Updated September 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Joliet, Illinois (September 2026)
For W2 company drivers in Joliet, Illinois, Lanefinder tracks 466 carriers as of September 2026. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC leads with an average weekly pay of $1,700 and an average $5,000 sign-on bonus. FW TRUCKING follows at $1,750/week. Illinois anchors the US rail and truck network through Chicago, the largest intermodal hub in North America, with I-80 / I-90 / I-55 feeding a dense concentration of manufacturing, warehousing, and cold-chain freight.
What changed in September 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Joliet, Illinois's top trucking carriers right now
The top of the list is WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC at $1,700/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC — $1,700/wk
WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC tops the Joliet, Illinois ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. Top FMCSA dimension here is driver fitness, in the 93rd percentile. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
#2FW TRUCKING — $1,750/wk
FW TRUCKING ranks in the 92nd percentile for unsafe-driving avoidance on FMCSA SAFER data. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
#3HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC — $2,100/wk
HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC's weekly pay ranks in the 94th percentile across Joliet, Illinois. HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC's top FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance, in the 99th percentile.
For sign-on cash, HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC posts the largest bonus in Joliet, Illinois's top 10 at $10,000.
Also in the top 10: #4 PREMIER TRANSPORTATION at $1,950/wk, #5 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/wk, #6 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/wk, #7 TDR TRANSPORT at $2,200/wk, #8 OMAHA TRACK INC at $2,000/wk, #9 Great Plains Trucking Inc. at $1,750/wk, #10 IMPERIAL EXPRESS LLC at $1,450/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Joliet, Illinois
The route mix in Joliet, Illinois this month tilts OTR: 25% regional, 62% OTR, 10% local, 3% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 4% of Joliet, Illinois postings; dedicated routes at 26%; take-truck-home at 74%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 60% and riders-allowed at 61%.
How Joliet, Illinois compares to Illinois
Among the figures above, sign-on bonus availability is where Joliet, Illinois differs most from Illinois — 6 points below statewide.
Driving CDL in Illinois
Illinois is one of the most strategically located CDL states — Chicago is the largest US intermodal rail hub, so a huge percentage of national freight passes through. The metro lanes pay well but congestion on I-80, I-90, and I-294 is consistent enough to be a real income variable. Outside the Chicago metro, downstate Illinois looks much more like Iowa or Indiana — agricultural freight, less density, easier driving. State income tax is moderate. The winter operational profile is severe: lake-effect snow, road salt, and the freezing-thawing cycle eat equipment faster than most southern states.
Related guides
- Best owner-operator companies in Joliet, Illinois
- CDL driver salary in Joliet, Illinois
- Best trucking companies in Illinois
The methodology behind the rankings
Compensation (30%): pay percentile + sign-on bonus + guaranteed pay + settlement frequency. FMCSA safety (25%): weighted percentile across vehicle maintenance, unsafe driving, hours-of-service, driver fitness, and controlled substances. Benefits (25%): hiring-type-aware. Operational (20%): driver-application responsiveness, modulated by fleet scale. Updated September 2026.