Trucking Companies in Wisconsin

Wisconsin ranks among the largest trucking markets in the United States with 13,271 registered for-hire motor carriers, of which 13,271 (100.0%) hold active FMCSA operating authority as of May 2026. The state's average fleet size is 10.6 power units, with 35,499 single-truck owner-operators comprising 267.5% of the carrier population. Milwaukee leads with 3,944 carriers, followed by the state's other major freight corridors. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, trucking and warehousing is among Wisconsin's top employment sectors, reflecting the state's critical role in domestic freight movement.

The carrier fleet in Wisconsin includes 218 operators running 101+ power units alongside 35,499 single-truck operations. The fleet spans general freight, specialized, and intermodal operations. New market entries remain steady: 1,335 carriers received initial operating authority in the past 6 months, each subject to FMCSA's 18-month New Entrant Safety Assurance monitoring period. Meanwhile, 23,077 carriers have maintained continuous authority for 20+ years, representing the state's most established freight operators.

Truck Graph identifies 39 active risk indicators across Wisconsin carriers (0.29% of the registered population), detected through pattern analysis of authority cycling, insurance filing anomalies, and known chameleon carrier behaviors. The FMCSA defines chameleon carriers as entities that "successively obtain and relinquish operating authority to evade enforcement actions" — a practice that puts shippers at risk. Additionally, 39 Wisconsin carriers have prior authority revocations on record. Shippers should verify carrier authority status, insurance coverage, and safety ratings before every load tender using the FMCSA SAFER System or Truck Graph's instant verification tools.

Sources: FMCSA.dot.gov, BLS Trucking Industry Data, FMCSA SAFER System. Data verified as of May 29, 2026 at 12:34 PM.