Updated July 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Ames, Iowa (July 2026)
There are 584 owner-operator carriers currently posting jobs in Ames, Iowa. The ranking below reflects active jobs as of July 2026, not historical pay surveys. ROLLING ON WHEELS LLC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $5,500. Performance Trucking Inc follows at $8,000/week gross. Iowa freight is shaped by its agricultural output — corn, soybeans, and ethanol — moving on I-80 east-west and I-35 north-south, with Des Moines serving as the primary distribution crossroads.
What changed in July 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Where Ames, Iowa differs from the Iowa baseline
| Ames, Iowa | Iowa top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $6,420 | $5,587 | +15% |
| Riders-allowed policies | 90% | 82% | +8 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, July 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Ames, Iowa differs most from Iowa — 15% above statewide.
Where owner-operator pay is strongest in Ames, Iowa this month
The top of the list is ROLLING ON WHEELS LLC at $5,500/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1ROLLING ON WHEELS LLC — $5,500/wk
ROLLING ON WHEELS LLC is number-one in Ames, Iowa this month on the composite ranking. ROLLING ON WHEELS LLC ranks in the 96th percentile for driver fitness on FMCSA SAFER data. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
#2Performance Trucking Inc — $8,000/wk
Performance Trucking Inc sits in the 92nd percentile for gross weekly revenue among Ames, Iowa carriers.
#3WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC — $2,437/wk
WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC's top FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance, in the 96th percentile. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
Also in the top 10: #4 INLAND EMPIRE LLC at $7,875/wk, #5 OVERLOG INC at $3,613/wk, #6 WIDER GROUP INC at $6,250/wk, #7 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #8 BB8 FREIGHT CO at $12,666/wk, #9 C & G TRANSPORTATION INC at $7,500/wk, #10 DAHL TRUCKING LLC at $3,750/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Ames, Iowa
Of active CDL postings in Ames, Iowa this month, 7% are regional and 93% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 0%.
Across Ames, Iowa CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 26% dedicated, 93% take-truck-home, 75% pet-friendly, 71% riders-allowed.
Driving CDL in Iowa
Iowa freight is shaped by the state's agricultural output — corn, soybeans, ethanol, pork — moving on the I-80 east-west and I-35 north-south corridors. Des Moines serves as the primary distribution crossroads. Cedar Rapids and Davenport (Quad Cities) add manufacturing and food-processing freight. Iowa runs a moderate graduated state income tax; living costs are among the lowest in the Midwest. Winter is severe — wind off the prairie plus drifting snow plus black ice on I-80 makes route timing genuinely consequential from December through March.
Related guides
- Best trucking companies in Ames, Iowa
- CDL driver salary in Ames, Iowa
- Best owner-operator companies in Iowa
Where this data comes from
The score is built from four buckets. Thirty percent compensation, drawn from real active job postings and modified by bonus and settlement structure. Twenty-five percent safety, from FMCSA SAFER. Twenty-five percent benefits, scored hiring-type-aware. Twenty percent operational performance, drawn from how carriers actually behave toward applicants. Updated July 2026.