Updated May 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Salem, Massachusetts (May 2026)
232 carriers in Salem, Massachusetts are actively recruiting W2 company drivers as of May 2026. Each is scored on a composite of compensation, FMCSA safety, benefits, and operational performance. KEEP TRUCKING LLC leads with an average weekly pay of $2,200. True Transport Inc. follows at $2,250/week. Massachusetts freight runs on the I-90 / I-93 / I-95 metro grid through Boston, with Port of Boston handling bulk and container cargo and a major concentration of biotech and pharmaceutical manufacturing requiring cold-chain and hazmat lanes.
What changed in May 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Salem, Massachusetts'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 tops the Salem, Massachusetts ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. The carrier ranks in the 95th percentile for weekly pay in Salem, Massachusetts. Strongest FMCSA dimension is controlled-substances compliance — 88th percentile. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
#2True Transport Inc. — $2,250/wk
True Transport Inc. pays above the 92nd percentile on weekly pay for the Salem, Massachusetts market. Strongest FMCSA dimension is unsafe-driving avoidance — 99th percentile. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
For pure pay maximization, True Transport Inc. beats the #1-ranked carrier weekly at $2,250.
#3JK MOVING & STORAGE INC — $2,200/wk
JK MOVING & STORAGE INC pays above the 90th percentile on weekly pay for the Salem, Massachusetts market. On unsafe-driving avoidance, the carrier ranks in the 94th percentile per FMCSA SAFER data.
Also in the top 10: #4 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/wk, #5 HMD TRUCKING INC at $1,875/wk, #6 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #7 JS HELWIG & SON LLC at $1,850/wk, #8 DIVINE ENTERPRISES at $1,375/wk, #9 ABENAQUI CARRIERS at $1,750/wk, #10 Diaz Stone & Pallet Inc. at $1,750/wk.
What Salem, Massachusetts drivers actually run
The route mix in Salem, Massachusetts this month tilts OTR: 16% regional, 77% OTR, 7% local, 0% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Salem, Massachusetts postings; dedicated routes at 25%; take-truck-home at 73%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 61% and riders-allowed at 61%.
Salem, Massachusetts vs Massachusetts: the numbers that diverge
| Salem, Massachusetts | Massachusetts top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sign-on bonus rate | 48% | 43% | +5 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 68% | 63% | +5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, May 2026
Among the figures above, sign-on bonus availability is where Salem, Massachusetts differs most from Massachusetts — 5 points above statewide.
Driving CDL in Massachusetts
Massachusetts freight runs on the I-90 / I-93 / I-95 grid through Boston, with the Port of Boston handling bulk and container cargo. A dense biotech and pharmaceutical manufacturing cluster around Cambridge / Boston / Worcester requires cold-chain and hazmat-eligible lanes. The Big Dig tunnels have truck-height and hazmat restrictions worth checking before routing. Boston congestion is consistently in the worst US tier. Cost of living is among the highest nationally. Massachusetts has a moderate flat state income tax with an added surtax on very high incomes (not relevant for most drivers).
Related guides
- Best owner-operator companies in Salem, Massachusetts
- CDL driver salary in Salem, Massachusetts
- Best trucking companies in Massachusetts
How we compile these rankings
Carriers are scored against carriers in their own market. The composite is 30% compensation (pay + bonus + guaranteed pay + settlement cadence), 25% FMCSA safety, 25% benefits (W2 vs owner-op scoring), and 20% operational performance (responsiveness + fleet scale). No paid placement — the weights are the same for every carrier in the index. Updated May 2026.