Updated September 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Akron, Ohio (September 2026)
Lanefinder tracks 655 owner-operator carriers hiring in Akron, Ohio. Rankings below reflect September 2026 data: pay percentiles, FMCSA safety, benefit prevalence, and operational performance. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $8,500 and an average $2,000 sign-on bonus. WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC follows at $2,657/week gross. Ohio sits at the center of the US manufacturing belt, with I-70 / I-71 / I-75 forming a freight grid through Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati and major automotive, steel, and chemical supply chains driving consistent lane demand.
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 owner-operator pay is strongest in Akron, Ohio this month
The top of the list is RAY'S TRANSPORT INC at $8,500/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1RAY'S TRANSPORT INC — $8,500/wk
RAY'S TRANSPORT INC leads the Akron, Ohio market on combined gross revenue and ranking score this month. Pay sits above the 90th percentile in the Akron, Ohio market. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC's top FMCSA dimension is driver fitness, in the 87th percentile. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Akron, Ohio median.
#2WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC — $2,657/wk
WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC's FMCSA score is strongest on driver fitness — 92nd percentile. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
#3LOAD MONSTER INC — $5,125/wk
LOAD MONSTER INC ranks in the 96th percentile for hours-of-service compliance on FMCSA SAFER data. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
Also in the top 10: #4 WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC at $8,750/wk, #5 B & T EXPRESS INC at $6,750/wk, #6 TITANIUM AMERICAN TRUCKING INC at $6,250/wk, #7 WIDER GROUP INC at $6,250/wk, #8 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #9 KILO METER LOGISTIC INC at $7,500/wk, #10 AIA TRUCKING INC at $3,450/wk.
How drivers spend their time on the road in Akron, Ohio
The route mix in Akron, Ohio this month tilts OTR: 11% regional, 88% OTR, 1% local, 0% semi-local — drawn from active postings, not historical surveys.
Across Akron, Ohio CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 28% dedicated, 91% take-truck-home, 72% pet-friendly, 69% riders-allowed.
Akron, Ohio vs Ohio: the numbers that diverge
| Akron, Ohio | Ohio top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $5,882 | $5,490 | +7% |
| Dedicated routes | 44% | 38% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
The largest gap is on average weekly pay: Akron, Ohio sits 7% above the Ohio baseline.
Driving CDL in Ohio
Ohio sits at the center of the US manufacturing belt and runs about as much through-freight as any state. I-70, I-71, I-75, and the Ohio Turnpike form a freight grid that's flat, generally well-maintained, and forgiving for newer drivers — Ohio is one of the better states to gain initial OTR experience. The Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati metros each anchor distinct lane profiles (auto, distribution, and pharmaceutical respectively). Winter operational risk is real — lake-effect off Erie, freezing rain in the central part of the state — but less extreme than the Great Plains states. Ohio cost of living is below the national average, which makes the income math work better than the headline pay numbers suggest.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Akron, Ohio
- CDL driver salary in Akron, Ohio
- Best owner-operator companies in Ohio
The methodology behind the rankings
Compensation, FMCSA safety, benefits, and operational performance — weighted 30, 25, 25, and 20 percent respectively. Compensation extends beyond headline pay to include sign-on bonus tier and settlement cadence. Benefits scoring differs by hiring type because the perks that matter to a W2 driver and a contractor are not the same. Updated September 2026.