Updated September 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Ankeny, Iowa (September 2026)
595 carriers are hiring owner-operators in Ankeny, Iowa right now, per Lanefinder's September 2026 snapshot. 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. 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 September 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
Where Ankeny, Iowa differs from the Iowa baseline
| Ankeny, Iowa | Iowa top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $6,321 | $5,363 | +18% |
| Riders-allowed policies | 88% | 82% | +6 pt |
| Dedicated routes | 44% | 39% | +5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
Ankeny, Iowa's biggest divergence from Iowa is on average weekly pay, 18% above the state baseline.
The owner-operator carriers leading Ankeny, Iowa 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 Ankeny, Iowa market on combined gross revenue and ranking score this month. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC pays above the 89th percentile on gross weekly revenue for the Ankeny, Iowa 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 Ankeny, Iowa median.
#2WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC — $2,657/wk
WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC ranks in the 92nd percentile for driver fitness on FMCSA SAFER data. WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC tracks as a responsive employer on application-response 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 WIDER GROUP INC at $6,250/wk, #6 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #7 C & G TRANSPORTATION INC at $7,500/wk, #8 AIA TRUCKING INC at $3,450/wk, #9 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $4,975/wk, #10 TITAN FREIGHT LINES INC at $8,500/wk.
Lane mix and benefits across Ankeny, Iowa
8% of Ankeny, Iowa's active CDL postings are regional and 92% are OTR; local plus semi-local accounts for the rest (0%).
Across Ankeny, Iowa CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 27% dedicated, 93% take-truck-home, 73% pet-friendly, 70% 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 Ankeny, Iowa
- CDL driver salary in Ankeny, Iowa
- Best owner-operator companies in Iowa
How we compile these rankings
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 September 2026.