Updated November 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Ames, Iowa (November 2026)
There are 589 owner-operator carriers currently posting jobs in Ames, Iowa. The ranking below reflects active jobs as of November 2026, not historical pay surveys. MONDO MOTION LLC leads with an average gross weekly revenue of $9,250. MAYBACH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC follows at $3,025/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 November 2026
MONDO MOTION LLC at #1, MAYBACH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC at #2, and ROLLING ON WHEELS LLC at #3 are new to the top 50 in Ames, Iowa. Biggest climb: WLC GROUP INC (#34 → #18). RAY'S TRANSPORT INC (was #1) and EXPRESS FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC (was #2) left the top 50. Average weekly pay moved most at EXPRESS CR INC (up 18.2% from $2,750 to $3,250). Elsewhere in the top 50, 6 carriers joined, 7 left, and 33 changed rank.
All changes since October 2026
| Carrier | Last month | This month | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| MONDO MOTION LLC | Not ranked | #1 | New |
| MAYBACH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC | Not ranked | #2 | New |
| ROLLING ON WHEELS LLC | Not ranked | #3 | New |
| WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC | Not ranked | #4 | New |
| WIDER GROUP INC | #3 | #5 | Down 2 places |
| IKKO LOGISTICS LLC | #7 | #6 | Up 1 place |
| BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS | #4 | #7 | Down 3 places |
| Ali Star Inc | #5 | #8 | Down 3 places |
| C & G TRANSPORTATION INC | #6 | #9 | Down 3 places |
| JK MOVING & STORAGE INC | #8 | #10 | Down 2 places |
| M&D TRANSPORT | #9 | #11 | Down 2 places |
| TITAN FREIGHT LINES INC | #10 | #12 | Down 2 places |
| Goldway Trans LLC | #11 | #13 | Down 2 places |
| ITF Group | #13 | #14 | Down 1 place |
| HERMES NVC CORP | Not ranked | #15 | New |
| FIVE STAR TRUCKING INC | #14 | #16 | Down 2 places |
| LUXOR DRIVE INC | #12 | #17 | Down 5 places |
| WLC GROUP INC | #34 | #18 | Up 16 placesweekly pay up 4.2% ($3,000 → $3,125) |
| CO Lines Inc | #17 | #19 | Down 2 places |
| SUNGOR TRANSPORTATION INC | #15 | #20 | Down 5 places |
| SUPERTRANSPORT LLC | #23 | #21 | Up 2 places |
| BIG JOHN EXPEDITED INC | #19 | #22 | Down 3 places |
| SOUTHLAND TRANSPORTATION | #25 | #23 | Up 2 places |
| LEGACY CARGO LLC | #22 | #24 | Down 2 places |
| J & H TRUCKING INC | #29 | #25 | Up 4 places |
| J & J Oil LLC | #20 | #27 | Down 7 places |
| EXPRESS CR INC | #35 | #28 | Up 7 placesweekly pay up 18.2% ($2,750 → $3,250) |
| ICD FREIGHT INC | #33 | #29 | Up 4 places |
| ALBA TRANS INC | #31 | #30 | Up 1 place |
| COMMONWEALTH TRANSPORTATION LLC | #37 | #31 | Up 6 places |
| A & H INC | #38 | #32 | Up 6 places |
| AS TRANSPORTATION INC | Not ranked | #33 | New |
| OTRL Recruiting | Not ranked | #34 | New |
| Black & Blue Transport LLC | #30 | #35 | Down 5 places |
| Wynne Transport Service | Not ranked | #36 | New |
| VITAL TRANSPORTATION CORP | #39 | #37 | Up 2 places |
| LINESTAR EXPRESS LLC | #36 | #38 | Down 2 places |
| STAR PARTNERS LLC | Not ranked | #39 | New |
| AN ENTERPRISE INC | #41 | #40 | Up 1 place |
| LANDSHARK LOGISTICS GROUP LLC | #43 | #41 | Up 2 places |
| MILESTONE TRUCKING LLC | #40 | #42 | Down 2 places |
| EOS Trucking Inc. | #42 | #43 | Down 1 place |
| BREEZE TRANSPORTATION INCORPORATED | #45 | #44 | Up 1 place |
| HORIZON TRANSPORTATION | #44 | #45 | Down 1 place |
| RAY'S TRANSPORT INC | #1 | Not ranked | Dropped out |
| EXPRESS FREIGHT SYSTEMS LLC | #2 | Not ranked | Dropped out |
| AIA TRUCKING INC | #16 | Not ranked | Dropped out |
| A&M CARRIERS INC | #18 | Not ranked | Dropped out |
| KILO METER LOGISTIC INC | #21 | Not ranked | Dropped out |
| BLACK EAGLE EXPRESS LLC | #24 | Not ranked | Dropped out |
| MAX MOVE LLC | #27 | Not ranked | Dropped out |
| DOGE Trucking LLC | #28 | Not ranked | Dropped out |
| WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC | #32 | Not ranked | Dropped out |
Where owner-operator pay is strongest in Ames, Iowa this month
The top of the list is MONDO MOTION LLC at $9,250/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1MONDO MOTION LLC — $9,250/wk
MONDO MOTION LLC leads the Ames, Iowa market on combined gross revenue and ranking score this month. Gross weekly revenue here lands in the 96th percentile across Ames, Iowa. MONDO MOTION LLC ranks in the 98th percentile for hours-of-service compliance on FMCSA SAFER data. MONDO MOTION LLC tracks as a responsive employer on application-response data.
#2MAYBACH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC — $3,025/wk
MAYBACH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC is new to the Ames, Iowa top 50 this month — first appearance in this ranking. On driver fitness, the carrier ranks in the 96th percentile per FMCSA SAFER data. MAYBACH INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Ames, Iowa median.
#3ROLLING ON WHEELS LLC — $6,500/wk
ROLLING ON WHEELS LLC is new to the Ames, Iowa top 50 this month — first appearance in this ranking. ROLLING ON WHEELS LLC ranks in the 87th percentile for driver fitness on FMCSA SAFER data. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
Also in the top 10: #4 WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC at $2,657/wk, #5 WIDER GROUP INC at $6,250/wk, #6 IKKO LOGISTICS LLC at $7,500/wk, #7 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #8 Ali Star Inc at $10,000/wk, #9 C & G TRANSPORTATION INC at $7,500/wk, #10 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $4,975/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Ames, Iowa
Of active CDL postings in Ames, Iowa this month, 7% are regional and 92% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 1%.
Across Ames, Iowa CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 27% dedicated, 93% take-truck-home, 73% pet-friendly, 70% riders-allowed.
Where Ames, Iowa differs from the Iowa baseline
| Ames, Iowa | Iowa top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $6,157 | $5,285 | +17% |
| Riders-allowed policies | 86% | 78% | +8 pt |
| Pet-friendly fleets | 82% | 76% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, November 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Ames, Iowa differs most from Iowa — 17% above statewide.
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 flat 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 November 2026.