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Wisconsin · WI

Trucking Jobs in Milwaukee, WI

CDL driver opportunities, local salary data, top industries, and major employers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Avg CDL Salary

$50,000 - $70,000

Population

1,600,000

Truck Stops

18

Cost of Living

Below Average

Top Industries in Milwaukee

These industries drive freight demand and create the most CDL trucking jobs in the Milwaukee metropolitan area.

1
Manufacturing & Machinery
2
Brewing & Beverage
3
Healthcare
4
Water Technology
5
Food Processing

Major Trucking Employers in Milwaukee

These companies and facilities employ CDL truck drivers and logistics professionals in the Milwaukee, WI area.

Harley-Davidson (HQ)
Rockwell Automation (HQ)
Kohl's (HQ nearby)
Johnson Controls
Schneider National

Nearby Interstates & Freight Corridors

These major highways serve Milwaukee and carry the highest volumes of commercial truck traffic through the area.

I-94
I-43
I-41
I-894

Trucking in Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee's freight market reflects its identity as a manufacturing city that actually still manufactures things. Harley-Davidson's Menomonee Falls engine plant and Pilgrim Road powertrain facility ship components and finished motorcycles on specialized enclosed trailers. Rockwell Automation and Johnson Controls headquarters drive industrial automation equipment freight that requires careful handling and often oversized permits. The brewing heritage continues through Molson Coors' Milwaukee operations and a thriving craft beer scene that ships regionally. Wisconsin's dairy industry creates year-round reefer demand — the state's cheese production alone fills thousands of trucks weekly heading to distribution centers across the country. Kohl's department store headquarters in nearby Menomonee Falls operates a distribution network that serves stores in 49 states. Milwaukee's cost of living is notably lower than Chicago's, making it attractive for drivers who want Midwest accessibility without big-city expenses.

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CDL salary data, freight corridors, and industries across WI

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Frequently Asked Questions About Trucking in Milwaukee

What kind of manufacturing freight moves through Milwaukee?

Milwaukee produces heavy machinery (Caterpillar, Komatsu), motorcycles (Harley-Davidson), industrial controls (Rockwell Automation), and medical devices. This creates demand for flatbed, specialized, and high-value enclosed freight.

How does Milwaukee relate to Chicago's freight market?

Milwaukee is 90 miles north of Chicago on I-94. Many carriers operate in both markets, and Milwaukee benefits from overflow freight when Chicago's congestion makes routing through Milwaukee more efficient.

What is the dairy freight market like in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin is America's Dairyland, producing 25% of U.S. cheese. Reefer trucks hauling milk from farms to processing plants and finished dairy products to distribution centers create steady employment throughout the state.