Updated November 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Utica, New York (November 2026)
Utica, New York has 244 active W2 trucking carriers as of November 2026. The carriers ranked below are scored on real driver pay, FMCSA safety, benefits, and how they treat applicants. HandledNow LLC leads with an average weekly pay of $1,900 and an average $5,000 sign-on bonus. Herrington Transportation Inc. follows at $2,000/week. New York freight is anchored by the Port of New York and New Jersey complex, the busiest on the East Coast, with I-87 / I-95 truck corridors and dense last-mile delivery demand across the New York City metro.
What changed in November 2026
SAFE WAY CARRIER LLC at #7 and Mountain States L.P. Gas at #8 are new to the top 50 in Utica, New York. Biggest climb: Herrington Transportation Inc. (#26 → #2). Biggest fall: REISCH TRUCKING INC (#35 → #46). KEY LOGISTICS (was #5) left the top 50. Elsewhere in the top 50, 4 carriers joined, 5 left, and 31 changed rank.
All changes since October 2026
Utica, New York's top trucking carriers right now
The top of the list is HandledNow LLC at $1,900/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1HandledNow LLC — $1,900/wk
HandledNow LLC leads the Utica, New York market on combined pay and ranking score this month. HandledNow LLC ranks in the 99th percentile for driver fitness on FMCSA SAFER data. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
#2Herrington Transportation Inc. — $2,000/wk
Herrington Transportation Inc. is up from #26 last month, one of the largest jumps in the Utica, New York ranking. Herrington Transportation Inc.'s weekly pay ranks in the 88th percentile across Utica, New York. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
#3HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC — $2,100/wk
HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC pays above the 85th percentile on weekly pay for the Utica, New York market. HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC ranks in the 99th percentile for hours-of-service compliance on FMCSA SAFER data.
HAZMAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP INC offers the highest sign-on bonus among Utica, New York's top 10 — $10,000.
Also in the top 10: #4 MCK TRUCKING INC at $2,200/wk, #5 True Transport Inc. at $2,250/wk, #6 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/wk, #7 SAFE WAY CARRIER LLC at $2,100/wk, #8 Mountain States L.P. Gas at $2,000/wk, #9 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #10 JS HELWIG & SON LLC at $1,850/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Utica, New York
23% of Utica, New York's active CDL postings are regional and 73% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (4%).
Across Utica, New York CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 26% dedicated, 77% take-truck-home, 63% pet-friendly, 61% riders-allowed.
How Utica, New York compares to New York
| Utica, New York | New York top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated routes | 32% | 50% | -18 pt |
| Take-truck-home | 84% | 78% | +6 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 70% | 64% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
Utica, New York's biggest divergence from New York is on dedicated routes, 18 points below the state baseline.
Driving CDL in New York
New York CDL work is mostly upstate or NYC-metro last-mile — almost no through-driver wants to deal with the Five Boroughs more than necessary. The patchwork of bridge tolls (MTA Bridges & Tunnels, Port Authority, Thruway Authority), the truck-route restrictions in Manhattan and on the parkways, and the weight-on-bridge rules add real planning overhead. Long Island delivery work can pay a premium for drivers who can actually navigate it. Upstate freight on I-90 / I-87 looks much more like normal interstate driving, with the addition of real winter — lake-effect snow off Erie and Ontario can shut runs down. State income tax is high; many drivers based here run out-of-state lanes to keep the math working.
Related guides
- Best owner-operator companies in Utica, New York
- CDL driver salary in Utica, New York
- Best trucking companies in New York
How we compile these 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 November 2026.