Updated September 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Wausau, Wisconsin (September 2026)
There are 306 W2 trucking carriers currently posting jobs in Wausau, Wisconsin. 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. South East Carriers INC follows at $1,800/week. Wisconsin freight moves on I-90 / I-94 through Milwaukee and Madison, with dairy and food processing as the dominant outbound commodity and paper and packaging manufacturing in the Fox River Valley generating consistent industrial loads.
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 Wausau, Wisconsin 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 tops the Wausau, Wisconsin ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. 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.
#2South East Carriers INC — $1,800/wk
South East Carriers INC's top FMCSA dimension is driver fitness, in the 93rd percentile. South East Carriers INC tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
#3PREMIER TRANSPORTATION — $1,950/wk
PREMIER TRANSPORTATION sits in the 87th percentile for weekly pay among Wausau, Wisconsin carriers. PREMIER TRANSPORTATION ranks in the 98th percentile for driver fitness on FMCSA SAFER data.
Also in the top 10: #4 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/wk, #5 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/wk, #6 TDR TRANSPORT at $2,200/wk, #7 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #8 Badger Express LLC at $1,700/wk, #9 Diaz Stone & Pallet Inc. at $1,750/wk, #10 True Transport Inc. at $2,250/wk.
What Wausau, Wisconsin drivers actually run
Of active CDL postings in Wausau, Wisconsin this month, 18% are regional and 79% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 3%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 1% of Wausau, Wisconsin postings; dedicated routes at 25%; take-truck-home at 81%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 68% and riders-allowed at 68%.
Where Wausau, Wisconsin differs from the Wisconsin baseline
| Wausau, Wisconsin | Wisconsin top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sign-on bonus rate | 44% | 37% | +7 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 74% | 67% | +7 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 80% | 73% | +7 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
Wausau, Wisconsin's biggest divergence from Wisconsin is on sign-on bonus availability, 7 points above the state baseline.
Driving CDL in Wisconsin
Wisconsin freight moves on I-90 / I-94 through Milwaukee and Madison. Dairy and food processing are dominant outbound commodities — Wisconsin's reefer freight is a national-scale segment. Paper and packaging manufacturing in the Fox River Valley generates consistent industrial loads. Great Lakes ports at Green Bay and Superior handle bulk cargo. Cost of living is moderate. Wisconsin has a high graduated state income tax. Winter is severe — lake-effect snow off Lake Michigan affects the eastern third of the state; ice and salt corrosion eat equipment faster than southern states.
Related guides
- Best owner-operator companies in Wausau, Wisconsin
- CDL driver salary in Wausau, Wisconsin
- Best trucking companies in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
Composite-score formula: compensation × 0.30, FMCSA safety × 0.25, benefits × 0.25, operational performance × 0.20. Compensation is anchored on pay percentile and lifted by sign-on bonus tier and guaranteed-pay availability. Operational performance is built mostly from driver-application response data in Lanefinder's platform, with fleet-scale percentile contributing a smaller portion. Updated September 2026.