Updated November 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Lake Forest, California (November 2026)
In Lake Forest, California as of November 2026, 247 carriers are actively hiring W2 company drivers. 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 Lake Forest, California. Biggest climb: Herrington Transportation Inc. (#22 → #1). Biggest fall: REISCH TRUCKING INC (#29 → #46). Elsewhere in the top 50, 2 carriers joined, 4 left, and 35 changed rank.
All changes since October 2026
| Carrier | Last month | This month | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Herrington Transportation Inc. | #22 | #1 | Up 21 places |
| HIGH MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT LLC | Not ranked | #2 | New |
| Flexsteel Industries | #1 | #3 | Down 2 places |
| JK MOVING & STORAGE INC | #2 | #4 | Down 2 places |
| Mountain States L.P. Gas | Not ranked | #5 | New |
| FRESHPOINT CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INC | #3 | #6 | Down 3 places |
| PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC | #4 | #7 | Down 3 places |
| G-DIAMOND TRANSPORT INC | #6 | #8 | Down 2 places |
| Dillard Trucking | #10 | #9 | Up 1 place |
| ELBERTA LOGISTICS INTERNATIONAL LLC | #5 | #10 | Down 5 places |
| MC CARRIER LLC | #9 | #11 | Down 2 places |
| Sika Corporation | #7 | #12 | Down 5 places |
| BRADY TRUCKING INC | #8 | #13 | Down 5 places |
| Fisher Brothers Trucking | #12 | #14 | Down 2 places |
| HOLLAND ENTERPRISES INC | #17 | #15 | Up 2 places |
| NEIER INC | #15 | #17 | Down 2 places |
| RIVER CITY TRANSPORT INC | #14 | #18 | Down 4 places |
| M&D TRANSPORT | #18 | #19 | Down 1 place |
| TRIUS TRUCKING INC | #13 | #20 | Down 7 places |
| HOLLIDAY ROCK CO INC | #20 | #21 | Down 1 place |
| TAYLOR TRUCK LINE INC | #21 | #22 | Down 1 place |
| HAWKS TRANSPORT LLC | Not ranked | #23 | New |
| Brenny Specialized Inc | #23 | #24 | Down 1 place |
| Excel Trucking LLC | #19 | #25 | Down 6 places |
| Prime Inc. | #25 | #27 | Down 2 places |
| HUTCHINSON TRUCKING LLC | #27 | #28 | Down 1 place |
| TRANS XPRESS LINE INC | #28 | #29 | Down 1 place |
| NTA, LTD. | #31 | #30 | Up 1 place |
| ELITE EXPRESS | #33 | #31 | Up 2 places |
| CTK LOGISTICS LLC | #30 | #33 | Down 3 places |
| STONE TRANSPORT | #35 | #34 | Up 1 place |
| Southland Transportation | #34 | #35 | Down 1 place |
| EAGLE EYE TRUCK LINES LLC | #40 | #39 | Up 1 place |
| K & R TRANSPORT LLC | #42 | #40 | Up 2 places |
| Idea Transport LLC | #39 | #41 | Down 2 places |
| BIG WINGS LLC | Not ranked | #42 | New |
| REISCH TRUCKING INC | #29 | #46 | Down 17 places |
| 1 MTX LLC | #46 | #47 | Down 1 place |
| Parks Motor Group Inc | #47 | #48 | Down 1 place |
| BROADWATER LOGISTICS & TRANSPORTATION INC | #48 | #49 | Down 1 place |
| Detmar Logistics | #49 | #50 | Down 1 place |
| WILLIAMS PRESTIGE ENTERPRISE | #11 | Not ranked | Dropped out |
| WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC | #24 | Not ranked | Dropped out |
| SMARTWAY EXPRESS INC | #41 | Not ranked | Dropped out |
| HORIZON TRANSPORTATION | #50 | Not ranked | Dropped out |
The trucking companies leading Lake Forest, 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. tops the Lake Forest, California ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. The carrier ranks in the 90th percentile for weekly pay in Lake Forest, California. Herrington Transportation Inc. tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
#2HIGH MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT LLC — $1,700/wk
HIGH MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT LLC is new to the Lake Forest, 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. HIGH MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT LLC tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
#3Flexsteel Industries — $2,000/wk
Flexsteel Industries sits in the 90th percentile for weekly pay among Lake Forest, California carriers. On unsafe-driving avoidance, the carrier ranks in the 88th percentile per FMCSA SAFER data.
The top sign-on bonus in Lake Forest, California's top 10 is Flexsteel Industries's — $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 G-DIAMOND TRANSPORT INC at $2,045/wk, #9 Dillard Trucking at $2,200/wk, #10 ELBERTA LOGISTICS INTERNATIONAL LLC at $2,000/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Lake Forest, California
The route mix in Lake Forest, California this month tilts OTR: 17% regional, 69% OTR, 10% local, 4% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Across Lake Forest, California CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 30% dedicated, 68% take-truck-home, 60% pet-friendly, 58% riders-allowed.
How Lake Forest, California compares to California
| Lake Forest, California | California top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sign-on bonus rate | 36% | 42% | -6 pt |
| Take-truck-home | 82% | 72% | +10 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 74% | 66% | +8 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 42% | 36% | +6 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 68% | 62% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
Lake Forest, California's biggest divergence from California is on take-truck-home, 10 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 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 Lake Forest, California
- CDL driver salary in Lake Forest, California
- Best trucking companies in California
Where this data comes from
The composite score is 30% compensation, 25% FMCSA safety, 25% benefits, and 20% operational performance. Pay percentiles are computed against carriers currently hiring in each market; FMCSA percentiles come from SAFER and weight unsafe-driving and hours-of-service violations 2× heavier than the other three dimensions. Updated November 2026.