Updated September 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Lakewood, Ohio (September 2026)
There are 652 owner-operator carriers currently posting jobs in Lakewood, Ohio. The ranking below reflects active jobs as of September 2026, not historical pay surveys. 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.
The owner-operator carriers leading Lakewood, 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 is number-one in Lakewood, Ohio this month on the composite ranking. The carrier ranks in the 95th percentile for gross weekly revenue in Lakewood, Ohio. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC ranks in the 87th percentile for driver fitness on FMCSA SAFER data. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
#2WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC — $2,657/wk
WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC's FMCSA score is strongest on driver fitness — 92nd percentile. WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC responds to driver applications more reliably than the Lakewood, Ohio median.
#3LOAD MONSTER INC — $5,125/wk
LOAD MONSTER INC's FMCSA score is strongest on hours-of-service compliance — 96th percentile. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Lakewood, Ohio.
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 POPE TRANSPORT INC at $7,000/wk, #9 BLUE LIGHTNING LOGISTICS at $7,000/wk, #10 KILO METER LOGISTIC INC at $7,500/wk.
What Lakewood, Ohio drivers actually run
Of active CDL postings in Lakewood, Ohio this month, 11% are regional and 88% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 1%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Lakewood, Ohio postings; dedicated routes at 28%; take-truck-home at 91%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 72% and riders-allowed at 69%.
Lakewood, Ohio vs Ohio: the numbers that diverge
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Lakewood, Ohio differs most from Ohio — 3% above statewide.
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 Lakewood, Ohio
- CDL driver salary in Lakewood, Ohio
- Best owner-operator companies in Ohio
How we compile these rankings
Composite-score formula: compensation × 0.30, FMCSA safety × 0.25, benefits × 0.25, operational performance × 0.20. Compensation is anchored on pay percentile and lifted by sign-on bonus tier and guaranteed-pay availability. Operational performance is built mostly from driver-application response data in Lanefinder's platform, with fleet-scale percentile contributing a smaller portion. Updated September 2026.