Updated May 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Pasadena, California (May 2026)
For W2 company drivers in Pasadena, California, Lanefinder tracks 258 carriers as of May 2026. JK MOVING & STORAGE INC leads with an average weekly pay of $2,200. FRESHPOINT CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INC follows at $2,500/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 May 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 Pasadena, California 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 Pasadena, California market on combined pay and ranking score this month. JK MOVING & STORAGE INC's weekly pay ranks in the 95th percentile across Pasadena, California. Top FMCSA dimension here is unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 94th percentile.
#2FRESHPOINT CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INC — $2,500/wk
FRESHPOINT CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INC's weekly pay ranks in the 98th percentile across Pasadena, California. On unsafe-driving avoidance, the carrier ranks in the 96th percentile per FMCSA SAFER data.
FRESHPOINT CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INC doesn't top the ranking but offers higher weekly pay than #1 — $2,500/week.
#3PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC — $1,750/wk
PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC's top FMCSA dimension is unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 98th percentile.
Also in the top 10: #4 DIVINE ENTERPRISES at $1,375/wk, #5 AJR Trucking Inc at $1,815/wk, #6 OAK HARBOR FREIGHT LINES INC at $1,750/wk, #7 Sika Corporation at $1,750/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.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Pasadena, California
Of active CDL postings in Pasadena, California this month, 16% are regional and 67% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 17%.
Across Pasadena, California CDL postings: 1% with guaranteed pay, 32% dedicated, 65% take-truck-home, 57% pet-friendly, 56% riders-allowed.
How Pasadena, California compares to California
| Pasadena, California | California top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $1,885 | $1,935 | -3% |
| Dedicated routes | 45% | 34% | +11 pt |
| Take-truck-home | 82% | 74% | +8 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Among the figures above, dedicated routes is where Pasadena, California differs most from California — 11 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 clean-truck enforcement is the most aggressive in the US, so newer equipment is effectively required for fleet work — if you're owner-op, plan the truck purchase around it. Drayage out of LA / Long Beach and warehouse-rotation work in the Inland Empire pay near the top of the national scale, but cost of living is brutal. The mountain passes (Cajon, Grapevine, Donner) 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 Pasadena, California
- CDL driver salary in Pasadena, California
- Best trucking companies in California
The methodology behind the rankings
Compensation, FMCSA safety, benefits, and operational performance — weighted 30, 25, 25, and 20 percent respectively. Compensation extends beyond headline pay to include sign-on bonus tier and settlement cadence. Benefits scoring differs by hiring type because the perks that matter to a W2 driver and a contractor are not the same. Updated May 2026.