Updated September 2026
Best Trucking Companies in South Dakota (September 2026)
There are 370 W2 trucking carriers currently posting jobs in South Dakota. The ranking below reflects active jobs as of September 2026, not historical pay surveys. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC leads with an average weekly pay of $1,700 and an average $5,000 sign-on bonus. HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC follows at $2,100/week. South Dakota freight runs on I-29 north-south and I-90 east-west, with Sioux Falls as the primary distribution hub, and agricultural shipments of corn, soybeans, and cattle accounting for the bulk of statewide load volume.
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 South Dakota this month
The top of the list is WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC at $1,700/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC — $1,700/wk
WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC is number-one in South Dakota this month on the composite ranking. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC's top FMCSA dimension is driver fitness, in the 93rd percentile. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in South Dakota.
#2HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC — $2,100/wk
HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC sits in the 93rd percentile for weekly pay among South Dakota carriers. Strongest FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance — 99th percentile.
#3PREMIER TRANSPORTATION — $1,950/wk
PREMIER TRANSPORTATION's weekly pay ranks in the 87th percentile across South Dakota. PREMIER TRANSPORTATION's top FMCSA dimension is driver fitness, in the 98th percentile.
Also in the top 10: #4 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/wk, #5 DICK IRVIN INC at $2,250/wk, #6 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/wk, #7 TDR TRANSPORT at $2,200/wk, #8 Great Plains Trucking Inc. at $1,750/wk, #9 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #10 Badger Express LLC at $1,700/wk.
What South Dakota drivers actually run
The route mix in South Dakota this month tilts OTR: 19% regional, 77% OTR, 3% local, 2% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Across South Dakota CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 26% dedicated, 80% take-truck-home, 66% pet-friendly, 66% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in South Dakota
South Dakota freight runs on I-29 north-south and I-90 east-west, with Sioux Falls as the primary distribution hub. Agricultural shipments of corn, soybeans, and cattle account for the bulk of statewide load volume. Cost of living is among the lowest in the country, and South Dakota has no state income tax — both meaningful for drivers based here. Winter on the I-90 stretch through the prairie is severe (drifting snow, ice). Western SD is genuinely remote — long fuel-stop gaps. Cattle hauling in the western half is a distinct seasonal segment.
Related guides
- Best owner-operator companies in South Dakota
- CDL driver salary in South Dakota
- Best trucking companies in the United States
Where this data comes from
The score is built from four buckets. Thirty percent compensation, drawn from real active job postings and modified by bonus and settlement structure. Twenty-five percent safety, from FMCSA SAFER. Twenty-five percent benefits, scored hiring-type-aware. Twenty percent operational performance, drawn from how carriers actually behave toward applicants. Updated September 2026.