Updated November 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Palm Desert, California (November 2026)
Lanefinder's index counts 221 active W2 trucking carriers in Palm Desert, California this November 2026. 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 Palm Desert, California. Biggest climb: Herrington Transportation Inc. (#19 → #1). Biggest fall: REISCH TRUCKING INC (#27 → #43). WILLIAMS PRESTIGE ENTERPRISE (was #9) left the top 50. Elsewhere in the top 50, 2 carriers joined, 3 left, and 33 changed rank.
All changes since October 2026
| Carrier | Last month | This month | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Herrington Transportation Inc. | #19 | #1 | Up 18 places |
| HIGH MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT LLC | Not ranked | #2 | New |
| JK MOVING & STORAGE INC | #1 | #3 | Down 2 places |
| Mountain States L.P. Gas | Not ranked | #4 | New |
| REEVE TRUCKING COMPANY | #2 | #5 | Down 3 places |
| PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC | #3 | #6 | Down 3 places |
| ALBA TRANS INC | #4 | #7 | Down 3 places |
| Dillard Trucking | #7 | #8 | Down 1 place |
| G-DIAMOND TRANSPORT INC | #5 | #9 | Down 4 places |
| ELBERTA LOGISTICS INTERNATIONAL LLC | #6 | #10 | Down 4 places |
| Fisher Brothers Trucking | #10 | #12 | Down 2 places |
| BRADY TRUCKING INC | #8 | #13 | Down 5 places |
| KAISER TRANSPORT INC | #13 | #14 | Down 1 place |
| HOLLAND ENTERPRISES INC | #18 | #15 | Up 3 places |
| TRIUS TRUCKING INC | #12 | #16 | Down 4 places |
| M&D TRANSPORT | #14 | #17 | Down 3 places |
| NEIER INC | #16 | #18 | Down 2 places |
| Excel Trucking LLC | #17 | #19 | Down 2 places |
| RIVER CITY TRANSPORT INC | #15 | #20 | Down 5 places |
| HAWKS TRANSPORT LLC | Not ranked | #22 | New |
| Creedence Energy Services LLC | #20 | #23 | Down 3 places |
| CARGORX DRY CAPACITY | #23 | #24 | Down 1 place |
| Brenny Specialized Inc | #22 | #25 | Down 3 places |
| Prime Inc. | #25 | #26 | Down 1 place |
| HUTCHINSON TRUCKING LLC | #24 | #27 | Down 3 places |
| TRANS XPRESS LINE INC | #26 | #28 | Down 2 places |
| CTK LOGISTICS LLC | #28 | #30 | Down 2 places |
| Cross Integrated Transport, LLC | #30 | #31 | Down 1 place |
| Southland Transportation | #31 | #32 | Down 1 place |
| NTA, LTD. | #32 | #33 | Down 1 place |
| TRINITY X-PRESS LLC | #37 | #36 | Up 1 place |
| K & R TRANSPORT LLC | #41 | #37 | Up 4 places |
| EAGLE EYE TRUCK LINES LLC | #42 | #39 | Up 3 places |
| S & R TRANSPORTATION LLC | #39 | #40 | Down 1 place |
| BIG WINGS LLC | Not ranked | #41 | New |
| CAPITOL TRUCK LINES INC | #43 | #42 | Up 1 place |
| REISCH TRUCKING INC | #27 | #43 | Down 16 places |
| KZY Logistics LLC | #47 | #46 | Up 1 place |
| Parks Motor Group Inc | #46 | #47 | Down 1 place |
| WILLIAMS PRESTIGE ENTERPRISE | #9 | Not ranked | Dropped out |
| CNA FREIGHT LLC | #33 | Not ranked | Dropped out |
| STONE TRANSPORT | #36 | Not ranked | Dropped out |
| SMARTWAY EXPRESS INC | #40 | Not ranked | Dropped out |
Where CDL pay is strongest in Palm Desert, California this month
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 Palm Desert, California ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. Pay sits above the 84th percentile in the Palm Desert, California market. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Palm Desert, California.
#2HIGH MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT LLC — $1,700/wk
HIGH MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT LLC debuts in the Palm Desert, California top 50 this month — it wasn't tracked here last month. HIGH MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT LLC's top FMCSA dimension is driver fitness, in the 93rd percentile. Lanefinder's application data flags HIGH MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT LLC as a responsive employer.
#3JK MOVING & STORAGE INC — $2,200/wk
JK MOVING & STORAGE INC sits in the 93rd percentile for weekly pay among Palm Desert, California carriers. JK MOVING & STORAGE INC's top FMCSA dimension is vehicle maintenance, in the 94th percentile.
Also in the top 10: #4 Mountain States L.P. Gas at $2,000/wk, #5 REEVE TRUCKING COMPANY at $1,900/wk, #6 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #7 ALBA TRANS INC at $3,000/wk, #8 Dillard Trucking at $2,200/wk, #9 G-DIAMOND TRANSPORT INC at $2,045/wk, #10 ELBERTA LOGISTICS INTERNATIONAL LLC at $2,000/wk.
What Palm Desert, California drivers actually run
Of active CDL postings in Palm Desert, California this month, 17% are regional and 79% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 4%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Palm Desert, California postings; dedicated routes at 30%; take-truck-home at 75%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 66% and riders-allowed at 62%.
Where Palm Desert, California differs from the California baseline
| Palm Desert, California | California top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
Among the figures above, take-truck-home is where Palm Desert, California differs most from California — 8 points above statewide.
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 Palm Desert, California
- CDL driver salary in Palm Desert, California
- Best trucking companies in California
Where this data comes from
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 November 2026.