Updated September 2026
Best Trucking Companies in San Diego, California (September 2026)
As of September 2026, 208 carriers in San Diego, California are posting active jobs for W2 company drivers. JK MOVING & STORAGE INC leads with an average weekly pay of $2,200. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC follows at $1,500/week. San Diego handles the Otay Mesa port of entry — one of the busiest US-Mexico commercial crossings — with cross-border manufacturing, biotech and pharmaceutical freight, and Port of San Diego supporting regional distribution.
What changed in September 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
The trucking companies leading San Diego, California this month
The top of the list is JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1JK MOVING & STORAGE INC — $2,200/wk
JK MOVING & STORAGE INC leads the San Diego, California market on combined pay and ranking score this month. JK MOVING & STORAGE INC's weekly pay ranks in the 94th percentile across San Diego, California. JK MOVING & STORAGE INC ranks in the 93rd percentile for unsafe-driving avoidance on FMCSA SAFER data.
#2WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC — $1,500/wk
WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC's FMCSA score is strongest on driver fitness — 93rd percentile. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC responds to driver applications more reliably than the San Diego, California median.
#3TP TRUCKING — $1,950/wk
TP TRUCKING pays above the 80th percentile on weekly pay for the San Diego, California market. TP TRUCKING ranks in the 92nd percentile for hours-of-service compliance on FMCSA SAFER data.
Also in the top 10: #4 REEVE TRUCKING COMPANY at $1,900/wk, #5 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #6 G-DIAMOND TRANSPORT INC at $2,045/wk, #7 ELBERTA LOGISTICS INTERNATIONAL LLC at $2,000/wk, #8 Dillard Trucking at $2,200/wk, #9 BRADY TRUCKING INC at $1,750/wk, #10 Fisher Brothers Trucking at $2,250/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in San Diego, California
17% of San Diego, California's active CDL postings are regional and 81% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (2%).
Across San Diego, California CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 28% dedicated, 76% take-truck-home, 66% pet-friendly, 63% riders-allowed.
Where San Diego, California differs from the California baseline
| San Diego, California | California top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take-truck-home | 84% | 72% | +12 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 76% | 68% | +8 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 74% | 66% | +8 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
San Diego, California's biggest divergence from California is on take-truck-home, 12 points above the state baseline.
Driving CDL in California
California is one of the toughest states to drive CDL in the country, and one of the most lucrative for the right setup. CARB clean-truck enforcement is the most aggressive in the US, so newer equipment is effectively required for fleet work — if you're owner-op, plan the truck purchase around it. Drayage out of LA / Long Beach and warehouse-rotation work in the Inland Empire pay near the top of the national scale, but cost of living is brutal. The mountain passes (Cajon, Grapevine, Donner) add real winter complexity that most other Southwest lanes don't. Drivers with serious mountain experience earn it back.
Related guides
- Best owner-operator companies in San Diego, California
- CDL driver salary in San Diego, California
- Best trucking companies in California
The methodology behind the rankings
Lanefinder's ranking algorithm weights compensation at 30%, FMCSA SAFER safety at 25%, benefits at 25%, and operational performance at 20%. Compensation reflects pay percentile plus sign-on bonus, guaranteed pay, and settlement-frequency adjustments. Benefits scoring is hiring-type-aware. Operational performance comes mostly from how carriers handle real driver applications. Updated September 2026.