Updated November 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Palatine, Illinois (November 2026)
Lanefinder is tracking 457 W2 trucking carriers in Palatine, Illinois (November 2026). Herrington Transportation Inc. leads with an average weekly pay of $2,000. FW TRUCKING follows at $1,800/week. Illinois anchors the US rail and truck network through Chicago, the largest intermodal hub in North America, with I-80 / I-90 / I-55 feeding a dense concentration of manufacturing, warehousing, and cold-chain freight.
What changed in November 2026
McLeod Express LLC at #5, SAFE WAY CARRIER LLC at #8, and MNS1 EXPRESS INC at #10 are new to the top 50 in Palatine, Illinois. Biggest climbs: Herrington Transportation Inc. (#38 → #1), FW TRUCKING (#24 → #2), and True Transport Inc. (#18 → #4). Biggest falls: LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY (#1 → #26) and Diaz Stone & Pallet Inc. (#12 → #22). Elsewhere in the top 50, 4 carriers joined, 7 left, and 37 changed rank.
All changes since October 2026
Palatine, Illinois'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. is number-one in Palatine, Illinois this month on the composite ranking. Weekly pay here lands in the 92nd percentile across Palatine, Illinois. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
#2FW TRUCKING — $1,800/wk
FW TRUCKING rose 22 positions month-over-month, from #24 to #2. FW TRUCKING's FMCSA score is strongest on unsafe-driving avoidance — 90th percentile.
#3HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC — $2,100/wk
HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC sits in the 93rd percentile for weekly pay among Palatine, Illinois carriers. HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC ranks in the 99th percentile for hours-of-service compliance on FMCSA SAFER data.
HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC offers the highest sign-on bonus among Palatine, Illinois's top 10 — $10,000.
Also in the top 10: #4 True Transport Inc. at $2,250/wk, #5 McLeod Express LLC at $1,462/wk, #6 PREMIER TRANSPORTATION at $1,950/wk, #7 HandledNow LLC at $1,550/wk, #8 SAFE WAY CARRIER LLC at $2,100/wk, #9 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/wk, #10 MNS1 EXPRESS INC at $2,050/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Palatine, Illinois
Of active CDL postings in Palatine, Illinois this month, 24% are regional and 62% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 14%.
Across Palatine, Illinois CDL postings: 3% with guaranteed pay, 28% dedicated, 73% take-truck-home, 58% pet-friendly, 59% riders-allowed.
Palatine, Illinois vs Illinois: the numbers that diverge
| Palatine, Illinois | Illinois top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated routes | 33% | 41% | -8 pt |
| Take-truck-home | 88% | 82% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
The largest gap is on dedicated routes: Palatine, Illinois sits 8 points below the Illinois baseline.
Driving CDL in Illinois
Illinois is one of the most strategically located CDL states — Chicago is the largest US intermodal rail hub, so a huge percentage of national freight passes through. The metro lanes pay well but congestion on I-80, I-90, and I-294 is consistent enough to be a real income variable. Outside the Chicago metro, downstate Illinois looks much more like Iowa or Indiana — agricultural freight, less density, easier driving. State income tax is moderate. The winter operational profile is severe: lake-effect snow, road salt, and the freezing-thawing cycle eat equipment faster than most southern states.
Related guides
- Best owner-operator companies in Palatine, Illinois
- CDL driver salary in Palatine, Illinois
- Best trucking companies in Illinois
Where this data comes from
Lanefinder's ranking algorithm weights compensation at 30%, FMCSA SAFER safety at 25%, benefits at 25%, and operational performance at 20%. Compensation reflects pay percentile plus sign-on bonus, guaranteed pay, and settlement-frequency adjustments. Benefits scoring is hiring-type-aware. Operational performance comes mostly from how carriers handle real driver applications. Updated November 2026.