combined pay and ranking score this month. JK MOVING & STORAGE INC sits in the 95th percentile for weekly pay among Hawthorne, California carriers. 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 sits in the 98th percentile for weekly pay among Hawthorne, California carriers. Top FMCSA dimension here is unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 96th percentile.
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's FMCSA score is strongest on unsafe-driving avoidance — 98th percentile.
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 ELBERTA LOGISTICS INTERNATIONAL LLC at $2,000/wk, #9 BRADY TRUCKING INC at $1,750/wk, #10 G-DIAMOND TRANSPORT INC at $2,045/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Hawthorne, California
The route mix in Hawthorne, California this month tilts OTR: 16% regional, 69% OTR, 11% local, 3% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Hawthorne, California postings; dedicated routes at 31%; take-truck-home at 67%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 57% and riders-allowed at 56%.
How Hawthorne, California compares to California
| Hawthorne, California | California top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $1,885 | $1,935 | -3% |
| Take-truck-home | 82% | 74% | +8 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 39% | 34% | +5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
The largest gap is on take-truck-home: Hawthorne, California sits 8 points above the California 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 Hawthorne, California
- CDL driver salary in Hawthorne, California
- Best trucking companies in California
How we compile these rankings
Pay carriers in the same market against each other (30% of the score). Add a five-dimension FMCSA safety percentile from SAFER (25%). Score benefits based on whether the carrier hires W2 drivers or contractors (25%). Layer on employer responsiveness and fleet scale (20%). The weights are fixed and public. Updated May 2026.