Updated September 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Salem, Oregon (September 2026)
Through September 2026, 228 carriers in Salem, Oregon employ W2 company drivers across the lanes Lanefinder tracks. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC leads with an average weekly pay of $1,650 and an average $5,000 sign-on bonus. DICK IRVIN 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 September 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 Salem, Oregon this month
The top of the list is WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC at $1,650/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC — $1,650/wk
WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC is number-one in Salem, Oregon this month on the composite ranking. On driver fitness, the carrier ranks in the 93rd percentile per FMCSA SAFER data. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Salem, Oregon.
#2DICK IRVIN INC — $2,250/wk
DICK IRVIN INC's weekly pay ranks in the 96th percentile across Salem, Oregon. DICK IRVIN INC ranks in the 97th percentile for hours-of-service compliance on FMCSA SAFER data.
DICK IRVIN INC leads Salem, Oregon's top 10 on sign-on bonus, advertising $10,000 for new drivers.
#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 unsafe-driving avoidance, in the 93rd percentile.
Also in the top 10: #4 TP TRUCKING at $1,950/wk, #5 Big Foot Transport LLC at $2,650/wk, #6 JR'S FREIGHT SERVICE INC at $2,000/wk, #7 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #8 G-DIAMOND TRANSPORT INC at $2,045/wk, #9 True Transport Inc. at $2,250/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, 18% are regional and 75% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 7%.
Across Salem, Oregon CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 26% dedicated, 75% take-truck-home, 65% pet-friendly, 64% riders-allowed.
Where Salem, Oregon differs from the Oregon baseline
| Salem, Oregon | Oregon top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated routes | 32% | 26% | +6 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 82% | 76% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
Among the figures above, dedicated routes is where Salem, Oregon differs most from Oregon — 6 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 and on US-26 west of Mt. Hood 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 September 2026.