Updated November 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Salem, Oregon (November 2026)
Through November 2026, 226 carriers in Salem, Oregon employ W2 company drivers across the lanes Lanefinder tracks. Herrington Transportation Inc. leads with an average weekly pay of $2,000. True Transport Inc. follows at $2,250/week. Oregon freight moves on I-5 north-south through Portland and Eugene, with the Port of Portland handling bulk grain and auto imports, and agricultural and forestry exports — wheat, hay, lumber — generating significant outbound volumes.
What changed in November 2026
Mountain States L.P. Gas at #4 is new to the top 50 in Salem, Oregon. Biggest climb: Herrington Transportation Inc. (#21 → #1). Biggest fall: REISCH TRUCKING INC (#29 → #43). Elsewhere in the top 50, 2 carriers joined, 3 left, and 33 changed rank.
All changes since October 2026
Where CDL pay is strongest in Salem, Oregon 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 Salem, Oregon this month on the composite ranking. Herrington Transportation Inc.'s weekly pay ranks in the 91st percentile across Salem, Oregon. Herrington Transportation Inc. tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
#2True Transport Inc. — $2,250/wk
True Transport Inc.'s weekly pay ranks in the 96th percentile across Salem, Oregon. True Transport Inc.'s top FMCSA dimension is unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 98th percentile.
True Transport Inc. doesn't top the ranking but offers higher weekly pay than #1 — $2,250/week.
#3JK MOVING & STORAGE INC — $2,200/wk
JK MOVING & STORAGE INC sits in the 94th percentile for weekly pay among Salem, Oregon carriers. Top FMCSA dimension here is vehicle maintenance, in the 94th percentile.
Also in the top 10: #4 Mountain States L.P. Gas at $2,000/wk, #5 JR'S FREIGHT SERVICE INC at $2,000/wk, #6 DICK IRVIN INC at $2,250/wk, #7 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #8 G-DIAMOND TRANSPORT INC at $2,045/wk, #9 Dillard Trucking at $2,200/wk, #10 ELBERTA LOGISTICS INTERNATIONAL LLC at $2,000/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Salem, Oregon
Of active CDL postings in Salem, Oregon this month, 19% are regional and 75% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 6%.
Across Salem, Oregon CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 27% dedicated, 74% take-truck-home, 63% pet-friendly, 63% riders-allowed.
Where Salem, Oregon differs from the Oregon baseline
| Salem, Oregon | Oregon top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riders-allowed policies | 78% | 70% | +8 pt |
| Take-truck-home | 86% | 80% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
Among the figures above, riders-allowed policies is where Salem, Oregon differs most from Oregon — 8 points above statewide.
Driving CDL in Oregon
Oregon freight moves on I-5 north-south through the Willamette Valley (Portland-Salem-Eugene), with the Port of Portland handling bulk grain (one of the largest US wheat-export terminals) and auto imports. Agricultural and forestry exports — wheat, hay, lumber, Christmas trees in season — generate significant outbound volume. Mountain passes on I-84 east are winter operational variables. Oregon has no general sales tax but a high graduated state income tax. Cost of living in Portland is high; rural OR is more affordable.
Related guides
- Best owner-operator companies in Salem, Oregon
- CDL driver salary in Salem, Oregon
- Best trucking companies in Oregon
Where this data comes from
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 November 2026.