Updated September 2026
Best Trucking Companies in Ames, Iowa (September 2026)
330 W2 trucking carriers are currently posting jobs in Ames, Iowa as of September 2026. WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC leads with an average weekly pay of $1,700 and an average $5,000 sign-on bonus. PREMIER TRANSPORTATION follows at $1,950/week. 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 Ames, Iowa differs from the Iowa baseline
| Ames, Iowa | Iowa top 50 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pet-friendly fleets | 80% | 67% | +13 pt |
| Riders-allowed policies | 88% | 76% | +12 pt |
| Take-truck-home | 94% | 88% | +6 pt |
Source: Lanefinder index, September 2026
Among the figures above, pet-friendly fleets is where Ames, Iowa differs most from Iowa — 13 points above statewide.
The trucking companies leading Ames, Iowa this month
The top of the list is WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC at $1,700/week. A few names below the top earn more on a weekly-pay basis but rank lower on the composite.
#1WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC — $1,700/wk
WESTERN MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT INC tops the Ames, Iowa ranking with the strongest composite score across pay, safety, benefits, and operational signals. Top FMCSA dimension here is driver fitness, in the 93rd percentile. The carrier tracks as a responsive employer on Lanefinder's data.
#2PREMIER TRANSPORTATION — $1,950/wk
PREMIER TRANSPORTATION pays above the 82nd percentile on weekly pay for the Ames, Iowa market. PREMIER TRANSPORTATION ranks in the 98th percentile for driver fitness on FMCSA SAFER data.
#3JK MOVING & STORAGE INC — $2,200/wk
JK MOVING & STORAGE INC pays above the 90th percentile on weekly pay for the Ames, Iowa market. JK MOVING & STORAGE INC's FMCSA score is strongest on unsafe-driving avoidance — 93rd percentile.
Also in the top 10: #4 Covenant Transport Inc at $1,762/wk, #5 TDR TRANSPORT at $2,200/wk, #6 Great Plains Trucking Inc. at $1,750/wk, #7 PRAIRIE FIELD SERVICES LLC at $1,750/wk, #8 Badger Express LLC at $1,700/wk, #9 Diaz Stone & Pallet Inc. at $1,750/wk, #10 ALBA TRANS INC at $3,000/wk.
What Ames, Iowa drivers actually run
Of active CDL postings in Ames, Iowa this month, 16% are regional and 81% are OTR (long-haul). Local and semi-local routes account for the remaining 3%.
Guaranteed pay is on offer at 2% of Ames, Iowa postings; dedicated routes at 24%; take-truck-home at 83%. Pet-friendly policies appear at 67% and riders-allowed at 70%.
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 owner-operator companies in Ames, Iowa
- CDL driver salary in Ames, Iowa
- Best trucking companies in Iowa
How we compile these rankings
Four weighted components. Compensation carries 30% and includes pay percentile, sign-on bonus tier, guaranteed-pay availability, and settlement frequency. FMCSA safety carries 25%, built from five SAFER dimensions. Benefits carry 25%, scored separately for W2 versus owner-operator carriers. Operational performance carries 20%, measuring application responsiveness and fleet scale. Updated September 2026.