Updated September 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Kansas City, Kansas (September 2026)
346 W2 trucking carriers are hiring in Kansas City, Kansas this 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. The Kansas side of the Kansas City metro sits at the I-35 / I-70 junction, with intermodal terminals, agricultural commodity flows, and a growing distribution corridor stretching along I-435 and K-10.
What changed in September 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Kansas City, Kansas'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 Kansas City, Kansas ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC's top FMCSA dimension is driver fitness, in the 93rd percentile. Lanefinder's application data flags WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC as a responsive employer.
For sign-on cash, WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC posts the largest bonus in Kansas City, Kansas's top 10 at $5,000.
#2FW TRUCKING — $1,750/wk
FW TRUCKING ranks in the 92nd percentile for unsafe-driving avoidance on FMCSA SAFER data. Lanefinder's application data flags FW TRUCKING as a responsive employer.
#3PREMIER TRANSPORTATION — $2,125/wk
PREMIER TRANSPORTATION sits in the 93rd percentile for weekly pay among Kansas City, Kansas carriers. PREMIER TRANSPORTATION's top FMCSA dimension is driver fitness, in the 98th percentile.
Also in the top 10: #4 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/wk, #5 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/wk, #6 TDR TRANSPORT at $2,200/wk, #7 Great Plains Trucking Inc. at $1,750/wk, #8 SCHMUHL BROTHERS INC at $2,437/wk, #9 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #10 KANSAS CITY INTERMODAL LLC at $2,500/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Kansas City, Kansas
16% of Kansas City, Kansas's active CDL postings are regional and 80% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (4%).
Across Kansas City, Kansas CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 22% dedicated, 80% take-truck-home, 67% pet-friendly, 67% riders-allowed.
How Kansas City, Kansas compares to Kansas
| Kansas City, Kansas | Kansas top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pet-friendly fleets | 80% | 72% | +8 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 88% | 80% | +8 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
The largest gap is on pet-friendly fleets: Kansas City, Kansas sits 8 points above the Kansas baseline.
Driving CDL in Kansas
Kansas freight moves on the I-70 east-west transcontinental corridor and I-35 north-south, with the Kansas City metro (split with MO) as the regional hub. Wheat, beef, and grain dominate outbound loads, especially in summer harvest season. Wichita aerospace and manufacturing adds steady industrial freight. Kansas has a moderate graduated state income tax; cost of living runs near the bottom of the US distribution. Western Kansas is genuinely remote — long stretches between fuel stops on I-70 west of Salina — and tornado season (April-June) shapes route planning each spring.
Related guides
- Best owner-operator companies in Kansas City, Kansas
- CDL driver salary in Kansas City, Kansas
- Best trucking companies in Kansas
The methodology behind the rankings
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 September 2026.