Updated November 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Peoria, Illinois (November 2026)
Peoria, Illinois has 400 active W2 trucking carriers as of November 2026. The carriers ranked below are scored on real driver pay, FMCSA safety, benefits, and how they treat applicants. Herrington Transportation Inc. leads with an average weekly pay of $2,000. McLeod Express LLC follows at $1,550/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
SAFE WAY CARRIER LLC at #8 and MNS1 EXPRESS INC at #10 are new to the top 50 in Peoria, Illinois. Biggest climbs: Herrington Transportation Inc. (#37 → #1), FW TRUCKING (#22 → #3), and McLeod Express LLC (#13 → #2). Biggest fall: LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY (#1 → #27). Elsewhere in the top 50, 5 carriers joined, 7 left, and 38 changed rank.
All changes since October 2026
Where CDL pay is strongest in Peoria, Illinois 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. is number-one in Peoria, Illinois this month on the composite ranking. The carrier ranks in the 90th percentile for weekly pay in Peoria, Illinois. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
#2McLeod Express LLC — $1,550/wk
McLeod Express LLC rose 11 positions month-over-month, from #13 to #2. McLeod Express LLC's FMCSA score is strongest on unsafe-driving avoidance — 94th percentile. Pay is guaranteed on a weekly minimum.
If you want OTR routes without per-mile income variance, McLeod Express LLC is the only Peoria, Illinois top-10 carrier pairing the two.
#3FW TRUCKING — $1,800/wk
FW TRUCKING rose 19 positions month-over-month, from #22 to #3. FW TRUCKING's top FMCSA dimension is unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 90th percentile.
Also in the top 10: #4 HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC at $2,100/wk, #5 True Transport Inc. at $2,250/wk, #6 PREMIER TRANSPORTATION at $1,950/wk, #7 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/wk, #8 SAFE WAY CARRIER LLC at $2,100/wk, #9 HandledNow LLC at $1,550/wk, #10 MNS1 EXPRESS INC at $2,050/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Peoria, Illinois
Of active CDL postings in Peoria, Illinois this month, 23% are regional and 72% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 5%.
Across Peoria, Illinois CDL postings: 4% with guaranteed pay, 26% dedicated, 81% take-truck-home, 65% pet-friendly, 66% riders-allowed.
How Peoria, Illinois compares to Illinois
| Peoria, Illinois | Illinois top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sign-on bonus rate | 35% | 41% | -6 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 33% | 41% | -8 pt |
| Guaranteed pay | 14% | 8% | +6 pt |
| Take-truck-home | 88% | 82% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
Peoria, Illinois's biggest divergence from Illinois is on dedicated routes, 8 points below the state 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 Peoria, Illinois
- CDL driver salary in Peoria, Illinois
- Best trucking companies in Illinois
The methodology behind the rankings
Pay carriers against each other within the same market (30%). Layer a weighted FMCSA SAFER safety percentile on top (25%). Score the benefits package against what actually matters for the hiring type — W2 health/financial benefits or owner-op operational perks (25%). Finish with operational performance: responsiveness to driver applications plus fleet scale (20%). All percentiles are recomputed monthly. Updated November 2026.