Updated September 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Springfield, Illinois (September 2026)
400 W2 trucking carriers are hiring in Springfield, Illinois this September 2026. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC leads with an average weekly pay of $1,700 and an average $5,000 sign-on bonus. FW TRUCKING follows at $1,750/week. Illinois anchors the US rail and truck network through Chicago, the largest intermodal hub in North America, with I-80 / I-90 / I-55 feeding a dense concentration of manufacturing, warehousing, and cold-chain freight.
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 Springfield, Illinois 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 Springfield, Illinois this month on the composite ranking. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC ranks in the 93rd percentile for driver fitness on FMCSA SAFER data. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
#2FW TRUCKING — $1,750/wk
FW TRUCKING's FMCSA score is strongest on unsafe-driving avoidance — 92nd percentile. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
#3HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC — $2,100/wk
HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC's weekly pay ranks in the 94th percentile across Springfield, Illinois. HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC's top FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance, in the 99th percentile.
The top sign-on bonus in Springfield, Illinois's top 10 is HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC's — $10,000.
Also in the top 10: #4 PREMIER TRANSPORTATION at $1,950/wk, #5 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/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 Springfield, Illinois drivers actually run
Of active CDL postings in Springfield, Illinois this month, 23% are regional and 72% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 5%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 3% of Springfield, Illinois postings; dedicated routes at 26%; take-truck-home at 81%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 67% and riders-allowed at 67%.
Springfield, Illinois vs Illinois: the numbers that diverge
| Springfield, Illinois | Illinois top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riders-allowed policies | 80% | 67% | +13 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 24% | 31% | -7 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
Among the figures above, riders-allowed policies is where Springfield, Illinois differs most from Illinois — 13 points above statewide.
Driving CDL in Illinois
Illinois is one of the most strategically located CDL states — Chicago is the largest US intermodal rail hub, so a huge percentage of national freight passes through. The metro lanes pay well but congestion on I-80, I-90, and I-294 is consistent enough to be a real income variable. Outside the Chicago metro, downstate Illinois looks much more like Iowa or Indiana — agricultural freight, less density, easier driving. State income tax is moderate. The winter operational profile is severe: lake-effect snow, road salt, and the freezing-thawing cycle eat equipment faster than most southern states.
Related guides
- Best owner-operator companies in Springfield, Illinois
- CDL driver salary in Springfield, Illinois
- Best trucking companies in Illinois
The methodology behind the rankings
Rankings combine four signals: compensation (30%) including pay percentile, sign-on bonuses, guaranteed pay, and settlement frequency; FMCSA safety (25%); benefits (25%) scored differently for W2 vs owner-operator carriers; and operational performance (20%) measuring employer responsiveness and fleet scale. Recomputed monthly from real active job postings. Updated September 2026.