Updated November 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Lakewood, California (November 2026)
Through November 2026, 257 carriers in Lakewood, California employ W2 company drivers across the lanes Lanefinder tracks. 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 #4 are new to the top 50 in Lakewood, California. Biggest climb: Herrington Transportation Inc. (#22 → #1). Biggest fall: REISCH TRUCKING INC (#30 → #46). Elsewhere in the top 50, 2 carriers joined, 4 left, and 35 changed rank.
All changes since October 2026
Lakewood, California's top trucking carriers right now
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 Lakewood, California ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. Herrington Transportation Inc. sits in the 90th percentile for weekly pay among Lakewood, California carriers. Herrington Transportation Inc. responds to driver applications more reliably than the Lakewood, California median.
#2HIGH MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT LLC — $1,700/wk
HIGH MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT LLC is new to the Lakewood, California top 50 this month — first appearance in this ranking. On driver fitness, the carrier ranks in the 93rd percentile per FMCSA SAFER data. HIGH MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT LLC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Lakewood, California median.
#3JK MOVING & STORAGE INC — $2,200/wk
JK MOVING & STORAGE INC pays above the 89th percentile on weekly pay for the Lakewood, California market. On vehicle maintenance, the carrier ranks in the 94th percentile per FMCSA SAFER data.
Also in the top 10: #4 Mountain States L.P. Gas at $2,000/wk, #5 FRESHPOINT CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INC at $2,500/wk, #6 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #7 Dillard Trucking at $2,200/wk, #8 G-DIAMOND TRANSPORT INC at $2,045/wk, #9 ELBERTA LOGISTICS INTERNATIONAL LLC at $2,000/wk, #10 OAK HARBOR FREIGHT LINES INC at $1,750/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Lakewood, California
The route mix in Lakewood, California this month tilts OTR: 16% regional, 67% OTR, 13% local, 4% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Lakewood, California postings; dedicated routes at 32%; take-truck-home at 65%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 58% and riders-allowed at 55%.
How Lakewood, California compares to California
| Lakewood, California | California top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sign-on bonus rate | 34% | 42% | -8 pt |
| Take-truck-home | 80% | 72% | +8 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 42% | 36% | +6 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 72% | 66% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
The largest gap is on sign-on bonus availability: Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, California
- CDL driver salary in Lakewood, California
- Best trucking companies in California
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 November 2026.