Updated November 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Irvine, California (November 2026)
Irvine, California's W2 trucking market includes 256 active 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 Irvine, California. Biggest climb: Herrington Transportation Inc. (#23 → #1). Biggest fall: REISCH TRUCKING INC (#30 → #46). Elsewhere in the top 50, 2 carriers joined, 4 left, and 37 changed rank.
All changes since October 2026
Where CDL pay is strongest in Irvine, 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 Irvine, California this month on the composite ranking. Weekly pay here lands in the 90th percentile across Irvine, California. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
#2HIGH MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT LLC — $1,700/wk
HIGH MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT LLC is new to the Irvine, California top 50 this month — first appearance in this ranking. HIGH MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT LLC ranks in the 93rd percentile for driver fitness on FMCSA SAFER data. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
#3Flexsteel Industries — $2,000/wk
Flexsteel Industries pays above the 85th percentile on weekly pay for the Irvine, California market. Flexsteel Industries's FMCSA score is strongest on unsafe-driving avoidance — 88th percentile.
For sign-on cash, Flexsteel Industries posts the largest bonus in Irvine, 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.
What Irvine, California drivers actually run
The route mix in Irvine, California this month tilts OTR: 17% regional, 68% OTR, 12% local, 4% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Across Irvine, California CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 32% dedicated, 66% take-truck-home, 59% pet-friendly, 56% riders-allowed.
Where Irvine, California differs from the California baseline
| Irvine, California | California top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sign-on bonus rate | 34% | 42% | -8 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 44% | 36% | +8 pt |
| Take-truck-home | 80% | 72% | +8 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 72% | 66% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
The largest gap is on sign-on bonus availability: Irvine, California sits 8 points below 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 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 Irvine, California
- CDL driver salary in Irvine, California
- Best trucking companies in California
How we compile these rankings
The score is built from four buckets. Thirty percent compensation, drawn from real active job postings and modified by bonus and settlement structure. Twenty-five percent safety, from FMCSA SAFER. Twenty-five percent benefits, scored hiring-type-aware. Twenty percent operational performance, drawn from how carriers actually behave toward applicants. Updated November 2026.