Updated May 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Paterson, New Jersey (May 2026)
Paterson, New Jersey has 304 active W2 trucking carriers as of May 2026. The carriers ranked below are scored on real driver pay, FMCSA safety, benefits, and how they treat applicants. 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.
Paterson, 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 is number-one in Paterson, New Jersey this month on the composite ranking. The carrier ranks in the 96th percentile for weekly pay in Paterson, New Jersey. KEEP TRUCKING LLC ranks in the 88th percentile for controlled-substances compliance on FMCSA SAFER data. KEEP TRUCKING LLC tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
#2True Transport Inc. — $2,250/wk
True Transport Inc. sits in the 97th percentile for weekly pay among Paterson, New Jersey carriers. Top FMCSA dimension here is unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 99th percentile. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
Despite ranking below #1, True Transport Inc. outpays the leader on weekly average — $2,250/week.
#3JK MOVING & STORAGE INC — $2,200/wk
JK MOVING & STORAGE INC pays above the 91st percentile on weekly pay for the Paterson, New Jersey market. JK MOVING & STORAGE INC's FMCSA score is strongest on unsafe-driving avoidance — 94th percentile.
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 DIVINE ENTERPRISES at $1,375/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Paterson, New Jersey
18% of Paterson, New Jersey's active CDL postings are regional and 67% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (15%).
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Paterson, New Jersey postings; dedicated routes at 27%; take-truck-home at 70%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 58% and riders-allowed at 57%.
Paterson, New Jersey vs New Jersey: the numbers that diverge
| Paterson, New Jersey | New Jersey top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take-truck-home | 88% | 81% | +7 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 24% | 30% | -6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Among the figures above, take-truck-home is where Paterson, New Jersey differs most from New Jersey — 7 points above statewide.
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 Paterson, New Jersey
- CDL driver salary in Paterson, New Jersey
- Best trucking companies in New Jersey
The methodology behind the rankings
Four weighted components. Compensation carries 30% and includes pay percentile, sign-on bonus tier, guaranteed-pay availability, and settlement frequency. FMCSA safety carries 25%, built from five SAFER dimensions. Benefits carry 25%, scored separately for W2 versus owner-operator carriers. Operational performance carries 20%, measuring application responsiveness and fleet scale. Updated May 2026.