Updated July 2026
Best Trucking Companies in New Orleans, Louisiana (July 2026)
Lanefinder tracks 267 W2 trucking carriers hiring in New Orleans, Louisiana. Rankings below reflect July 2026 data: pay percentiles, FMCSA safety, benefit prevalence, and operational performance. JK MOVING & STORAGE INC leads with an average weekly pay of $2,200. Forest Brook Trucking LLC follows at $1,600/week. New Orleans handles the Port of New Orleans and Port of South Louisiana on the lower Mississippi, among the highest US freight tonnage ports, with heavy petrochemical, grain, and general cargo on I-10 / I-12 / US-90.
What changed in July 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Where CDL pay is strongest in New Orleans, Louisiana this month
The top of the list is JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1JK MOVING & STORAGE INC — $2,200/wk
JK MOVING & STORAGE INC leads the New Orleans, Louisiana market on combined pay and ranking score this month. JK MOVING & STORAGE INC sits in the 94th percentile for weekly pay among New Orleans, Louisiana carriers. JK MOVING & STORAGE INC's top FMCSA dimension is unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 93rd percentile.
#2Forest Brook Trucking LLC — $1,600/wk
Forest Brook Trucking LLC's FMCSA score is strongest on hours-of-service compliance — 97th percentile. Forest Brook Trucking LLC tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
#3Covenant Transport Inc — $1,762/wk
Covenant Transport Inc's FMCSA score is strongest on driver fitness — 99th percentile.
Also in the top 10: #4 South East Carriers INC at $1,600/wk, #5 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #6 Diaz Stone & Pallet Inc. at $1,750/wk, #7 Texas Pride Fuels at $1,875/wk, #8 ELBERTA LOGISTICS INTERNATIONAL LLC at $2,000/wk, #9 BRADY TRUCKING INC at $1,750/wk, #10 H & M TRUCKING INC at $1,750/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in New Orleans, Louisiana
Of active CDL postings in New Orleans, Louisiana this month, 17% are regional and 82% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 1%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 3% of New Orleans, Louisiana postings; dedicated routes at 25%; take-truck-home at 82%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 67% and riders-allowed at 67%.
New Orleans, Louisiana vs Louisiana: the numbers that diverge
| New Orleans, Louisiana | Louisiana top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sign-on bonus rate | 41% | 35% | +6 pt |
| Guaranteed pay | 2% | 8% | -6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, July 2026
Among the figures above, sign-on bonus availability is where New Orleans, Louisiana differs most from Louisiana — 6 points above statewide.
Driving CDL in Louisiana
Louisiana handles some of the highest freight tonnage in the US through the Port of New Orleans and the Port of South Louisiana on the lower Mississippi. Petrochemical and energy freight on I-10 / I-20 / I-49 is the dominant industrial segment. Hurricane season (June-November) drives both shutdowns and rebound-rate spikes; insurance premiums are correspondingly elevated. Louisiana has a low-to-moderate graduated state income tax. New Orleans bridge restrictions and Atchafalaya Basin weather can complicate route planning. Cost of living is below the national average.
Related guides
- Best owner-operator companies in New Orleans, Louisiana
- CDL driver salary in New Orleans, Louisiana
- Best trucking companies in Louisiana
Where this data comes from
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 July 2026.