Updated September 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Lawrence, Kansas (September 2026)
Lawrence, Kansas's W2 trucking market includes 335 active 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. Kansas freight moves on the I-70 east-west transcontinental corridor and I-35 north-south, with agricultural commodities — wheat, beef, and grain — dominating loads and the Kansas City metro serving as a regional hub.
What changed in September 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
The trucking companies leading Lawrence, Kansas this month
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 is number-one in Lawrence, Kansas this month on the composite ranking. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC's FMCSA score is strongest on driver fitness — 93rd percentile. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Lawrence, Kansas median.
The top sign-on bonus in Lawrence, Kansas's top 10 is WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC's — $5,000.
#2FW TRUCKING — $1,750/wk
FW TRUCKING ranks in the 92nd percentile for unsafe-driving avoidance on FMCSA SAFER data. FW TRUCKING responds to driver applications more reliably than the Lawrence, Kansas median.
#3PREMIER TRANSPORTATION — $2,125/wk
PREMIER TRANSPORTATION pays above the 88th percentile on weekly pay for the Lawrence, Kansas market. 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 TDR TRANSPORT at $2,200/wk, #6 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/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 Lawrence, Kansas
Of active CDL postings in Lawrence, Kansas this month, 15% are regional and 81% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 4%.
Across Lawrence, Kansas CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 23% dedicated, 81% take-truck-home, 66% pet-friendly, 67% riders-allowed.
Lawrence, Kansas vs Kansas: the numbers that diverge
| Lawrence, Kansas | Kansas top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pet-friendly fleets | 80% | 72% | +8 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 88% | 80% | +8 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
Among the figures above, pet-friendly fleets is where Lawrence, Kansas differs most from Kansas — 8 points above statewide.
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 Lawrence, Kansas
- CDL driver salary in Lawrence, Kansas
- Best trucking companies in Kansas
The methodology behind the rankings
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 September 2026.