Updated May 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Linden, New Jersey (May 2026)
Lanefinder tracks 308 W2 trucking carriers hiring in Linden, New Jersey. Rankings below reflect May 2026 data: pay percentiles, FMCSA safety, benefit prevalence, and operational performance. KEEP TRUCKING LLC leads with an average weekly pay of $2,200. True Transport Inc. follows at $2,250/week. New Jersey is the primary Northeast freight gateway through Port Newark / Elizabeth — the busiest container port on the East Coast — with the NJ Turnpike (I-95) and dense intermodal facilities serving the New York metro market.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Linden, New Jersey's top trucking carriers right now
The top of the list is KEEP TRUCKING LLC at $2,200/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1KEEP TRUCKING LLC — $2,200/wk
KEEP TRUCKING LLC tops the Linden, New Jersey ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. The carrier ranks in the 96th percentile for weekly pay in Linden, New Jersey. Top FMCSA dimension here is controlled-substances compliance, in the 88th percentile. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
#2True Transport Inc. — $2,250/wk
True Transport Inc. sits in the 97th percentile for weekly pay among Linden, New Jersey carriers. Strongest FMCSA dimension is unsafe-driving avoidance — 99th percentile. True Transport Inc. tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
For pure pay maximization, True Transport Inc. beats the #1-ranked carrier weekly at $2,250.
#3JK MOVING & STORAGE INC — $2,200/wk
JK MOVING & STORAGE INC pays above the 91st percentile on weekly pay for the Linden, New Jersey market. On unsafe-driving avoidance, the carrier ranks in the 94th percentile per FMCSA SAFER data.
Also in the top 10: #4 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/wk, #5 HMD TRUCKING INC at $1,800/wk, #6 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #7 Maumee Express, Inc. at $1,925/wk, #8 ECM ENERGY SERVICES INC at $1,950/wk, #9 GATEWAY DISTRIBUTION at $1,750/wk, #10 JS HELWIG & SON LLC at $1,850/wk.
What Linden, New Jersey drivers actually run
The route mix in Linden, New Jersey this month tilts OTR: 18% regional, 66% OTR, 13% local, 3% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Linden, New Jersey postings; dedicated routes at 29%; take-truck-home at 68%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 58% and riders-allowed at 57%.
Linden, New Jersey vs New Jersey: the numbers that diverge
| Linden, New Jersey | New Jersey top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take-truck-home | 90% | 81% | +9 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 24% | 30% | -6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
The largest gap is on take-truck-home: Linden, New Jersey sits 9 points above the New Jersey baseline.
Driving CDL in New Jersey
New Jersey is the primary Northeast freight gateway through Port Newark-Elizabeth — the busiest container port on the East Coast — with the NJ Turnpike (I-95) and dense intermodal facilities feeding the New York metro market. Drayage out of the port is the largest single CDL segment. Cost of living is high; New Jersey state income tax is high and graduated (peaks above 10%). Bridge tolls and truck-route restrictions on the Garden State Parkway (no trucks allowed) and certain Hudson crossings add planning overhead. NJ Turnpike traffic is consistently in the worst US tier.
Related guides
- Best owner-operator companies in Linden, New Jersey
- CDL driver salary in Linden, New Jersey
- Best trucking companies in New Jersey
How we compile these rankings
Rankings combine four signals: compensation (30%) including pay percentile, sign-on bonuses, guaranteed pay, and settlement frequency; FMCSA safety (25%); benefits (25%) scored differently for W2 vs owner-operator carriers; and operational performance (20%) measuring employer responsiveness and fleet scale. Recomputed monthly from real active job postings. Updated May 2026.