Updated July 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Akron, Ohio (July 2026)
408 carriers are hiring W2 company drivers in Akron, Ohio right now, per Lanefinder's July 2026 snapshot. LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY leads with an average weekly pay of $1,680. Forest Brook Trucking LLC follows at $1,600/week. 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 July 2026
We just started tracking monthly changes for this view. Check back next month to see how rankings have shifted.
The trucking companies leading Akron, Ohio this month
The top of the list is LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY at $1,680/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY — $1,680/wk
LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY is number-one in Akron, Ohio this month on the composite ranking. LAWRENCE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY ranks in the 91st percentile for driver fitness on FMCSA SAFER data. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
#2Forest Brook Trucking LLC — $1,600/wk
Forest Brook Trucking LLC's top FMCSA dimension is hours-of-service compliance, in the 97th percentile. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
#3True Transport Inc. — $2,250/wk
True Transport Inc.'s weekly pay ranks in the 96th percentile across Akron, Ohio. True Transport Inc. ranks in the 99th percentile for unsafe-driving avoidance on FMCSA SAFER data.
For pure pay maximization, True Transport Inc. beats the #1-ranked carrier weekly at $2,250.
Also in the top 10: #4 PREMIER TRANSPORTATION at $1,950/wk, #5 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/wk, #6 JK MOVING & STORAGE INC at $2,200/wk, #7 DIVINE ENTERPRISES at $1,375/wk, #8 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #9 MCK TRUCKING INC at $1,700/wk, #10 ECM ENERGY SERVICES INC at $1,950/wk.
What Akron, Ohio drivers actually run
Of active CDL postings in Akron, Ohio this month, 26% are regional and 67% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 7%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Akron, Ohio postings; dedicated routes at 24%; take-truck-home at 77%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 63% and riders-allowed at 63%.
How Akron, Ohio compares to Ohio
| Akron, Ohio | Ohio top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly pay | $1,813 | $1,864 | -3% |
| Take-truck-home | 94% | 85% | +9 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 78% | 73% | +5 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, July 2026
Among the figures above, take-truck-home is where Akron, Ohio differs most from Ohio — 9 points 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 owner-operator companies in Akron, Ohio
- CDL driver salary in Akron, Ohio
- Best trucking companies in Ohio
The methodology behind the rankings
Pay carriers in the same market against each other (30% of the score). Add a five-dimension FMCSA safety percentile from SAFER (25%). Score benefits based on whether the carrier hires W2 drivers or contractors (25%). Layer on employer responsiveness and fleet scale (20%). The weights are fixed and public. Updated July 2026.