Updated September 2026
Best Owner-Operator Companies in Mentor, Ohio (September 2026)
Mentor, Ohio's owner-operator market includes 640 active carriers as of September 2026. 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 Mentor, 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 Mentor, Ohio this month on the composite ranking. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC pays above the 90th percentile on gross weekly revenue for the Mentor, Ohio market. RAY'S TRANSPORT INC's FMCSA score is strongest on driver fitness — 87th percentile. Lanefinder's application data flags RAY'S TRANSPORT INC as a responsive employer.
#2WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC — $2,657/wk
WINNERS TRANSPORTATION LLC's top FMCSA dimension is driver fitness, in the 92nd percentile. Application-response data flags this carrier as a responsive employer.
#3WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC — $8,750/wk
WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC pays above the 90th percentile on gross weekly revenue for the Mentor, Ohio market. On driver fitness, the carrier ranks in the 93rd percentile per FMCSA SAFER data. Driver applications get a faster-than-median response in Mentor, Ohio.
WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC doesn't top the ranking but offers higher weekly pay than #1 — $8,750/week.
Also in the top 10: #4 LOAD MONSTER INC at $5,125/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.
Lane mix and benefits across Mentor, Ohio
Of active CDL postings in Mentor, Ohio this month, 11% are regional and 89% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 0%.
Across Mentor, Ohio CDL postings: 2% with guaranteed pay, 28% dedicated, 91% take-truck-home, 72% pet-friendly, 69% riders-allowed.
Mentor, Ohio vs Ohio: the numbers that diverge
| Mentor, Ohio | Ohio top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $5,949 | $5,490 | +8% |
| Dedicated routes | 44% | 38% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
Among the figures above, average weekly pay is where Mentor, Ohio differs most from Ohio — 8% 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 Mentor, Ohio
- CDL driver salary in Mentor, Ohio
- Best owner-operator companies in Ohio
How we compile these rankings
The composite score is 30% compensation, 25% FMCSA safety, 25% benefits, and 20% operational performance. Pay percentiles are computed against carriers currently hiring in each market; FMCSA percentiles come from SAFER and weight unsafe-driving and hours-of-service violations 2× heavier than the other three dimensions. Updated September 2026.